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I’m 35, but have been seeing specialists for screening every 6 months since my early twenties due to strong family history. I mean to do a self exam every month, but usually forget a few times a year. Even if I’m getting a mammogram or ultrasound the specialist I see recommends doing the self exam before the test because you know your breasts and what’s normal better than they do and can point out areas of concern (if any).

@CatchAFallingStar: the surgeon/oncologist I saw for what turned out to be a benign thing said only one time a month after your period. She said it’s not vert useful to do multiple times a month because your breasts change. She also said for younger women it’s mostly just to get an idea of what “normal” is during that point of your cycle and then you go from there, rather than worrying about lumps in general since some people and especially younger people have a lot of lumps.

For those that forget to do monthly exams, I get a monthly reminder text from Bright Pink (https://www.brightpink.org/breasthealthremindersignup/). Super easy way to make sure you remember every month.

I work with people who have breast cancer and am constantly astonished by how many people under the age of 40 are diagnosed. The youngest person I’ve seen was 22. Self exams are very important as many people come in for mammograms because they have found lumps, which did turn out to be malignant.

I do one whenever it pops into my mind and I'm in the shower. I'd say one every month or so.. sometimes maybe two a month. I have been thinking of it more often bc a college friend of mine was diagnosed last year and she's been sharing her journey so it's more front of my mind these days. However, I don't have any history of it in my family so I just get regular mammograms.

As an FYI, bad lumps feel super hard and are pretty small and not smooth or round. Kind of like gravel. Every time I go in for screening with my Breast Specialist, she has me feel the sample.