Studies show that regular breast self-exams, combined with an annual exam by a doctor, improves the chances of detecting breast cancer early, when it's most likely to be cured. The more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something unusual has occurred.

Try to get in the habit of doing a breast self-examination once a month so that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts' various neighborhoods

Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender, If you are no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.

Woman age 40 or older are advised by the American Cancer Society to mammograms annually. A mammogram can find a cancer several year before a woman or her health care provider might discover it through other screening methods.