A clinical breast examination is a physical examination of the
breast done by a health professional. Clinical breast examinations are used
along with mammograms to check women for breast cancer.
Medical experts disagree about the need for regular clinical breast
examinations. Some doctors recommend regular CBE. However, the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that there is not enough evidence to
recommend for or against routine CBEs. The evidence showed reductions in breast
cancer deaths in studies using mammography alone are comparable to those using
mammography plus CBE.
A clinical breast examination may be part of your regular checkup.
Talk with your health professional to determine how often to have a breast
examination.
