What is a "breast exam"?

What is a "breast exam"?

Michael Tahery (Obstetrician & Gynecologist) gives expert video advice on: What is my doctor looking for during a breast exam?; Can I do my own breast exam?; How common are abnormal pap smear results? and more...

A breast exam that's done by a physician--usually we do it every six months to a year, depending on a patient's history and the complexity of their breast tissue. So a person should expect to be examined sitting up, bending over a little bit while sitting, and then laying down. The physician will start from under their arm, checking all the lymph nodes, and then the tail of the breast, which is right next to under the arm. And then they check the breast, they squeeze the breast for discharge. Then they check the lymph nodes in the neck and also above the clavicle or in the neck area to make sure there are no lymph nodes in that area also.