This question for woman 18 and older. or anyone who is a doctor/nurse?

Question

Hi ladies, I am 21 and I want to know how often am I suppose to get a physical? By physical I mean a breast exam? I havent gotten one since I was 18. I know I should go get one, but how often am I suppose to have one done? I appreciate all of your answers. The reason why I am asking is because the doctor I went to for my first physical never told me how often I will have to do it. And I am in a different state now. So yeah. Can someone please help me with this. I gladly appreciate it. No rude answers please. This is a serious and very important question.

Answer 1

Please don't listen to these people who say you don't need a breast exam if you are young. Cancer does not care what age you are. Even young women in their 20's have been diagnosed. You should have a breast exam, pap, and pelvic exam performed by a doctor once a year. You should do a self breast exam in the shower once a month a few days after your period because your breasts will be tender and swollen while your menstruating. A self exam is important because most breast cancers are discovered by women themselves when they feel a lump. If a woman waits for a year to have an exam be her doctor she has lost 11 months of time and treatment when the cancer would have been smaller are more likely to be treated successfully. I believe you asked for doctors and nurses to answer your question because they know what they are talking about.

Answer 2

You should have an annual P & P (Pelvic exam and PAP smear). The breast exam is routinely done at this time.

There are some misconceptions posted here as answers. The breast-self exam (BSE) is done once a month, not daily and not twice a month, as some have suggested. Under normal circumstances, physicals are performed once a year, not twice a year.

FYI to everyone else: There are other reasons to have a breast exam besides cancer, you don't have to have a family history of cancer to require an exam. And this isn't a mammogram we're talking about. And although she's 21, yes, she should have a breast exam at the time of her P & P. And, no, that is not how a self-exam is done.

Answer 3

Okay, first of all, you should see your gynocologist once a year for a pap and a checkup down there. While there, they usually do that sort of thing. Mine always do anyway. BUT... you should be checking your own breasts once a month. While in the shower, raise your arm and put your hand behind your head. It changes the shape of your breast somehow. Then start around the outside edge and slowly go around your breast working in small circles and working your way towards your nipple. Your checking for lumps, for anything I think that feels like a small pea or pebble in there. The tissue is going to feel kind of lumpy on it's own, I think that's the fat or something. But do both breasts once a month. You don't need a yearly mammogram until your 40.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

You need to do a "breast self exam", once a month, do a google for it. As long as there is no family history, you do not need a Mammogram, but you need at least one thorough breast exam and physical at least once a year. This is very important, and is the best/easiest way to catch anything early on. Your GP can do it, if they are a regular internal medicine doctor, or you could elect to go to a gyn for all "female" related stuff, and some gyn's will also see you for minor and routine medical visits, so you could possibly skip the gp altogether. Also please, please don't forget those pap smears! My best friend was almost lost to cervical cancer and she is only 3 years older than you (she fought it the first time at 20!). It may not have a ribbon or month dedicated to it, but it is just as important to be screened for, and perhaps more deadly than, breast cancer. Especially in young women who don't take their health as seriously, and when symptoms do appear it's too late.

Answer 5

the following is assuming that you have no health conditions such as diabetes, asthma.. if so, at your age, you can probably obtain your care through your gynecologist. breast exam are generally done yearly at the time of the pelvic exam and pap smear. at 21, you are not going to find much on a breast exam. cancer would be exceedingly rare, though some girls develop benign tumors called fibroadenomas. unless the women in your family develop breast cancer very early ,say in their 30's, you should focus more on healthy eating, exercise, pap smears and std testing yearly. many many girls your age are walking around with chlamydia, hpv, cervical dysplasia... and dont even know it. your breast health becomes much more important as you get into your mid 30's and 40's. around 40 you should get your first mammogram and be sure to get it every year as it will detect cancer long before you or the doctor will feel it. if you are not yet sexually active, ask your doctor about the hpv vaccine. if you are active, tell all your friends and family with young girls age 10 and up to talk to their doctors about having the girls vaccinated. this vaccine is going to change the face of hpv associated illnesses in the future, such as genital warts, cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. sorry about the sermon, i am a gyn and just love the std stuff

Answer 6

If there is a history in breast cancer in your family, I would find a new doctor and make sure that is a subject that I bring to light.
You should be doing self exams at least every month, no one knows your breast like to do.
Most mammograms are given to women age 25 to 30 and it is every 3 to five years depending on their family history.
After 40 you should have one like clock work every 12 months.

Hope I helped

Answer 7

You're 21...every few years you should be going for a full physical, meaning bloodwork and OBGYN (actually this should be done every year when you begin to have sexual relations.) Rule of thumb,
every 10 years you advance in age you increase a year:
20's=every 4 years to the Dr...30=3yrs...40=2 yrs
Mammograms are about 3-4 but history governs how often.
Insurance covers mammograms once a year.
Good luck...

Answer 8

You do not really need a breast exam until you are 35 years old, unless you have a family history of breast cancer.
On the flip side, you should be getting a papsmear once a year, and a complete physical with blood draw once a year.
You should always do your own breast exam once a month just by lifting one arm, putting it over your head, and feeling for any unusual bumps starting from the bottom, then going side to side, then to top, and finish in the middle.

Answer 9

You should have a complete physical witha ob/gyn once every year this would include the breast exam and a pap smear to make sure everything is as it should be. Also you should do a self breast exam at least once or twice a month .

Answer 10

Alot depends on your family history...If you have had a grandmother or aunt have brest cancer. You should get checked frequently. Early detection is a must for survival. This is brest cancer awreness month..Wear your pink with pride and have the exams.