Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Self-Exam, Mammogram & Where to Get Screened in the Philippines

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among Filipino women, and many cases in the Philippines are still diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment is harder and outcomes are worse. The good news is that breast cancer found early is highly treatable. Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder to take three simple steps: know your body, know your risk, and get screened on schedule.

Know the Warning Signs

Most breast lumps are not cancer, but any new change deserves a doctor's evaluation. See a doctor if you notice:

• A new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
• A change in the size or shape of one breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin, sometimes described as looking like an orange peel
• A nipple that turns inward when it previously did not
• Nipple discharge, especially if bloody, from one breast only
• Redness, scaling, or rash on the nipple or breast skin
• Persistent pain in one specific area that does not go away after your period

How to Do a Breast Self-Exam

A monthly self-exam helps you learn what is normal for you, so you notice changes sooner. The best time is a few days after your period ends, when breasts are least swollen. After menopause, pick the same date each month.

1. Look in the mirror. Stand with arms at your sides, then raised overhead, then with hands pressed on your hips. Look for changes in shape, skin texture, or the nipples.
2. Feel while lying down. Using the pads of your three middle fingers, press in small circles across the whole breast, from collarbone to the bottom of the ribcage and from armpit to breastbone. Use light, medium, and firm pressure.
3. Check the underarm. Feel for lumps in the armpit area on both sides.
4. Repeat in the shower. Wet, soapy skin can make lumps easier to feel.

A self-exam does not replace clinical screening. It is one layer of protection, not a substitute for a mammogram.

When Should You Get a Mammogram?

Screening recommendations differ slightly between medical organizations, so discuss your personal schedule with your doctor. As a general guide:

• Women 40 and above: discuss starting regular mammograms with your doctor, typically every one to two years
• Women 50 to 74: regular mammography screening is widely recommended
• Women with a strong family history (mother, sister, or daughter with breast or ovarian cancer) or known genetic risk may need to start earlier and screen more often, sometimes with breast MRI
• Younger women with dense breast tissue are often evaluated with breast ultrasound, sometimes alongside mammography

Who Is at Higher Risk?

• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Increasing age, especially after 50
• Early first period or late menopause
• Having a first child after age 30, or never having children
• Overweight or obesity after menopause
• Regular alcohol use and low physical activity
• Long-term use of some hormone replacement therapies

Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop breast cancer, and many women diagnosed have no known risk factors at all. That is exactly why screening matters for everyone.

How Much Does Screening Cost in the Philippines?

Prices vary by city and facility. As a rough guide in 2026:

• Clinical breast exam by a doctor: often included in a regular consultation fee
• Mammogram at a private hospital or diagnostic center: roughly ₱1,500 to ₱4,000
• Breast ultrasound: roughly ₱1,200 to ₱3,500

Government hospitals and local health units are usually cheaper, and many LGUs, hospitals, and foundations run free or discounted screening drives during October. Check your local health office or nearby hospital's social media pages this month. If you have an HMO, ask whether an annual mammogram is included in your plan.

Which Doctor Should You See?

• OB-GYN or family doctor: for routine breast exams and referral for screening
• Breast surgeon or general surgeon: for evaluation of a lump or abnormal mammogram
• Medical oncologist: if cancer is diagnosed, to plan treatment

PhilHealth Coverage

PhilHealth offers benefit packages for breast cancer treatment, including surgery and other services, at accredited facilities. Coverage details are updated periodically, so confirm current benefits with PhilHealth or your hospital's PhilHealth desk.

Find a Doctor Near You

This October, book the check-up you have been putting off. Search MyDoktor.ph for OB-GYNs, surgeons, and oncologists near you, filtered by city and PhilHealth accreditation.