Recently, while I was performing a breast exam on a patient who is a healthcare professional, she admitted that she had a history of breast cysts. I informed her that I hadn’t detected any lumps in the current exam.

“Oh, well, you wouldn’t. I just stick a needle in the cysts and drain them.”

I was impressed. Even though I once attempted to perform my own Pap smear (a procedure I do not recommend), I would never aspirate my own breast cyst. I mean, there are limits.

The range of self-care does vary so dramatically among patients. I have one woman who cannot do self-breast examination at all. She asked me to conduct an examination. She brought along her husband for moral support and so he could learn how to do the exams for her.