TAMPA, Fla. -- On the 10th of every month, we remind you and your buddy to do a breast self-exam. For many women, that self-exam can be a lifesaver and detect breast cancer early.

Florida Hospital Breast Care Center's Dr. Mary Gardner explains why she recommends them for women of all ages:

"I think it's very important for women to examine their breasts on a regular basis. We recommend examining yourself once a month, generally, if you're still having hormonal cycles in the first week after the menstrual period. And the reason for that is because that's a time when the breasts tend to be more silent than when they're really revved up prior to the period.

"We recommend mammography after the age of 40 in average risk women once a year and so there is a whole group of women in their 20s and 30s who are not getting regular mammograms and then after 40 they're only getting a mammogram once a year, which is the recommendation. So things can happen in between times and prior to routine screening."

Dr. Gardner gave us a great example of how to do a breast self exam-- click here to watch the video.

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