imortant

3. THE BREAST
• It has an important role in
modern culture.
• Often viewed as measured of
sexuality, femineity and
attractiveness because it is
visible for its size and shape.
• How ever , it is a secondary sex
characteristic
• Its physiologic function is milk
secretion to feed infants

4. CLINICAL VALUE
• Experience has verified
that 90% of breast
cancers are found by
women themselves
• When women discover
lumps in their breasts at
very early stage, surgery
can save 70 – 80% of
proven cases.

5. Breast Self Examination
• Women can use BSE to assess their breast.
• The importance is prompt reporting of any new breast symptoms to a
health professional should be emphasized.
• All women age 20 years and older perform BSE on a monthly basis.
• All women ages 29 to 39 should have clinical examinations every 3
years preferably be part of a periodic health examination.
• All women ages 40 years and older have regular ( every 1 to 2 years )
mammograms.
• Asymptomatic women ages 40 and older should continue to receive
clinical breast examination preferably be part of a periodic health
examination annually.

6. Definition
Breast self examination is a screening method used in
an attempt to detect early breast cancer. The method
involves the women herself looking at and feeling each
breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling.

8. Inspection of the Breast
 There are 4 major sitting position of the client -
 Patient is seated with her arms on her side.
 The patient is seated with her arms abducted over the
head.
 The patient is seated and is pushing her hands into
her hips, simultaneously eliciting contraction of the
pectoral muscles.
 The patient is seated and is learning over while the
examiner assists in supporting and balancing her.
 The breasts are carefully observed for symmetry,
bulging, retraction and fixation.
 An abnormality may not be apparent in the breasts at
rest a mass may cause the breasts, through invasion
of the suspensory ligaments, to fix , preventing them
from upward movement.
 Position 2 specifically assist in eliciting dimpling if a
mass has infiltrated and shortened suspensory
ligaments.

9. Normal Findings of Inspections
• The overlying the breast should be even.
• May or may not be completely symmetrical at rest.
• The areola is rounded or oval, with same color.
• Nipples are rounded, everted, same size and equal to color.
• No “orange peel” skin is noted which is present in edema.
• The veins may be visible but not engorge and prominent.
• No obvious mass noted.
• Not fixed and moves bilaterally when hands are abducted over
the head, or is learning forward.
• No retraction or dimpling.

10. Palpation of the breast
Palpate the breast along imaginary
concentric circles, following the three
methods , from the periphery to the
center going to the nipple.
Breast examination is best done 1
week post menses.
Each areolar areas are carefully
palpated to determine the presence of
underlying masses.
Each nipple gently compressed to
assess the presence of masses or
discharge.

11. Normal Findings of Palpation
• No lumps or masses are palpable
• No tenderness upon palpation
• No discharges from the nipples

15. Axillary Lymph Nodes

17. To examine the nodes at the right
axilla:
The patient should be sitting
comfortably and you should
stand at their right side.
Support their right arm
abducted to 90 degree with your
right hand.
Examine the axilla with your
left hand . To examine the
nodes at the left axilla.
Perform the same maneuver as
for the right, but on the opposite
side.