Self Breast Exam
Self breast exam comprises one portion of the triad of early
detection of breast abnormalities, the other two being professional
breast exams and screening mammography. This is appropriate, as most
breast abnormalities are first discovered by the woman herself.
Once a month, just after completing a menstrual flow, a woman should
examine her breasts. This can be done in the shower, but at least part
of the exam should be done while standing in front of a mirror.
She inspect her breasts for:
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Skin changes
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Redness
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Visible bumps
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Nipple crusting
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Symmetry
When raising her arms up, both breasts should rise evenly on the
chest wall.
While raising her arms, she should watch closely for any skin
dimpling or nipple retraction.
With her arm raised, she should feel for lumps with the opposite
hand.
Most breast tissue is somewhat nodular. She is feeling for a "marble
in a bag of rice."
She should move her hand in small circles while compressing the
breast tissue.
Then she should move to another area and perform the same small
circular examination.
Many people find it easiest to move in a clockwise fashion to avoid
missing any areas of the breast.
The same circular motion should be used to exam the armpit and the
"tail" of the breast that extends up into the armpit.
In the armpit, she is feeling for any breast lumps or lymph nodes.
Enlarged lymph nodes are about the size of a pencil eraser, but longer
and thinner.
She should try to express nipple discharge by stripping the ducts
towards the nipple.
Normally, there will be one or two drops of clear, milky or
green-tinged secretions.
While recommended by some professional organizations, self breast
exam is no longer recommended by the American Cancer Society. This
change in policy is based on two observations:
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By the time a breast cancer is large enough to be felt by the
woman, it has likely been present for a number of years. This is not
early diagnosis. There is no good evidence that breast cancers
discovered in this way have a better (or worse) prognosis than those
discovered at periodic professional exams.
-
Women who conscientiously perform self breast exams frequently
find palpable masses. These masses (99% benign) require evaluation,
sometimes mammography, ultrasound and biopsy, all of which have costs
(financial, emotional and medical) which only infrequently lead to the
discovery of a breast cancer.
The current status of self breast exams remains controversial.
Observe in the mirror
Inspect for skin changes
Raise arms, watching for dimpling
Feel for masses or tenderness
Move in a circular motion
Cover the entire breast
Check the armpit for lumps
Watch for nipple discharge |
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