HOPE CHESTS - Past Meetings
Breast Self Examination
Sydney Prescott, RN
February 1, 2000
Breast Self
Examination
Visual Examination in the
Mirror
Stand in front of a mirror in a good light and look for anything
that appears unusual on the surface of the breasts. Turn from
side to side in these three positions:
- Arms relaxed at your sides.
- Hands placed on waist and
pressed inward.
- Hands clasped behind the
head and elbows pulled back.
Check for:
- Any change in size, color,
or position of breasts
- Dimpling or puckering of
the skin or an orange-peel appearance
- Nipple retraction (nipple
pulls back into the breast)
- Other changes
Physical Examination
While taking a bath or shower, run a wet soapy hand down one
breast from the collar bone to the nipple, feeling for any lumps,
thickening, or changes from previous exams. Repeat the process on
the opposite breast.
Lie on your back on the bed. Place a small pillow or folded towel
under your left shoulder and your left hand behind your head.
This position spreads the breast tissue evenly over the chest
wall. Do the following:
- Place your fingertips
together and start at the top of the left breast, feeling
with the flat part of the fingertips. Make smaller and
smaller circles as you examine the breast until you reach
the nipple. If you use cream or lotions on your fingers,
they will slide over the surface better.
- Check the underarm area.
- Gently squeeze the nipple
between thumb and forefinger. Gently depress the nipple
and check for anything beneath the nipple area.
- Repeat the process one the
right breast by putting the small pillow or folded towel
under your right shoulder and your right hand behind your
head.
Check for:
- Lumps or thickening
- Nipple discharge
- Other changes
Do this examination once a month, one week after your period.
Your breasts are less sensitive and swollen at this time. If you
are not having periods, pick a convenient date and circle it on
your calendar.
Return
to Breast Self Examination
Record Your
Observations
Month .......................
Print this page and record normal ridges, lumpy areas, freckles
or moles.
Remember, what you are looking for are unusual changes from your
normal.
Why Perform Breast Self
Examination
First, if the cancer recurs, it may be at the scar site. The
sooner such an occurance is detected the better
Second, it is important that you become familiar with the
appearance, texture, and feel of your scar and the surrounding
chest area. Note and report any differences in this area since
the mastectomy and as you continue to examine your breast. Many
women discover changes in their breasts and chest area before
their physicians.
When to Examine Your Breast, Chest Wall, and Underarm
Every Month
- If you are menstruating
regularly, you should do your breast self exam 5 to 7
days after the last day of your period. (That is when
normal pre-menstrual swelling is gone.)
- If you are no longer
menstrating regularly, choose a specific date (e.g. the
15th) to perform your breast self examination (BSE).
- If you have had surgery
for breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, or a
lumpectomy, continue to examine the reconstructed or
augmented area each month using the same BSE procedure
you used before surgery.
Continue to refer to the BSE above. Pay particular attention to the
outer edge of the new tissue and skin as you examine
yourself.
How to Examine Your Chest
Wall and Underarm
- Looking at your chest wall:
Stand in front of a well-lighted mirror. Look at your
breast and mastectomy site and underarm in the mirror. If
you notice any of the following changes in your breast:
- swelling
- change in size
- thickening
- color changes
- lumps
- shape
- redness
- a persistent rash
or irritation in the area of your scar
NOTIFY YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY
- Touching (medical term:
Palpitation) may be done more accurately and easily in
the shower with soap on your hands or out of the shower
when using body lotion, you will feel for:
- new or unusual
swelling
- thickening
- soreness
- new lumps
- rash
- Check the surgical scar.
With two fingers together, press the area gently using
small circular motions.
- Sweep the chest wall with
three or four fingers, use a sweeping motion over the
chest wall. Next, feel the base of your neck, above and
below your collar bones, and in your underarms by moving
your fingers across those areas.
It is very important that you maintain your regularly
scheduled appointments in addition to performing the post
mastectomy monthly examinations.
Return
To Postmastectomy Breast Self Examination
Return to Breast Self Examination
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