Skills Laboratory:: Performing Breast Self - Examination
Skills Laboratory:: Performing Breast Self - Examination
Skills Laboratory:: Performing Breast Self - Examination
PERFORMING
BREAST SELF – EXAMINATION
Jonnafe G. Gayatin, RMT, RN, MAN
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Abnormal
Findings during
Inspection
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• Females: Rounded shape; slightly unequal
in size; generally symmetric
• Males: Breasts even with chest wall; if
obese: may be similar in shape to female
breasts
Normal • Skin uniform in color, smooth and intact
Findings: (some may have stretch marks, moles etc.)
• Areola color may be light pink to dark
brown. Irregular placement of sebaceous
glans (Montgomery’s tubercles). Nipples
pointing in the same direction
• No tenderness, masses, nodules or nipple
discharge
STEPS RATIONALE
3. Slowly turn to each side to allow a Lactating
full view of both sides of both mothers may
breasts. Examine your areola and see a little
your nipple for any changes, such as encrusted
scaly skin or newly inverted nipple. material on the
nipple itself.
STEPS:
4. Continue to stand facing the
mirror and lift your arms up over
your head (straight up). Hold them
there and look for the same
symptoms (mentioned earlier).
Continue while slowly turning to
each side. Don’t be in a rush, move
slow enough to see everything.
STEPS RATIONALE
5. While still facing the mirror, place Accentuates
your hands on your hips and push retraction of
inward and downward, flexing the the breast
chest muscles under your breasts. tissue.
Again, look for the same symptoms
(as mentioned earlier)
STEPS:
6. Keep your hands on your hips and
lean forward, allowing your breasts
to hang freely away from the chest.
Watch the breast surfaces as they
move. You are looking for the same
symptoms (mentioned earlier).
Inspection of the Breast
• Source: Berman, A., Snyder, S. & Frandsen, G. (2016). Kozier & Erb’s fundamentals of nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice (10th ed.). Pearson Education Limited. page 596.
STEPS RATIONALE
7. Lie on your back, on a bed or other This position
flat surface. Elevate your shoulder distributes the
(the side you are examining) with a breast tissue
folded towel or pillow. Place your more evenly on
hand behind your head. the chest.
If too much breast tissue falls to the
STEPS: side and under your arm, and your
nipple is not pointing directly up
toward the ceiling, you may need to
assume a side lying position. (To do
that, lie on your right side to examine
your left breast, and pull your left
shoulder down onto the folded
towel.)
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ams_bse-102269/breast_self_exam-fig_4.png
STEPS RATIONALE
8. Use the pads of your three
middle fingers on your left hand to
feel for lumps or thickening. Your
finger pads are the top third of
each finger.
STEPS:
9. Press firmly enough to know
how your breast feels. A firm ridge
in the lower curve of each breast is
normal. Move around the breast in
a set way. Either circle, up and
down, or the wedge.
BREAST PALPATION • Source: Berman, A., Snyder, S. & Frandsen, G. (2016). Kozier &
TECHNIQUES Erb’s fundamentals of nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice
(10th ed.). Pearson Education Limited. page 596.
• After palpation, compress each nipple
to determine the presence of any
discharge.