Introduction
Observation and regular palpation of the breasts is an important part of early detection of breast cancer. Every woman knows her body and her breasts best and can therefore best detect changes in the breast tissue herself. Palpation is quick and easy to learn. Essentially, the breasts are first visually examined for abnormalities and then palpated while standing or lying down. Please note that self-scanning of the breasts does not replace a regular early detection examination by a gynaecologist.
Step-by-step guide to breast scanning
In the following text the procedure of a self-examination of the breasts is explained step by step. Stand in front of a mirror and make sure that there is sufficient light to notice even small changes or abnormalities in the breasts or nipples. Take sufficient time for the examination and make sure that the atmosphere is calm.
Let your arms hang down relaxed at the sides and look at your breasts. Look especially for changes in shape or contours, asymmetry of the breasts and changes in the nipple or skin on the breasts. Typical signs of breast cancer can also be protrusions or retractions of the skin (so-called “orange peel skin”) prolonged redness or flaking.
Now raise your arms and continue with the visual inspection of your breasts. Pay particular attention to whether the breasts behave differently when you raise your arms. Often changes in the mammary gland are only visible when the arms are raised.
Now the breasts can be slowly scanned for lumps, lumps or hardening. For the palpation, each breast is mentally divided into four parts and each of these four so-called quadrants is examined in detail. The palpation can be done clockwise or counter-clockwise.
For palpation, use your whole hand, which you place flat on the breast. The fingers are slowly moved against each other (as when playing the piano) and thus the entire chest is systematically examined. Slowly the breast is scanned for knotty or rough changes.
First palpate the breast superficially and then exert more pressure to feel the tissue in depth. Pay particular attention to the quadrant that lies in the upper outer quarter of the breast, as this is where malignant changes to the mammary gland occur most often. Nodules that are difficult to move against the overlying skin would indicate a malignant tumour.
Pain felt on palpation is rarely caused by breast cancer and is more likely to be due to benign cysts in the breast. Many women are frightened the first time they have it, as the tissue feels very uneven and knobbly. However, this is quite normal, as the breast is a gland with a more or less high proportion of fat and connective tissue.
Especially young women with small breasts often have extremely dense glandular tissue that feels very knobby. After the menopause, the breasts of many women become softer as the glandular tissue recedes and is replaced by fat. However, if the self-examination reveals unusual findings, the doctor should always be consulted.
Take the nipple between your thumb and forefinger and press lightly. Aqueous or bloody secretions and discharge from one or both nipples outside the breastfeeding period indicate a change in the mammary gland and should definitely be clarified by a gynaecologist (gynaecologist). Afterwards you should devote yourself to your armpits and palpate them while standing with hanging arms.
Pay particular attention to hardening or swollen lymph nodes. Altered lymph nodes in the armpit area can be an indication of a malignant change in the breast or can also be caused by an inflammation in the body. Finally, all previous steps are repeated while lying down.
While lying down, the pectoral muscle can relax and you can feel any changes deeper in the breast. Memorize the palpation findings well and get to know your body better. In case of noticeable changes or lumps, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
