Breast Self Examination

1. 1Breast Self Examination2
. . ,
Dr Wal eed Ayoub Shehadat MD MSc

Obstetri ci an & Gynecol ogi st

Bi l l asmar General Hospi tal
-
Aseer KSA
2009
Apri l
Wal eed.shehadat@gmai l .com

3. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•* Includes both looking and feeling over the entire
breast and chest area.
•* Women should use the pads, not the tips, of the
three middle fingers.
•* BSE usually only takes about 15 to 20 minutes
each month. *
•* Women should be sure to examine the breasts
in the same manner each month.
•* check the entire breast and armpit area, and
remember how the breasts feel from month to
month.
•* Some women prefer to keep a small diary of
their monthly breast self-exams..
•
.

4. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Approximate percentage of
breast cancers found in each
area:
•41% in the upper, outer
quadrant
•14% in the upper, inner
quadrant
•5% in the lower, inner
quadrant
•34% in the area behind the
nipple
•6% in the lower, outer
quadrant

5. Breast Self Examination
BSE
Patterns to Use When Performing BSE
1.Vertical or "up and down" pattern (or
"squares") covering the entire breast.
2.Spiral or ring pattern, making concentric
rings that tighten in a spiral, starting on the
outer edges of the breast and ending
around the nipple.
3.Wedge patterns in and out (or "quadrants").

6. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Patterns to Use When Performing BSE

Vertical Spiral Wedge

7. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Women should use three levels of pressure (light, medium,
and firm) and small "massaging" circles.
•Women should not lift the fingers while feeling the breasts.
•Women should perform BSE when they can be in a private
place.
•BSE should be performed in a warm room or during a warm
shower so that the breast tissue is relaxed. . Cold air or
cold water causes the breasts and nipples to contract.
•Some women prefer to use a small amount of baby powder
or talcum powder.
•Soapy fingers reduce friction and allow some breast
changes to be more easily recognized.
•

8. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Any persistent breast lump or
abnormality of the breast or nipple should
be reported to a physician as soon as
possible.

9. Breast Self Examination
BSE
Step 1
What you should look for:
*Breasts that are their usual size, shape,
and color.
*Breasts that are evenly shaped without
visible distortion or swelling.
*Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the
skin.
*A nipple that has changed position or an
inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of
sticking out).
* Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.

10. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Step 2
•Raise your
arms and
look for the
same
changes.

11. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Step 3: While you're
at the mirror, gently
squeeze each nipple
between your finger
and thumb and
check for nipple
discharge (this could
be a milky or yellow
fluid or blood).

12. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Step 4: Next, feel your breasts
while lying down, using your
right hand to feel your left
breast and then your left
hand to feel your right breast.
Use a firm, smooth touch with
the first few fingers of your
hand, keeping the fingers flat
and together.
•Cover the entire breast from
top to bottom, side to side—
from your collarbone to the
top of your abdomen, and
from your armpit to your
cleavage.
•

13. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Follow a pattern to be sure that
you cover the whole breast. You
can begin at the nipple, moving
in larger and larger circles until
you reach the outer edge of the
breast. You can also move your
fingers up and down vertically, in
rows, as if you were mowing a
lawn. Be sure to feel all the
breast tissue: just beneath your
skin with a soft touch and down
deeper with a firmer touch.
Begin examining each area with
a very soft touch, and then
increase pressure so that you can
feel the deeper tissue, down to
your ribcage

14. Breast Self Examination
BSE
•Step 5
•Finally, feel your breasts
while you are standing or
sitting. Many women find
that the easiest way to feel
their breasts is when their
skin is wet and slippery, so
they like to do this step in
the shower. Cover your
entire breast, using the
same hand movements
described in Step 4.

15. BARADA in BAB TOUMA
DAMASCUS