Breast Examination
Firstly, ensure you offer a female chaperone to the patient before starting.
Ask the patient to remove any clothing down to their waist and to sit on the
edge of the bed.
Ask the patient which breast the problem is located and ask if she has any
pain.
General inspection:
Look at the breasts for signs of dimpling, peau d’orange (orange peel
appearance), nipple tethering, obvious scars and discharge.
Inspect the breasts with the patient in 5 different positions:
1. At rest
2. Raising both arms above the head
3. Sitting and pushing up off the bed with both arms
4. Putting the hands on their hips and pushing inwards
5. Leaning forward to observe for any muscle tethering
Palpation:
Ask the patient to lie at 45 degrees on the bed, while placing the arm on the
side of the breast to be examined behind her head.
Begin palpation on the normal breast.
Palpate in 4 quadrants with the flat of your fingers.
Then feel under the nipple and areola.
Feel up into the axilla for breast tail tissue and axillary lymph nodes.
Repeat this on the other breast.
Describing breast lumps:
Describe the size, location, shape, colour, any tenderness, temperature,
consistency of the lump, surface, definition, mobility/tethered, overlying skin
changes.
Firstly, ensure you offer a female chaperone to the patient before starting.
Ask the patient to remove any clothing down to their waist and to sit on the
edge of the bed.
Ask the patient which breast the problem is located and ask if she has any
pain.
General inspection:
Look at the breasts for signs of dimpling, peau d’orange (orange peel
appearance), nipple tethering, obvious scars and discharge.
Inspect the breasts with the patient in 5 different positions:
1. At rest
2. Raising both arms above the head
3. Sitting and pushing up off the bed with both arms
4. Putting the hands on their hips and pushing inwards
5. Leaning forward to observe for any muscle tethering
Palpation:
Ask the patient to lie at 45 degrees on the bed, while placing the arm on the
side of the breast to be examined behind her head.
Begin palpation on the normal breast.
Palpate in 4 quadrants with the flat of your fingers.
Then feel under the nipple and areola.
Feel up into the axilla for breast tail tissue and axillary lymph nodes.
Repeat this on the other breast.
Describing breast lumps:
Describe the size, location, shape, colour, any tenderness, temperature,
consistency of the lump, surface, definition, mobility/tethered, overlying skin
changes.
