Nursing 3180 Health Assessment - Exam 4

Chapter 17 – Breast and Regional Lymphatic 1. Know the quadrants of the breast and the significance of the axillary tail of Spence  The upper outer quadrant is the site of most breast tumors  Axillary tail of Spence has many lymph nodes, which allows a direct route for breast cancer to metastasis. 2. What physical changes occur to the woman’s breast with aging  After menopause ovarian secretion of estrogen and progesterone decreases, which causes the breast glandular tissue to atrophy. This is replaced by connective tissue  Fat envelope atrophies  Decrease breast size and elasticity, causing breasts to droop and sag  Drooping is accentuated by kyphosis in some older women  Decreased breast size makes inner structures more prominent  Breast lump suddenly more palpable  Around the nipple the lactiferous ducts are more palpable and feel firm and stringy because of fibrosis and calcification  Axillary hair decreases 3. What is gynecomastia and what can cause it  Gynecomastia is excessive breast development in males  During adolescence breast tissue temporarily enlarges  Reappear in the aging male  Results from testosterone deficiency  Could also occur with use of anabolic steroids, some medications, cirrhosis, and other diseases. 4. What is mastalgia  Mastalgia is pain in the breast  Occurs with trauma, inflammation, infection, and benign breast disease 5. What is cyclic pain and what is it associated with  Cyclic pain is breast pain that may radiate to armpit and arm.  Is common with normal breasts, oral contraceptives, and benign breast (fibrocystic) disease.  Associated with menstrual cycles 6. What is galactorrhea and what can cause it?  Galactorrhea is persistent white discharge of milk between nursing sessions or after weaning.  Medications can cause this o Oral contraceptives, phenothiazine, dietetics, digitalis, steroids, methyldopa, calcium channel blockers. 7. When is discharge from the nipple clinically significant  Bloody or blood-tinged discharge always is significant  Any discharge with a lump 8. Be familiar with the risk factors associated with breast cancer  Most breast cancer occurs in women with no identifiable risk factors except age and sex.  Risk factors o Nulliparity or 1st child after age 30 o Oral contraceptive use