Breast disorders Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
A 45-year-old woman comes into the OB/GYN clinic for her yearly check-up. The
woman mentions to the nurse that she has a dimpling of the right breast that has
occurred in the last 2 weeks. She has not performed a self-breast examination. What
assessment would be appropriate for the nurse to make?
a) Order an immediate mammogram
b) Palpate the area for a breast mass
c) Call the physician to schedule a biopsy
d) Evaluate the patient's milk production - ANSWER✔✔-b: It would be most important
for the nurse to palpate the breast to determine the presence of a mass. Edema and
pitting of the skin may result from a neoplasm blocking lymphatic drainage, giving the
skin an orange-peel appearance (peau d'orange), a classic sign of advanced breast
cancer. Evaluation of milk production is required in lactating women. There is no
indication of lactation in the scenario. A mammogram is an appropriate diagnostic test,
but unless the nurse is a practitioner this would not be within the nurse's realm of
,practice. A referral could be made to a physician but the nurse would not proceed to
schedule a biopsy
A 33-year-old female client reports yellow nipple discharge and a pain in her breasts a
week before menses that dissipates on the onset of menses. Diagnosis reveals that the
client is experiencing fibrocystic breast changes. Which instructions should the nurse
offer the client to help alleviate the condition? Select all that apply.
a) Avoid caffeine
b) Practice good hand-washing techniques
c) Increase fluid intake steadily
d) Take diuretics as recommended
e) Maintain a low-fat diet - ANSWER✔✔-a, d, e: The nurse should instruct the client
with fibrocystic breast changes to avoid caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant that can
lead to discomfort. It is important to maintain a lowfat diet rich in fruits, vegetables,
and grains to maintain a healthy body weight. Taking diuretics is important to
counteract fluid retention and swelling of the breasts. Practicing good handwashing
techniques and increasing fluid intake are important for clients with mastitis but may
not help clients with fibrocystic breast changes.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for a health fair about preventing breast cancer.
Which of the following would the nurse include?
,a) Opting for estrogen only replacement therapy during menopause
b) Increasing the intake of caffeinated drinks
c) Delaying childbearing until after age 30
d) Maintaining an ideal weight - ANSWER✔✔-d: Maintaining an ideal weight
decreases the risk of breast cancer. Having no children or having children after age 30 is
associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. Some breast tumors are hormone
dependent, such that estrogen (or progesterone) enhances tumor growth. Women are
advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol, not caffeine, because alcohol correlates
with an increased risk of breast cancer
After teaching a client with mastitis about caring for her breasts, the nurse determines
that the client has understood the instructions when she states which of the following?
a) " Until the infection is gone, I can't take a tub bath or shower."
b) "I should avoid wearing a bra because it would increase the pain."
c) "I will express milk with a breast pump until infection is resolved."
d) "I need to apply cold soaks to the breast several times a day." - ANSWER✔✔-c: The
client statement about expressing milk with a breast pump until the infection is
resolved indicates effective teaching. The client should apply warm soaks to the breast
or let warm water from a shower flow over the breast. The nurse should advise the
client to wear a supportive brassiere. The client should bathe or shower regularly
, Which of the following would the nurse include in the plan of care for a client
diagnosed with breast cancer who has undergone a mastectomy?
a) Instructing client to use arm pumps
b) Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises
c) Applying ace bandages to the arms
d) Counseling the client to apply elastic sleeves to her arms - ANSWER✔✔-b:
Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises is important to maintain circulation to
the arm on the affected side. Use of elastic sleeves, arm pumps, and ace bandaging is
recommended for clients who may have complications following radiation or surgery
for lymphedema of the arm
A nurse is assigned to educate a group of women on cancer awareness. Which risk
factors for breast cancer are modifiable? Select all that apply.
a) Previous abnormal breast biopsy
b) Early menarche or late menopause
c) Failing to breastfeed for up to a year after pregnancy
d) Postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins
e) Not having children until after age 30 - ANSWER✔✔-c, d, e: The modifiable risk
factors for breast cancer are postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins, not having
children until after the age of 30, and failing to breastfeed for up to a year after
Questions and Answers
A 45-year-old woman comes into the OB/GYN clinic for her yearly check-up. The
woman mentions to the nurse that she has a dimpling of the right breast that has
occurred in the last 2 weeks. She has not performed a self-breast examination. What
assessment would be appropriate for the nurse to make?
a) Order an immediate mammogram
b) Palpate the area for a breast mass
c) Call the physician to schedule a biopsy
d) Evaluate the patient's milk production - ANSWER✔✔-b: It would be most important
for the nurse to palpate the breast to determine the presence of a mass. Edema and
pitting of the skin may result from a neoplasm blocking lymphatic drainage, giving the
skin an orange-peel appearance (peau d'orange), a classic sign of advanced breast
cancer. Evaluation of milk production is required in lactating women. There is no
indication of lactation in the scenario. A mammogram is an appropriate diagnostic test,
but unless the nurse is a practitioner this would not be within the nurse's realm of
,practice. A referral could be made to a physician but the nurse would not proceed to
schedule a biopsy
A 33-year-old female client reports yellow nipple discharge and a pain in her breasts a
week before menses that dissipates on the onset of menses. Diagnosis reveals that the
client is experiencing fibrocystic breast changes. Which instructions should the nurse
offer the client to help alleviate the condition? Select all that apply.
a) Avoid caffeine
b) Practice good hand-washing techniques
c) Increase fluid intake steadily
d) Take diuretics as recommended
e) Maintain a low-fat diet - ANSWER✔✔-a, d, e: The nurse should instruct the client
with fibrocystic breast changes to avoid caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant that can
lead to discomfort. It is important to maintain a lowfat diet rich in fruits, vegetables,
and grains to maintain a healthy body weight. Taking diuretics is important to
counteract fluid retention and swelling of the breasts. Practicing good handwashing
techniques and increasing fluid intake are important for clients with mastitis but may
not help clients with fibrocystic breast changes.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for a health fair about preventing breast cancer.
Which of the following would the nurse include?
,a) Opting for estrogen only replacement therapy during menopause
b) Increasing the intake of caffeinated drinks
c) Delaying childbearing until after age 30
d) Maintaining an ideal weight - ANSWER✔✔-d: Maintaining an ideal weight
decreases the risk of breast cancer. Having no children or having children after age 30 is
associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. Some breast tumors are hormone
dependent, such that estrogen (or progesterone) enhances tumor growth. Women are
advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol, not caffeine, because alcohol correlates
with an increased risk of breast cancer
After teaching a client with mastitis about caring for her breasts, the nurse determines
that the client has understood the instructions when she states which of the following?
a) " Until the infection is gone, I can't take a tub bath or shower."
b) "I should avoid wearing a bra because it would increase the pain."
c) "I will express milk with a breast pump until infection is resolved."
d) "I need to apply cold soaks to the breast several times a day." - ANSWER✔✔-c: The
client statement about expressing milk with a breast pump until the infection is
resolved indicates effective teaching. The client should apply warm soaks to the breast
or let warm water from a shower flow over the breast. The nurse should advise the
client to wear a supportive brassiere. The client should bathe or shower regularly
, Which of the following would the nurse include in the plan of care for a client
diagnosed with breast cancer who has undergone a mastectomy?
a) Instructing client to use arm pumps
b) Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises
c) Applying ace bandages to the arms
d) Counseling the client to apply elastic sleeves to her arms - ANSWER✔✔-b:
Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises is important to maintain circulation to
the arm on the affected side. Use of elastic sleeves, arm pumps, and ace bandaging is
recommended for clients who may have complications following radiation or surgery
for lymphedema of the arm
A nurse is assigned to educate a group of women on cancer awareness. Which risk
factors for breast cancer are modifiable? Select all that apply.
a) Previous abnormal breast biopsy
b) Early menarche or late menopause
c) Failing to breastfeed for up to a year after pregnancy
d) Postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins
e) Not having children until after age 30 - ANSWER✔✔-c, d, e: The modifiable risk
factors for breast cancer are postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins, not having
children until after the age of 30, and failing to breastfeed for up to a year after
