3B L50 Mode D'emploi page 5

English
Self Examination of the Female Breast
cause swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit. Consult
your doctor on any new lumps, especially if they cause no
pain.
Palpation in Reclined Position
For a thorough examination lie down in a comfortable posi-
tion on your back, with the head flat down. To examine your
left breast, lift up the left arm and place the hand behind
the neck. If you have rather large breasts, turn to the right
side (perhaps with drawn up legs) so that the left breast
settles evenly on the chest wall. Now carefully examine the
left breast and the indicated adjacent areas with the fin-
gertips of the right hand. Then proceed with the other side.
Systematically examine the marked area around the breast
including the pit above the collarbone for lumps or changes.
In the area between the armpit and the breast there are
frequently benign changes of the tissue. However, since car-
cinomas are most likely to occur in this region, it is especially
important: Show any recent changes to your gynecologist.
Systematic Procedure
A thorough examination of your breast should include the
entire marked region: from the breastbone as middle line
towards the sides to include the armpits, from the armpits
down to below the fold of the breast and up to the pit above
the collarbone. Develop a system that won't miss any of
these regions and that you follow in each self-examination.
You can proceed in any of the following ways:
• Star-shaped, proceeding from the edges of the breast regi-
on towards the middle. Then examine the area behind the
nipple.
• Proceeding in parallel lines, moving upwards and down-
wards.
• Proceeding in a spiral form, starting with the outer regions
and moving towards the center of the breast.
For orientation purposes when you wish to perform a tho-
rough examination or re-examination of a specific region
you can imagine that the breast is divided into quadrants or
wedges as in a clock dial, adding the distance to the breast
nipple.
Dr. med. Sven Ehart
®