If not having periods, select a familiar date to examine her breasts each month same – time each month Self-examination will familiarize the woman with her own breasts and their normal variation Emphasize the absence of lumps (not the presence of them) Encourage her to report any unusual findings promptly While teaching, focus on the positive aspects of BSE avoid citing frightening mortality statistics – of breast cancer Keep teaching simple more likely for compliance – Teach woman to do this in front of a mirror while she is disrobed to the waist At home, she can start palpation in the shower, where soap and water assist palpation Then palpation should be performed while lying supine Know quadrants of breast and tail of Spence inner quadrant Upper outer quadrant site of most breast tumors – Lower inner quadrant Lower outer quadrant Tail of Spence located in the upper outer quadrant; cone shaped breast tissue that projects up – into the axilla, close to the pectoral group of axillary lymph nodes Know axillary lymph nodes and where to palpate Central axillary nodes high up in the middle of the axilla, over the ribs and serratus anterior – muscle; these receive lymph from the other three groups of nodes Pectoral (anterior) along the lateral edge of the pectoralis major muscle, just inside the – anterior axillary fold Subscapular (posterior) the lateral edge of the scapula, deep in the posterior axillary fold – Lateral along the humerus, inside the upper arm – What is mammography Mammography: the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast, which is used as a diagnostic and screening tool. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses and/or microcalcifications of breast cancer The genetic contribution to breast cancer involves specific gene mutations at the BRCA1 and BRCA2 locations women with these mutations are at increased risk for breast cancer and – ovarian cancer White women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African-American women starting at age 45
If not having periods, select a familiar date to examine her breasts each month – same time each month Self-examination will familiarize the woman with her own breasts and their normal variation Emphasize the absence of lumps (not the presence of them) Encourage her to report any unusual findings promptly While teaching, focus on the positive aspects of BSE – avoid citing frightening mortality statistics of breast cancer Keep teaching simple – more likely for compliance Teach woman to do this in front of a mirror while she is disrobed to the waist At home, she can start palpation in the shower, where soap and water assist palpation Then palpation should be performed while lying supine Know quadrants of breast and tail of Spence inner quadrant Upper outer quadrant – site of most breast tumors Lower inner quadrant Lower outer quadrant Tail of Spence – located in the upper outer quadrant; cone shaped breast tissue that projects up into the axilla, close to the pectoral group of axillary lymph nodes Know axillary lymph nodes and where to palpate Central axillary nodes – high up in the middle of the axilla, over the ribs and serratus anterior muscle; these receive lymph from the other three groups of nodes Pectoral (anterior) – along the lateral edge of the pectoralis major muscle, just inside the anterior axillary fold Subscapular (posterior) – the lateral edge of the scapula, deep in the posterior axillary fold Lateral – along the humerus, inside the upper arm What is mammography Mammography: the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast, which is used as a diagnostic and screening tool. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses and/or microcalcifications of breast cancer The genetic contribution to breast cancer involves specific gene mutations at the BRCA1 and BRCA2 locations – women with these mutations are at increased risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer White women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African-American women starting at age 45
n312-exam-2-study-guide.docx