Do you feel comfortable with your own knowledge of self-breast examination enough to educate a patient? Assessing a patient's compliance of performing self-breast examinations should entail not only if she merely does the examination, but when she is doing them and how she is doing them. There is evidence-based practice that portrays the proper way to perform a self-breast examination. If you, as the primary nurse, are not educated on proper techniques of a self-breast examination, it is your responsibility to provide a resource to the patient that can properly demonstrate this. Women should be educated on the proper way to do a self-breast examination. The first steps should include the ideal time of month to perform the examination. This will allow women to know what is normal breast tissue and what is abnormal to aide in early detection of breast cancer. Utilizing the tools of self-breast examination, yearly mammograms and clinical breast examinations, together with consistency, are the best protection in detecting early breast cancers.

The current controversy over benefits of performing self-breast examinations and just simple breast awareness do not take into account the education individuals are given regarding self-breast examination. There is currently no study that demonstrates a group of individuals who have been taught the proper techniques of a self-breast examination. The techniques used in self-breast examinations alter the validity of the studies conducted. Self-breast examination will be of no benefit in early detection if it is done improperly, just as a mammogram would be of no benefit if a trained professional did not perform the screening. This is where the primary nurse's role has a great impact.

Assessing a patient's compliance of performing self-breast examinations should entail not only if she merely does the examination, but when she is doing them and how she is doing them. There is evidence-based practice that portrays the proper way to perform a self-breast examination. If you, as the primary nurse, are not educated on proper techniques of a self-breast examination, it is your responsibility to provide a resource to the patient that can properly demonstrate this.

Women should be provided education on the proper way to do a self-breast examination. The first steps should include the ideal time of month to perform the examination. This time should be approximately 2 days after the end of the menstrual cycle. In postmenopausal women, it should be a time during the month that they will recall every month. The self-breast examination begins by facing a mirror and examining the physical appearance of the breasts. Ask questions such as, are the breasts symmetrical, is the color consistent in both breasts, is the nipple dimpled, and is there any rash or abnormalities that can be visualized. Raise arms one side at a time to examine the underarm region.

The Circle technique requires the use of your finger pads, not finger tips, of the first three fingers. Palpate the breast tissue, using three different types of pressure. First palpate light, followed by medium pressure, and then complete the examination with firm pressure. Palpate from the nipple area outward in a circular pattern. Make sure to palpate the entire breast tissue, including into the underarm area. You are feeling for lumps, knots, or skin thickening.

The Up and Down technique involves doing your breast examination by utilizing the first three fingers of your hand and using the pads of your fingers to palpate all three types of pressure from the outside of the breast tissue to most inner side of the tissue. Palpate up the breast tissue and then back down until the entire breast tissue has been palpated. Complete the examination by moving the pads of the fingers up and down the underarm region continuing to utilize all three different types of pressure.

The Wedge technique involves using the pads of the first three fingers on your hand. Begin the examination in the nipple region. Palpate from the nipple outward, imagining the breast to be wedged in eight different sections. Walk the finger pads from the nipple to outmost region of the breast and then back up the breast toward the nipple, completing a wedge pattern. After the entire breast tissue is palpated using light, medium, and firm pressure, begin to palpate the underarm area for any lumps, bumps, or thickening.

For some women, self-breast examinations induce worry due to the fibrous breast tissue that may be palpated. For this reason alone, why it is important to be consistent and follow all steps of a self-breast examination. This will educate women to normal breast tissue and what is abnormal to aide in early detection of breast cancer. Utilizing the tools of self-breast examination, yearly mammograms and clinical breast examinations, together with consistency, are the best protection in detecting early breast cancers.

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