Palpation of the breast

The palpation or palpation of the breast is the simplest, but most informative, method of examining the breast, which can be performed by a doctor or by a woman herself. The goal of palpation is to detect possible diseases in the gland in time. After all, the earlier the pathology is revealed, the more optimistic is the prognosis for recovery. This is especially true for tumors, including breast cancer.

Examination and palpation of the mammary glands is carried out very carefully and carefully. The palpation starts from the upper inner quadrant, gradually shifting to the outer upper quadrant, then grabbing the lower quadrants and the paranasal region.

If there is a discharge from the milk channels, you should pay attention to their color, consistency, quantity. Allocations are a very valuable biological and diagnostic material that can not be ignored.

Every suspicious symptom must be evaluated, and it will be better to do this with the doctor.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Examination and palpation of mammary glands

• What is the main algorithm of palpation of the mammary glands?

A woman is examined from two positions: standing and lying on the couch. When examining the breast, special attention is paid to the presence of deformities, asymmetry, swelling, redness, vascular asterisks, sites of skin retraction (wimplification). Be sure to consider the nipple area and areola, assessing skin color, retraction or convexity and other characteristics. After that, proceed to probe the area of the armpits, where the nearest to the mammary glands are the lymph nodes.

• What is the basic technique of palpation of the breast?

Independent palpation (self-examination) or medical examination of mammary glands is recommended to practice already from the age of 25 years. Palpation is best performed once a month, preferably on the same day of the monthly cycle (preferably on the 7-10 day of menstruation).

Immediately before the procedure, you should carefully inspect the underwear - is there any discharge from the nipple? Next, you need to consider your glands in front of the mirror for deformities, asymmetries, etc. If everything is in order, you can proceed to palpation:

• carefully probe the skin and gland tissues, following from the quadrant to the quadrant and ending with the central region of the nipple and axillary zones;
• be sure to pay attention to the smallest seals, nodules, pits, erosion, suspicious wrinkled formations;
• the left gland should be probed with the right hand, and vice versa;
• do not press heavily on the chest - the slip should be light, using three or four fingers of the hand;
• palpation should capture not only the chest, but also ribs, sternum;
• to conduct palpation is recommended in different positions of hands and trunk.

Before palpation, the hands and chest should be lubricated with a nutritious or massage cream to enhance the comfort of the procedure.

• How is palpation performed?

A universally recognized effective method of palpation of cystic formations is the acceptance of the woman's changing position of arms. It consists of certain stages:

• hands of the woman are located on the hips (this is the best position for relaxation of the muscles of the chest);
• the woman presses her hips with her hands, straining the muscles of her chest;
• lifts the combined elongated arms up (to determine the imputation - a sign of malignant growth of the breast);
• standing, leaning anteriorly.

Feeling of the glands is carried out using all of the above. Most often, they make it possible to detect features that are not detectable by standard palpation.

• How to identify breast cancer when palpating?

Visually detect the displacement of the nipple, the presence of retraction or puffiness, a change in the color and appearance of the skin. An important criterion is the symptom of the imputation - this is the appearance of a Westernization in the tissue of the organ, which is considered one of the signs of infiltrative cancer. Also for a cancerous tumor is a symptom of a "lemon peel" - these are specific changes on the skin that is located above the malignant focus. The appearance of the skin resembles a lemon or orange peel, which is explained by the overlapping of lymphatic cancers with cancerous formation.

Palpable, you can determine the presence of nodes, dense areas, strands, etc. Such seals are often painless, have irregular contours, uneven borders, they seem to be welded to the nearest tissues. At the same time, discharge from the milk ducts may appear, which is also an unfavorable symptom.

A disease such as Paget's cancer can be identified by the presence of scales and crusts in the nasal zone, as well as by thickening the nipple.

• What signs indicate that the gland is healthy?

Healthy mammary glands have a rounded shape, they are symmetrical. Skin over the glands clean, without visible changes. Consistency is soft-elastic, without seals and nodal formations.

The mammary glands can acquire a different appearance depending on the monthly phase, which often worries many women. It is normal, if immediately before the menstrual period or during menstruation, the breast becomes sensitive, increases in size, and the nipple becomes slightly painful.

By the way, tenderness in palpation of the mammary gland in most cases indicates the good quality of the process: malignant tumors, as a rule, are not accompanied by pain. If the iron hurts at a palpation, it can be a sign of a mastitis, fibro-cystic mastopathy and so forth.

• Is palpation of the mammary glands carried out in the postpartum period?

During the first few days of the postpartum period, the doctor necessarily exercises control over the condition of the parturient woman. In the beginning, the consistency, size and contractility of the uterus must be monitored, special attention is paid to vaginal discharge. Within 4 hours after delivery, and also in the next few days, the doctor determines the condition of the mammary glands - are they ready for feeding the baby. Attention is paid to breast augmentation, absence of signs of inflammation (redness, increased local temperature, painful seals).

Normally during pregnancy, an elevated level of estradiol, progesterone and other hormones provoke the accelerated development of glandular tissue. Throughout the gestation, lactation is inhibited by steroid hormones that are produced in the placenta. At the end of labor, their number drops sharply and breast milk begins to be released under the influence of prolactin. If a woman does not breastfeed, or the child does not suck out the required amount of milk, then lactostasis may develop - milk stagnation in the breast. Palpator such a condition is found in the form of sharply painful seals and an increase in the temperature of the skin in the glands. If this happens, it is better not to lose time and consult a doctor.

If the palpation of the breast has resulted in the identification of a suspicious seal or tubercle, do not immediately get scared. It is better to consult a specialist, go through the necessary stages of the survey - most often it turns out that there are no reasons for concern. However, it is important not to forget that a timely call to a doctor often helps to prevent serious health problems.

[7], [8]