“BREAST-MAPPING”® INSTRUCTIONS
BREAST PALPATION

SIXTH

EXAMINE AND DOCUMENT
A.  While standing up straight with your hands at your side:
     1. EXAMINE the structure of each breast using the pads (not fingertips) of the three middle fingers of the hand opposite the breast being examined.  Be sure to check under your arm (axilla). Record your findings and repeat the same procedure on your other breast.
     2. Locate PAINFUL or TENDER AREAS first (Sensation Exam) and mark these areas on your “Breast-Map”® with the RED marker.
     3. If you feel something unusual, check to see if the same structure is present in the same place in your other breast. UNUSUAL FINDINGS which are present in the same place in BOTH BREASTS should be documented in GREEN on your “Breast-Map”®. These represent the normal geography of your breasts.
     4. An UNUSUAL FINDING which is present in ONLY ONE BREAST should be documented on your “Breast-Map”® in BLUE and represents an AREA OF CONCERN. Any AREA OF CONCERN should be documented on your “Breast-Map”® in all three breast positions. In addition, you should also document the date found, size (see back cover) and shape of each AREA OF CONCERN before phoning this information to your physician and requesting an appointment to evaluate this new finding.

B.   Place the hand of the breast you are examining behind your head and repeat the procedure outlined in A. 1-4.

C.   Lie down and put a pillow or folded towel under the side and shoulder of the breast you are examining in order to center the nipple and more evenly distribute the breast tissue. Wrap the arm of the breast you are examining up and around your head. With the finger pads of the other hand, examine the entire area of breast tissue (including the axilla) THREE TIMES, first with light pressure, then with medium pressure, and finally with deep pressure. Document your findings on the “clock face” bottom diagram of your “Breast-Map”® with the appropriate color marker as explained in A. 2-4. The “Quick Reference” boxes on your “Breast-Map”® makes “Breast-Mapping”® easy!

D.    End each Breast Self-Exam by pressing downward and inward at the outer edge of the areola, then gently squeezing upward to check for any discharge. If you find a discharge, describe how it looks and write in on the map near the appropriate breast.

“Breast-Mapping”® was designed as an educational tool and it should not be used in place of appropriate medical care.  Every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented herein is accurate at the time of publication.  New research is ongoing however, and therefore it is possible that the data and recommendations presented herein may be invalidated by new findings.

Manufactured by Whimsies, Inc. ® (www.breast-mapping.com) Toll Free:  1(800) 437-3688