Palpate the chest

Martina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

If you feel your breasts regularly, you can do a lot for the early detection of breast cancer yourself. Among other things, pay attention to whether the size of a breast has changed, the tissue is more knotty than usual or a painful area can be felt. You should show your gynecologist any of these changes or abnormalities. Read here when and how you should feel your chest!

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. D05C50

Why you should palpate your chest

Regular home breast exams are a good way to feel for lumps in the breast and identify other potential signs of a tumor. In fact, many breast cancer patients discover the malignant tumor themselves in this way - fortunately, because: the earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery!

• Breast cancer: "Every woman should feel"

  Three questions for

  

  Anita Spickhofen,
  Medical tactile examiner (MTU)
• 1

  How often should I palpate the chest?

  

  Anita Spickhofen

  The general recommendation is: once a month. Women who are already in the menopause choose a fixed day for it - for example, the beginning of the month. Women with a menstrual cycle are best examined once a month between the 6th and 10th day after the start of their period - then the tissue is particularly soft.

• 2

  Are there areas that should be examined particularly intensively?

  

  Anita Spickhofen

  You divide your chest into quadrants when you feel it. The upper outer one, the one near the armpit, should be examined particularly intensively. Also feel the armpits themselves, with the lymph nodes located in them, well. And also important: the nipple itself. Make sure you come down to your ribs - because the nipple is the second most common area where breast cancer occurs.

• 3

  When should I go to the doctor with changes?

  

  Anita Spickhofen

  When you have felt something, you should observe it for about a week. If it does not go away in time, it even gets bigger, see a doctor! Even if you are unsure! But it is important that every woman palpates her breast regularly. Because prevention is still the most important thing for breast cancer - and it affects every eighth woman in her life.

• 

  Anita Spickhofen,
  Medical tactile examiner (MTU)

  Anita Spickhofen has been working for the social enterprise discovering hands (www.discovering-hands.de) in breast cancer screening since 2008, and has been training MTUs herself since 2016

Palpate the chest: the right time

Every woman should palpate her breast regularly, preferably once a month. The optimal time for women before menopause is one week after the start of their menstrual period. The breast is then particularly soft. Towards the end of the cycle, on the other hand, the breasts often swell under the influence of hormones. Then the glandular tissue feels harder or even knotty. Tumor-related changes such as lumps or hardening can then not be recognized so easily.

Women after the menopause should choose a fixed day of the month (around the first of the month) and preferably enter it on the calendar. In this way you can avoid forgetting to palpate your breast. Even if you are over the age group for the statutory breast cancer screening program, mammography screening (50 to 69 years of age), you should continue to scan your breast regularly.

Palpate your chest properly: that's how it works!

Take enough time to do a breast self-exam and create a calm atmosphere.

The look in the mirror

First, stand in front of a mirror with your torso bare (in good lighting conditions) and look at your breasts in different positions. First, for example, with arms hanging down, then with arms stretched upwards, with the upper body bent forward and with arms braced on the hips. Examine the breasts from the front and the side. Has anything changed since the last self-examination?

Noticeable changes can affect the shape or size of a breast, for example. Retraction of the nipple or other skin areas on the breast are also suspect. New bulges, redness and "orange peel" on the breast should also be clarified by a doctor.

Palpate the chest while standing

Now you should systematically palpate the chest with the flat of your hand: To do this, lift your right arm up and then examine the right breast with your left hand and vice versa. Slightly move your fingers towards each other when you play the keys - you are practically playing the piano on your skin. In this way, any knots can be detected in different depths of the tissue.

Start by palpating the breast at its outer top edge, then work your way inward in a spiral to the nipple. Also feel the nipple carefully and gently squeeze it together: if liquid leaks out, pay attention to the color and consistency.

When palpating the chest, do not forget the areas in the direction of the collarbone and in the direction of the armpit as well as the armpit itself.

Palpate the chest while lying down

Ideally, repeat the entire chest palpation while lying down. To do this, place a small pillow or a folded towel under your shoulder on the side of the chest you are about to examine. The chest becomes flatter and easier to feel. In this position, you can examine the lower parts of the chest particularly well.

The outer areas of the breast and the lymph nodes in the chest cavity can best be palpated in the half-side position.

No panic!

If you feel your chest for the first time, you may be shocked because the tissue feels much more knotty than expected. Young women in particular often have knotty, firm bosoms. With age, the body gradually replaces the glandular tissue with fatty tissue. This is why the breast is usually softer after menopause.

Also, keep in mind that not all areas of the chest are created equal. Inequality also prevails when it comes to the size of the two breasts: For most people, one breast is naturally slightly larger than the other.

Don't let palpable lymph nodes scare you! There are many (and often harmless) reasons why they can be enlarged, such as infection. Nevertheless, you should speak to your doctor about any noticeable changes.

If you palpate your breast regularly, you will quickly become familiar with your individual "glandular landscape" and you will be better able to recognize suspicious changes.

Tags:  therapies hospital first aid