Breast Cancer

• Breast Cancer - Risk Factors

  • age: over 50 years old post menopausal
  • early menarche
  • late menopause
  • family history of breast cancer
  • nulliparity or birth of first child is after age 30 years of age
  • history of uterine cancer
  • obesity
• Patient Teaching for BSE

  • Start from 20 years of age
  • Done after menstruation; or the same day of the month for postmenopausal women
  • Use the pads of the three middle fingers to palpate with gentle pressure.
  • Palpate from the center to the periphery, in a circular motion.
• Signs and symptoms of breast cancer:

  • firm, nontender, nonmobile mass
  • solitary, irregularly shaped mass
  • dimpling on the skin of the breast
  • asymmetry of the breast
  • "orange peel" skin of the breast
  • retraction of nipple
  • abnormal discharge from nipple
• The most common site of cancer of the breast is the upper outer quadrant area.
• The most common site of metastasis of cancer including breast cancer are as follows: liver, lungs, bone, brain, and adrenal glands (LLBBA)