The side-lying position allows a woman, especially one with large breasts, to most effectively examine the outer half of the breast. A woman with small breasts may need only the flat position. Lie on the opposite side of the breast to be examined. Use the side-lying position to examine the outer half of your breast. Perimeter The exam area is bounded by the line which extends down from the middle of the armpit to just beneath the breast, continues across the underside of the breast to the middle of the breast bone, then moves up and along the collar bone and back to the middle of the armpit.
Most breast cancers occur in the upper outer area of the breast.
Palpation with Pad of Fingers Use the pads of three fingers to examine every inch of your breast tissue. Move your fingers in circles about the size of a dime. Do not lift your fingers from your breast between palpations. You can use powder or lotion to help your fingers glide from one spot to the next. Pressure Use varying levels of pressure for each palpation, from light to deep, to examine the full thickness of your breast tissue.