###### Abstract  
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Although targeted screening programs using mammography have facilitated earlier detection and improved treatment has resulted in a significant reduction in mortality, some negative aspects related to cost, the availability of trained staff, the duration of the procedure, and its non-generalizability to all women must be taken into consideration. Breast palpation is a simple non-invasive procedure that can be performed by lay individuals for detecting possible malignant nodules in the breast. It is a simple test, based on the haptic perception of different stiffness between healthy and abnormal tissues. According to a survey we carried out, despite being safe and simple, breast self-examination is not carried by women because they are not confident of their ability to detect a lump. In this study, a non-invasive wearable device designed to mimic the process of breast self-examination using pressure sensing textiles and thus increase the confidence and self-awareness of women is proposed. Combined with other screening methods, the device can increase the odds of early detection for better prognosis. Here, we present the physical implementation of the device and a finite element analysis of the mechanics underlying its working principle. Characterization of the device using models of large and medium breast phantoms with rigid inclusions demonstrates that it can detect nodules in much the same way as does the human hand during breast self-examination. breast cancer; breast self-examination; breast palpation; pressure sensing textile; wearable device +
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been successful in reducing mortality, in particular in women over 50, some negative aspects related to cost, the availability of trained staff, the duration of the test, and the non-applicability to all women must be considered. In fact, despite being the gold standard of diagnostic techniques, mammography cannot be used on pregnant women because of ionizing radiation. This technique is also ineffective in young dense breasts [7]. Moreover, as a routine diagnostic tool, mammography is costly, placing an economic load on already overburdened healthcare systems. There is, therefore, a need for low-cost, reliable early detection method for breast cancer, particularly in the younger population. Currently, several products are available in the market in support of early detection. They are generally used for clinical breast examination (CBE) by physicians to perform their work and hence are not wearable [9; 10]. These devices, through tactile imaging, take advantages of the different mechanical properties of the tissues in order to detect anomalies located inside the breast. Tactile imaging is a new emerging diagnostic technique based on visualizing the sense of touch. Biological tissues are characterized by specific mechanical properties, which change in the course of the lump's development. Using these features, it is possible to create pressure maps in relation to the direction of tissue deformation. This is because the pressure response corresponding to areas with abnormalities is higher than the healthy tissue. Considering the effectiveness of this simple and risk-free methodology, several devices imitate the haptic process performed during palpation using different types of technologies, such as ultrasound or pressure sensors. Among the advantages of using tactile sensors instead of human touch are their greater reliability and repeatability [10; 11; 12; 13]. According to a study performed by [PERSON] et al. [10], tactile imaging showed a sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 86.1% on a sample of 32 malignant lesions and 147 benign ones. These results are comparable to the effectiveness of other diagnostic techniques but tactile imaging has several advantages, such as ease of use, portability, absence of radiation, and lower costs.