A 20-year-old client is being seen at the health care provider's office for an annual physical examination

Question

During the data collection period, the client indicates she does not believe she is old enough to be concerned about performing a breast self-examination. What information should be provided to the client? 1. Women should begin to perform a monthly breast self-examination by the age of 20.
2. The breast self-examination should become a regular part of a woman's monthly regimen beginning at age 30.
3. If there is no family history of breast cancer, the client does not yet need to begin performing breast self-examination.
4. The breast self-examination is not needed if the client has an annual gynecological examination including a medical breast examination.

Answer 1

Women should begin to perform a monthly breast self-examination by the age of 20.

Rationale: The breast self-examination should be performed monthly by all women. Age 20 is a recommended starting point. Not all breast cancer has been linked to genetic factors. Family history is an inadequate means for determining the need to perform monthly breast self-examinations. The annual gynecological examination may indeed include a breast examination, but this is not an adequate frequency for the procedure.