ABSTRACT
In the United Kingdom, the female breast has a cultural, psychological and sociological significance far beyond its function as a milk-producing organ. Breast cancer is a high-stake diagnosis: women fear a diagnosis that is associated with reduced life expectancy and disfiguring surgery, with a perception of reduced feelings of femininity and sexuality. Breast referrals are made for a wide variety of breast/chest wall and axillary problems, pain being the most common symptom and a lump the most common sign. Triple assessment is the core of breast assessment. Clinical skills and experience remain an important aspect of triple assessment, especially when reviewing the concordance of the assessment process. Mammography uses soft-tissue X-rays to image the breast. The breast is compressed between two plates while the image is made. Acoustic water-based gel, which is a good medium for the transmission of ultrasound waves, is applied to the breast and an ultrasound probe is manipulated over the breast by the sonographer.
