Here are some appropriate history questions to ask regarding the breast examination:
1. Have you experienced any breast pain? If so, is it cyclic or brought on by exercise? Is it sore to the touch?
2. Have you noticed any lumps or thickening in your breast? Have you observed any changes in the overlying skin? When did you first notice these changes? Have they changed over time?
3. Have you experienced any discharge from your breast? If so, when did it occur, what color and consistency was the discharge, and was there any odor? Are you taking any medications that may affect your breast tissue?
4. Have you experienced any rash on your breast? When did it start, and where did it start?
5. Have you experienced any swelling in your breast? Is the swelling localized to one spot or all over the breast?
6. Have you experienced any trauma to your breast? Did the trauma result in a lump?
7. Do you have a history of breast disease? If so, what type of breast disease have you been diagnosed with and when?
8. Have you had any breast surgeries? If so, what type of surgery did you have, and when was it performed?
9. What are your self-exam behaviors? How often do you perform self-exams, and when was your last mammogram?