Which statement should be included in a pamphlet about breast self-examination for a community health fair?

• A. Expect some breast dimpling or discharge with age.
• B. Breasts can be examined in the shower with soapy hands.
• C. For those who have a menstrual cycle, perform a BSE every month, 2 or 3 days before menstruation.
• D. Using the palm of the hand to feel for lumps using a circular motion.

Answer: (D)

Systematic palpation of the breast using circular motions to detect lumps is the idea being tested. The goal of a pamphlet on breast self-examination is to give people a clear, actionable method they can repeatedly use to notice any new or unusual changes. Describing a circular, sweeping approach helps ensure every area of the breast is felt and compared over time, which makes it the most practical and reliable instruction to include.

This choice is best because it translates directly into a concrete technique you can teach at a health fair: move your fingers in small, circular motions so you cover the entire breast without missing spots, and apply gentle to moderate pressure to feel different layers of tissue. The other statements either discuss timing or context that aren’t as helpful for the basic technique of how to examine, or include shorthand that isn’t as straightforward to teach in a brief pamphlet.