If a woman has a breast change, her doctor must determine whether it is due to breast cancer or some other cause. The woman has a physical exam. The doctor asks about her personal and family medical history. She may have a mammogram or other imaging procedure that makes pictures of tissues inside the breast. After the tests, the doctor may decide that no further tests are needed and no treatment is necessary. Or the woman may need a biopsy to examine the suspicious area for cancer cells.
Clinical Breast Exam
The health care provider feels each breast for lumps and looks for other problems. If a woman has a breast lump, the health care provider can tell a lot about it by feeling it and the tissue around it. Benign lumps often feel different from cancerous ones. The health care provider can check the size, shape, and texture of the lump and feel whether it moves easily. Lumps that are soft, smooth, round, and movable are likely to be benign. A hard, oddly shaped lump that feels firmly attached within the breast is more likely to be cancer.
Diagnostic Mammography
Diagnostic mammograms involve x-ray pictures of the breast to get clearer, more detailed pictures of any area that looks abnormal on a screening mammogram. They also are used to help the doctor learn more about unusual breast changes, such as a lump, pain, thickening, nipple discharge, or change in breast size or shape. Diagnostic mammograms may focus on a specific area of the breast. They may involve special techniques and more views than screening mammograms.
Ultrasonography
Using high-frequency sound waves, ultrasonography (ultrasound) can often show whether a lump is a fluid-filled cyst (not cancer) or a solid mass (which may or may not be cancer). The doctor can view these pictures on a monitor. After the test, the pictures can be stored on video and printed out. This exam may be used along with a mammogram.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
For magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a powerful magnet linked to a computer is sometimes used to make detailed pictures of tissue inside the breast. The doctor can view these pictures on a monitor and can print them on film. MRI may be used along with a mammogram.
