Diagnosis

Doctors often use additional tests to find or diagnose breast cancer.

• Breast ultrasound. A machine uses sound waves to make detailed pictures, called sonograms, of areas inside the breast.
  
• Diagnostic mammogram. If you have a problem in your breast, such as lumps, or if an area of the breast looks abnormal on a screening mammogram, doctors may have you get a diagnostic mammogram. This is a more detailed X-ray of the breast. (See Image)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A kind of body scan that uses a magnet linked to a computer. The MRI scan will make detailed pictures of areas inside the breast.
• Biopsy. This is a test that removes tissue or fluid from the breast to be looked at under a microscope and do more testing. There are different kinds of biopsies (for example, fine-needle aspiration, core biopsy, or open biopsy).

For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI), What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer: Diagnosis.

If breast cancer is diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body. This process is called staging. Whether the cancer is only in the breast, is found in lymph nodes under your arm, or has spread outside the breast determines your stage of breast cancer. The type and stage of breast cancer tells doctors what kind of treatment will be needed.

For more information about staging, please visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Breast Cancer Treatment: Stages of Breast Cancer.

Content source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Page Updated: March 19, 2007

l  PROFCENTRAL Home Page  l   Health Topics Index  l  All About Back Pain  l  Cardiac/Heart Disorders  l

l Anatomy and Physiology l Medical  News  l  Nurse News  l  Our  Forum  l  Site Map  l

l Suggestions/Comments  l  Disclaimers  l  Privacy Policy  l

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

The information in PROFCENTRAL  is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding medical conditions. A physician should always be consulted for back pain or any other health problem. PROFCENTRAL  provides links to other organizations as a service to our readers and is not responsible for the information, services, or products provided by these web sites, health professionals, or companies.

Breast Cancer Topics

Basic Information

Statistics

Signs and Symptoms/Risk Factors

Screening for Breast Cancer

Diagnosis

Treatment Options