Understanding Breast Cancer

Early Detection is the key!

• Clinical breast examinations every three years from ages 20-39, then every year thereafter.
• Monthly breast self-examinations beginning at age 20. Look for any changes in your breasts.
• Baseline mammogram by the age of 40 (earlier for those with a genetic history)
• Mammogram every  year for women 40+
• A low fat diet may reduce your risk factors.

Symptoms:

• an abnormal lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
• any change in the size or shape of the breast
• abnormal discharge from the nipple
• inversion of the nipple
• change in the color or texture of the breast, areola, or nipple
• any dimpling or puckering of the breast

Diagnosis

If you’ve found a lump, contact your physician right away to schedule a Clinical Breast Exam, performed by the physician.  CBE is the same as the Self Breast Examination but is performed by the physician.

Palpatation: The physician can tell a lot about a lump—it’s size, texture, shape and whether or not it moves easily—by palpitation, carefully feeling the lump and the tissue around it.  Benign lumps often feel different from the cancerous lumps.

From the CBE the physician may decide to do a mammogram, an ultrasound, and/or a biopsy.

Mammogram:  X-rays of the breast can give the doctor important information about a breast lump. If an area on the mammogram looks suspicious or is not clear, additional x-rays may be needed.

Ultrasound:  Using high-frequency sound waves, ultrasonography can often show whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid. This exam may be used along with mammography.

Biopsy

Various techniques are used to biopsy tissue, and Dr. Murray will try to use the least invasive procedure possible. Tissue removed by the various types of biopsies is examined with a microscope for cancer cells.

Aspiration or needle biopsy: The doctor uses a needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from a breast lump. This procedure may show whether a lump is a fluid-filled cyst (not cancer) or a solid mass (which may or may not be cancer). Using special techniques, tissue can be removed with a needle from an area that is suspicious on a mammogram but cannot be felt.

Stereotactic needle biopsy (core biopsy) removes multiple pieces of a suspicious area. If the area of concern is not  palpatable  (can't be felt), the needle is guided to the area of concern with the help of mammography or ultrasound. A small metal clip may be inserted into the breast to mark the site of biopsy in case the biopsy proves cancerous and additional surgery is required.

Surgical biopsy: Dr. Murray removes a small piece of tissue for examination at the pathology laboratory. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.