How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Initial assessment
If you develop a lump or symptoms which may be breast cancer, a doctor will usually examine your breasts and armpits (axillae) to look for any lumps or other changes. You will normally be referred to a specialist. Sometimes a biopsy of an obvious lump (see below) is arranged, but other tests may be done first such as:
- Mammogram. This is a special X-ray of the breast tissue which can detect changes in the density of breast tissue which may indicate a tumour.
- Ultrasound scan of the breast.
- MRI scan of the breast. This is more commonly performed on younger women, especially those with a strong family history of breast cancer.
A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. A specialist may take a biopsy with a needle which is inserted into the lump and some cells are withdrawn. Sometimes the doctor may be guided as to where to insert the needle with the help of a mammogram or ultrasound scan. Sometimes a small operation is needed to obtain a biopsy sample.
The biopsy sample can confirm or rule out breast cancer. Also the cells from a tumour can be assessed and tested to determine their grade and receptor status (see above).
Assessing the extent and spread
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver, chest X-ray, a bone scan or other types of scan. (There are separate leaflets which describe each of these tests in more detail.) This assessment is called 'staging' of the cancer. The aim of staging is to find out:
- How large the tumour has grown.
- Whether the cancer has spread to local lymph nodes in the armpit.
- Whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body (metastasised).
See separate leaflet called 'Cancer - Staging and Grading Cancer' for details.
Finding out the stage of the cancer, the grade of the cells and the receptor status of the cancer, helps doctors to advise on the best treatment options. It also gives a reasonable indication of outlook (prognosis).
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The breasts
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What is breast cancer?
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What is cancer?
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What is the treatment for breast cancer?
Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below
leanne, about 1 year
im 25 and have implants since i was 19 latley i have been getting pains in my right breast almost like a dull aching pain this sometimes spreads to my back and lower ribs at first i dint think any thing of it but this is now a regular accurance should i be worried ???
Report this commentsharon lisha, about 1 year
hi im 35 and ive aleft swollen nipple and its very painfull i dont have eny discharge from it im not pregnant nor breast feeding im not taking the pill whot could it be as ive not been to doctors eny one have eny suggestions
Report this commentkelly, over 2 years
im 28 years of age and iv found a lump in my right breast...iv been to the docs and just waiting for hospital appointment, the lump was the sixe of a oea my doctor said but since iv been the lump seems to have got bigger and i have dry areas like exzma to the back of by breast under my arm pit only to small ares redish too.can you advise me on this are these may be early signs of breast cancer.. but i do think these pages on breast caner are very clear and usefull thank you
Report this commentjulie, over 2 years
Hi i was just wondering if ultra sound scans are good on their own at detecting breast cancer, as i had a small lump, this was tested with an ultra sound, they said i was fine but had thick tissue inside my breast. My left breast is considerbly larger than my right. On Sunday i felt really ill and was getting pains in my chest, since then i have a really awfull burning in my left breast, it is really bad if i take my bra off and feels if i move there is something moving thats causing the burning pain. Hoping i can have some advice on this.
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jane, 23 days
i have had green sticky discharge from my left breast for a while now.....wots up with me.......should i worrie. im 38
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