| Breast cancer is something that no one wants to | | | | around it. Benign lumps will feel different than |
| face in life, but getting the proper diagnosis early is | | | | cancerous ones. |
| best. The earlier you catch it, the better chance you | | | | Mammography is simply X-rays of the breast that |
| have of stopping it before it gets too bad. Here are | | | | can give the doctor important information about the |
| a few things you can do to go about getting the | | | | breast. If something looks suspicious or does not look |
| proper breast cancer diagnosis. | | | | right, additional X-rays will be performed. |
| The first thing to look for is any symptoms at all. If | | | | Lastly, ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound |
| you feel you have any of the symptoms that are | | | | waves that can often show whether a lump is solid |
| related to breast cancer, it is vital you schedule a | | | | or filled with fluid. Typically, doctors will perform a |
| doctor's exam. During the exam, expect to be asked | | | | mammography with an ultrasonography. |
| questions about personal and family health history | | | | After receiving one of these tests or a few of |
| that may be related to your cause. | | | | them, the results will determine whether the doctor |
| The doctor will check the general signs of health at | | | | feels further tests are needed. However, often the |
| first, and then will perform a breast exam. They may | | | | doctor will have to remove fluid or tissue from the |
| perform just one breast exam, or they may look at | | | | breast to make a proper breast cancer diagnosis. |
| a few different tests. There are three tests they | | | | An aspiration or needle biopsy is when the doctor |
| may look at; palpation, mammography, or | | | | uses a needle to remove fluid or a small amount of |
| ultrasonography. | | | | tissue from the breast. If the lump is filled with a |
| A palpation allows the doctor to learn a lot about a | | | | fluid-filled cyst, it is not cancerous. But if it has a solid |
| lump. Everything from the size, texture and how | | | | mass, it may or may not be cancerous. If tissue is |
| easy it moves can be identified by palpation, which is | | | | removed, it is sent to a lab to be checked for cancer |
| when the doctor feels the lump and the tissue | | | | cells. |