Diagnosing Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is often first suspected when a lump or change is found in the breast or when an abnormal area is seen on a mammogram.
Most of the time, these findings don’t turn out to be breast cancer. However, the only way to know for sure is through follow-up tests.
This section describes how breast cancer is diagnosed and the factors that affect prognosis and guide treatment.
Follow-up tests after an abnormal finding on a screening test
Sometimes, breast cancer can be ruled out with a follow-up mammogram (diagnostic mammogram), breast ultrasound or breast MRI.
Follow-Up After an Abnormal Finding on a Mammogram
Follow-Up After an Abnormal Finding on a Clinical Breast Exam
Biopsies
A biopsy removes cells or tissue from a suspicious area in the breast. The cells or tissue are studied under a microscope to see if cancer is present.
Fine Needle Aspiration (Fine Needle Biopsy)
Assessing Margins After a Surgical Biopsy
Preserving Breast Tissue Samples for Pathology
Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before a Biopsy
Pathology reports
The breast tissue removed during a biopsy is sent to a pathologist. The pathologist studies the tissue and prepares a report of the findings, including the diagnosis.
Contents of a Pathology Report
Reading Your Pathology Report After Neoadjuvant Therapy
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Diagnosis
Factors that affect prognosis and treatment
Learning about the factors that affect prognosis (chances for survival) can help you understand your diagnosis and your treatment options.
Factors That Affect Prognosis and Treatment
Types of Tumors (how the cancer cells look under a microscope)
Hormone Receptor Status (estrogen and progesterone status)
Tumor Profiling Score:
Breast cancer stages and staging
Breast cancer stage describes the extent of the cancer within your body. It’s the most important factor affecting prognosis.
Breast Cancer Stages and Staging
Tests for Metastases in People Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Molecular subtypes of breast cancer
Researchers are studying how molecular subtypes of breast cancer may be useful in planning treatment and developing new therapies.
Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer
Special forms of breast cancer
Though they are not specific types of tumors, some special forms of breast cancer are described in this section.
Emerging areas
New tools are under study that may inform breast cancer diagnosis and give information about tumors to help guide treatment.
Emerging Areas in Breast Cancer Diagnosis
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Updated 01/04/21