how do you diagnose breast cancer?
109738
Unless you are a Medical Doctor or an Oncologist, then you DO NOT diagnose breast cancer.  "Oncologists are physicians who study, diagnose, and treat cancerous tumors. They practice in hospitals and medical centers, university hospitals, and research organizations" (cited below).  If you are concerned that you might be at risk, or are due for a mammogram (a computerized breast exam that looks for trouble), then you should go to a doctor, share your concerns and ask him or her what your next step should be.  Women who are over 40 should have annual mammograms.  If you have breast cancer in your relatives, you may be at a greater risk.  At the same token, no woman is safe from the disease, but there is effective treatment, especially when caught in its earliest stages.  Do you best by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, diet and medical regimen (i.e.- see your doctor like you should do anyway).  If you ever have doubt over a diagnosis given, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a second opinion.
605657
When the doctor does a biopsy and the test comes back saying you have it.\n\nYou can have a lump, but there's no way of knowing what kind of lump you have until a doctor checks it out.
299214
being small has nothing to do with it.. and you doctor is stupid bc breast cancer starts inside the milk thing i forgot what it is called and spreads to the outside by the time  it spreads to the outside to where you can feel it it has become stage 2,3,4,5 .. im small and i have stage 3,,so with a mamogram they catch it before it moves to where you can feel it...get a mamogram every year for age 40 and over or high risk...
795078
Contrary to popular belief you should worry about a growth or lump if it does not hurt more than you should if it does not. This is so because if the lump does hurt chances are high that you may have hurt your self. Sometimes a person develops lumps during their period.\n\nSigns that suggest a lump is more likely to be cancerous:\nThe lump is firm and hard \nThe lump is not discrete; it is not easily distinguishable \nThe lump is fixed in the breast; it does not move \nThere is only one lump \nThere is not an identical lump in the opposite breast \nThe skin of breast is dimpled \nThe lump is accompanied by bloody nipple discharge\n\nSigns that suggest a lump is less likely to be cancerous:\nThe lump is soft \nThe lump is discrete; it is easily distinguishable \nThe lump moves in the breast \nThere are multiple breast lumps \nThere is an identical lump in the opposite breast \nThe lump disappears after the menstrual cycle \n\n\nAs women we should check our breasts monthly preferably a week after our pereods.\nA self examination is easy and essential.\nheres how you go about doing it.\nLie down with a pillow or folded towel under the right shoulder and place the right arm behind the head. Check the entire breast and armpit area using the pads of the first three middle fingers on the left hand to feel for lumps, changes, or irregularities in the right breast. Apply 3 pressures-light, medium, and deep-in dime-sized circles to feel the entire thickness of the breast." A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. The exam should then be repeated on the left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand (the pillow or folded towel should also be moved under the left shoulder at this time).\nIt is important to thoroughly examine the entire area of the breast every month: \nOutside: armpit to collar bone, and below the breast \nMiddle: the breast itself \nInside: the nipple area \n\ncancerous tumors are more likely to be found in some parts of the breast than in others. Approximately half of all breast cancers occur in the upper, outer region of the breast toward the armpit. \n\nApproximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area:\n41% in the upper, outer quadrant \n14% in the upper, inner quadrant \n5% in the lower, inner quadrant \n34% in the area behind the nipple \n6% in the lower, outer quadrant \n\nI suggest you visit your gp asap. If its nothing to worry  about, you be in a better state of mind, if there is the earlier you treat it the better.\n\nI hope that yoursare just a lump and that you will be fine\nGood Luck
378447
As far as is known, cells dont generate any particular frequency, other than the waveforms generated in the brain and heart by large masses of cells depolarizing together.  Since you are talking about tumors, which are cancer cell masses, then it is possible to detect them based upon average densitiy and water content, which tends to be different in cacner cells than surrounding tissue, and this is done through MRI.
96641
It appears to depend on who you ask:\n\n- "the average age at diagnosis is 64" - reference 1\n\n- " the average age of women who develop breast cancer\n  is approximately 60 years old" - reference 2 \n\nFor considerably more analysis, take a look at reference 3\n(National Cancer Institute).\n\nThis describes how several risk factors (including\nfamily history, exposure to radiation or chemicals, etc)\naffect the likelihood and timing of breast cancer.
1066667
Do monthly self-exams of your breasts to check for any small lumps.  That is the best early detection, and can help you to treat or remove lumps before they become cancerous or dangerous.  If you find a lump, see your doctor right away to determine if it's cancerous or just fluid (that can happen sometimes too).  Here's a website to help you learn how to do a self-exam:\nhttp://www.komen.org/bse/
1128648
There may not be an early warning signs.  As it grows it can produce symptoms such as a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm, change in size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge or nipple turning inward, redness or scaling of the skin or nipple, and ridges or pitting of the breast skin.  If you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor.
610222
When you're in the shower, hold one arm up and with your other hand rub your breast around in a circle. If you feel any lumps and it hurts when you touch the lump. Go to the doctor and have them take a test.
251480
An Early Breast Cancer Detection Plan should include: \n\nClinical breast examinations every three years from ages 20-39, then every year thereafter. \nMonthly breast self-examinations beginning at age 20. Look for any changes in your breasts. \nBaseline mammogram by the age of 40. \nMammogram every one to two years for women 40-49, depending on previous findings. \nMammogram every year for women 50 and older. \nA personal calendar to record your self-exams, mammograms, and doctor appointments. \nA low-fat diet, regular exercise, and no smoking or drinking.\n\nOther tests that can be done (usually after an abnormal mammogram or after a woman or her doctor feels a lump) include:\nultrasound, CT scan, MRI, PET scanning, ductal levage, biopsy, blood test, nuclear bone scans and x-ray.  You can read more about these tests at the site provided below.
921000
Did you ask for an ultrasound?  Ultrasound is very good at seeing intramammary lymph nodes.  Remember that a radiologist has be very sure that your "lump" is benign to recommend a 6 month follow up.  Of course, nothing is a hundred percent, but a recommendation of a 6 month follow up is as close as you can get!  With all of the biopsy techniques available today, the radiologist would suggest that if he/she was uncomfortable with your mass.  A FN biopsy is not the test I would choose.  They are not very accurate, especially if this is a lump that is only seen on a mammogram, and cannot be felt.   Instead, if you decide to get a biopsy, look into stereotactic breast biopsy.  It is a simple, image guided biopsy which will yield surgical grade tissue samples.  Simply put, I would ask for an ultrasound, and if that also showed a lymph node, I would wait the six months.  If the ultrasound was inconclusive, I would ask for a stereo biopsy......
1018758
i found a small hard lump in my breast it growed . it was cancer. it hurt sometimes and my breasts got sore.i was diagnosed april 2005...Lumps in a woman are often caused by fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas, and cysts.\n\nFibrocystic changes can occur in either or both breasts. These changes occur in many women (especially during the reproductive years) and are considered a normal variation of breast tissue. Having fibrocystic breasts does not increase your risk for breast cancer. It does, however, make it more difficult to interpret lumps that you or your doctor find on exam. Many women feel tenderness in addition to the lumps and bumps associated with fibrocystic breasts.\n\nFibroadenomas are non-cancerous lumps that feel rubbery and are easily moveable within the breast tissue. Like fibrocystic changes, they occur most often during the reproductive years. Usually, they are not tender and, except in rare cases, do not become cancerous later. A doctor may feel fairly certain from an exam that a particular lump is a fibroadenoma. The only way to be sure, however, is to remove or biopsy them.\n\nCysts are fluid-filled sacs that often feel like soft grapes. These can sometimes be tender, especially just before your menstrual period. Cysts may be drained in the doctor's office. If the fluid removed is clear or greenish, and the lump disappears completely after it is drained, no further treatment is needed. If the fluid is bloody, it is sent to the lab to look for cancer cells. If the lump doesn't disappear, or recurs, it is usually removed surgically.\n\nOther causes of breast lumps include:\n\nMilk cysts (sacs filled with milk) and infections ( mastitis ), which may turn into an abscess. These typically occur if you are breastfeeding or have recently given birth. \nBreast cancer , detectable by mammogram or ultrasound, then a biopsy. Men can get breast cancer. \nInjury -- sometimes if your breast is badly bruised, there will be a collection of blood that feels like a lump. These tend to resolve on their own in a matter of days or weeks. If not, the blood may have to be drained by your doctor. \nLipoma -- a collection of fatty tissue. \nIntraductal papilloma -- a small growth inside a milk duct of the breast. Often occurs near the areola, the colored part of the breast surrounding the nipple, in women between the ages of 35 and 55. It is harmless and frequently cannot be felt. In some cases the only symptom is a watery, pink discharge from the nipple. Since a watery or bloody discharge can be seen in cases of breast cancer, this must be evaluated by your doctor. \ni dident have no discharge or bleeding from the nipple.. see your doctor...and request a mamogram and ultra sound.. i forgot the first gyn that checked mine said i dident need a mamogram said mine was a milk gland ....a year later i went and had another gyn check it out ..
887673
My mum has been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and had a mastectomy.  I needed to know a lot of information in order to be able to help her.  I found these websites very useful:\n\nwww.breastcancer.org\nwww.getbcfacts.com\n\nThese sites are very  informative and they will give you the information you need.\n\nThank God, now days treatment of BC has advanced beyond imagination.
1170863
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from cells of the breast. The disease occurs primarily in women but occasionally occurs in men. \n\nMany people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer. Until puberty, young boys and girls have a small amount of breast tissue consisting of a few ducts (tubular passages) located under the nipple and areola (area around the nipple). At puberty, a girl's ovaries produce female hormones, causing breast ducts to grow, lobules (milk glands) to form at the ends of ducts, and the amount of stroma (fatty and connective tissue surrounding ducts and lobules) to increase. On the other hand, male hormones produced by the testicles prevent further growth of breast tissue. Men's breast tissue contains ducts, but only a few if any lobules. \n\nLike all cells of the body, a man's breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. Because women have many more breast cells than men do and perhaps because their breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of female hormones, breast cancer is much more common in women. \n\nMany types of breast disorders can affect both men and women. Most breast disorders are benign (not cancerous). Benign breast tumors do not spread outside of the breast and are not life threatening. Other tumors are malignant (cancerous) and may become life threatening. Benign tumors, such as papillomas and fibroadenomas, are common in women but are extremely rare in men. \n\nLymphatic vessels are important structures in the breast. They are like veins, except that they carry lymph instead of blood. Lymph is a clear fluid that contains tissue fluid and waste products and immune system cells (cells that are important in fighting infections). Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped collections of immune system cells that are found along lymphatic vessels. Cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and spread to lymph nodes. \n\nMost lymphatic vessels in the breast connect to lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes). Some lymphatic vessels connect to lymph nodes inside the chest (internal mammary nodes) and either above or below the collarbone (supra- or infraclavicular nodes). \n\nWhen breast cancer cells reach the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, they may continue to grow, often causing the lymph nodes in that area to swell. If breast cancer cells have spread to the underarm lymph nodes, they are more likely to have spread to other organs of the body as well. This is why it is important to find out if breast cancer has spread to your axillary lymph nodes when you are choosing a treatment.
28528
The only way to know is if she takes a test - either an antibody test or a blood test. There's no other way for you to make a diagnosis, just like you couldn't diagnose if she had cancer.\n\nOnce she does take this test, there are tons of sites with information about AIDS. But I suggest that you first get her to take the test.\n\nGood luck
1074991
Straight up from someone who has been there/done that, you need to get to the doctor. Despite what a lot of people think, it IS possible for a cancerous lump to be painful and there's no way of knowing what any lump is without having it checked out. s\n\nTruthfully, it's probably nothing...most breast lumps are begnin anomolies like cysts (which are painful), etc. However, the sooner you have it checked out the better off you will be. If it's nothing, you'll be able to stop worrying and get on with your life and if it's cancer, you'll have a much better chance at having a successful treatment and recovery the sooner you start treatment.
766187
YES! Hon, there might be a lump in your breast which is fairly common and they go away but sometimes they don't and they become malignant. Go to a doctor and get checked out. I'm not saying "Hey you have cancer." You probably dont but go to the doc to get rid of the lump or for prevention or possibly just a painkiller...