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How Is Breast Cancer Found?
The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work.
ACS Guidelines for Early Breast Cancer Detection
The ACS recommends the following guidelines for finding breast cancer early in women without symptoms:
Mammogram: Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to find breast cancer.
Clinical breast exam: Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health expert every year. It might be a good idea to have the CBE shortly before the mammogram. You can use the exam to learn what your own breasts feel like.
Breast awareness and breast self-exam (BSE): BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. If you decide to do BSE, you should have your doctor or nurse check your method to make sure you are doing it right. If you do BSE on a regular basis, you get to know how your breasts normally feel. Then you can more easily notice changes. But it’s OK not to do BSE or not to do it on a fixed schedule.
The most important thing is to see your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes: a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk. But remember that most of the time these breast changes are not cancer.
Women at high risk: Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. This might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra tests, or having more frequent exams.
Mammograms
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test is used to look for breast disease in women who appear to have no breast problems. It can also be used when women have symptoms such as those listed below.
During a mammogram, the breast is pressed between 2 plates to flatten and spread the tissue. The pressure lasts only for a few seconds. Although this may cause some discomfort for a moment, it is needed to get a good picture. Very low levels of radiation are used. While many people are worried about exposure to x-rays, the low level of radiation used for mammograms does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. For example, one mammogram gives off roughly the same amount of radiation as a person would get flying from New York to California on a jet plane.
For the mammogram, you undress above the waist. You will have a wrap to cover yourself. A technologist (most often a woman) will position your breast correctly for the test. The pressure lasts only a few seconds while the picture is taken.
You will get your results within 30 days. If there is a problem, you will hear within 5 working days.
About 1 in 10 women who get a mammogram will need more pictures taken, but most of these women do not have breast cancer. Only 1 or 2 mammograms of every 1,000 leads to a diagnosis of cancer.
Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health plans cover all or part of the cost of this test. And breast cancer testing is now more available to women without health insurance for free or at very little cost through a special program called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Your state’s Department of Health will have information about the program. There is also a new program to help pay for breast cancer treatment for women in need.
To learn more about these programs, you can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-888-842-6355 or online at www.cdc.gov/cancer.
Clinical Breast Exam
A clinical breast exam (CBE) is an exam of your breasts by a health expert such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, or physician assistant. For this exam, you undress from the waist up. The examiner will first look at your breasts for changes in size or shape. Then, using the pads of the fingers, she or he will gently feel your breasts for lumps. The area under both arms will also be examined. This is a good time to learn how to do breast self-exam if you don’t already know how.
Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. They may benefit from starting mammograms when they are younger, having them more often, or having other tests. If you are at higher risk, your doctor might recommend ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging—see below).
Breast Awareness and Breast Self-Exam
Women should be aware of how their breasts normally feel and report any changes to their doctor right away. Finding a change does not mean that you have cancer.
By being aware of how your own breasts feel, you are likely to notice any changes that take place. You can also choose to use a step-by-step approach to checking your breasts on a set schedule. The best time to do breast self-examination (BSE) is when your breasts are not tender or swollen. If you find any changes, see your doctor right away.
The ACS has detailed information on how to do BSE. You can find it on our Web site (www.cancer.org) or you can call our toll-free number to ask for it.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
While the widespread use of screening mammography has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, some are still missed.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded. So it's important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.
Other signs of breast cancer include the following:
a swelling of part of the breast
skin irritation or dimpling
nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
a nipple discharge other than breast milk
a lump in the underarm area
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How Is Breast Cancer Found?
The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work.
ACS Guidelines for Early Breast Cancer Detection
The ACS recommends the following guidelines for finding breast cancer early in women without symptoms:
Mammogram: Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to find breast cancer.
Clinical breast exam: Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health expert every year. It might be a good idea to have the CBE shortly before the mammogram. You can use the exam to learn what your own breasts feel like.
Breast awareness and breast self-exam (BSE): BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. If you decide to do BSE, you should have your doctor or nurse check your method to make sure you are doing it right. If you do BSE on a regular basis, you get to know how your breasts normally feel. Then you can more easily notice changes. But it’s OK not to do BSE or not to do it on a fixed schedule.
The most important thing is to see your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes: a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk. But remember that most of the time these breast changes are not cancer.
Women at high risk: Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. This might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra tests, or having more frequent exams.
Mammograms
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test is used to look for breast disease in women who appear to have no breast problems. It can also be used when women have symptoms such as those listed below.
During a mammogram, the breast is pressed between 2 plates to flatten and spread the tissue. The pressure lasts only for a few seconds. Although this may cause some discomfort for a moment, it is needed to get a good picture. Very low levels of radiation are used. While many people are worried about exposure to x-rays, the low level of radiation used for mammograms does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. For example, one mammogram gives off roughly the same amount of radiation as a person would get flying from New York to California on a jet plane.
For the mammogram, you undress above the waist. You will have a wrap to cover yourself. A technologist (most often a woman) will position your breast correctly for the test. The pressure lasts only a few seconds while the picture is taken.
You will get your results within 30 days. If there is a problem, you will hear within 5 working days.
About 1 in 10 women who get a mammogram will need more pictures taken, but most of these women do not have breast cancer. Only 1 or 2 mammograms of every 1,000 leads to a diagnosis of cancer.
Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health plans cover all or part of the cost of this test. And breast cancer testing is now more available to women without health insurance for free or at very little cost through a special program called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Your state’s Department of Health will have information about the program. There is also a new program to help pay for breast cancer treatment for women in need.
To learn more about these programs, you can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-888-842-6355 or online at www.cdc.gov/cancer.
Clinical Breast Exam
A clinical breast exam (CBE) is an exam of your breasts by a health expert such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, or physician assistant. For this exam, you undress from the waist up. The examiner will first look at your breasts for changes in size or shape. Then, using the pads of the fingers, she or he will gently feel your breasts for lumps. The area under both arms will also be examined. This is a good time to learn how to do breast self-exam if you don’t already know how.
Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. They may benefit from starting mammograms when they are younger, having them more often, or having other tests. If you are at higher risk, your doctor might recommend ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging—see below).
Breast Awareness and Breast Self-Exam
Women should be aware of how their breasts normally feel and report any changes to their doctor right away. Finding a change does not mean that you have cancer.
By being aware of how your own breasts feel, you are likely to notice any changes that take place. You can also choose to use a step-by-step approach to checking your breasts on a set schedule. The best time to do breast self-examination (BSE) is when your breasts are not tender or swollen. If you find any changes, see your doctor right away.
The ACS has detailed information on how to do BSE. You can find it on our Web site (www.cancer.org) or you can call our toll-free number to ask for it.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
While the widespread use of screening mammography has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, some are still missed.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded. So it's important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.
Other signs of breast cancer include the following:
a swelling of part of the breast
skin irritation or dimpling
nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
a nipple discharge other than breast milk
a lump in the underarm area