Breast Cancer Facts: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If your healthcare provider suspects you have breast cancer, he or she may use one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis of breast cancer:
- Diagnostic Mammogram: A diagnostic mammogram
is a type of X ray used to check for breast problems. A mammogram cannot determine for certain if you have cancer, but it may find a problem area, in which case your doctor would order a test called a biopsy
.
- Ultrasound: A breast ultrasound
is a test that uses sound waves that target the breast and display an image of the breast on a computer screen. This allows the healthcare professional to see inside the breast and determine if there are problem areas. Typically ultrasounds are used after mammograms to check for problem areas the mammogram might not have picked up.
- MRI: A breast MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) is a test that uses radio waves and strong magnets to locate possible problems in the breast. These waves are translated into a detailed picture of the breast. MRIs may be used to find out more about a cancer found through mammogram, or to take a closer look at the breasts of women who are at high risk of breast cancer.
- Ductogram: A ductogram
is a type of X-ray that helps determine the cause of nipple discharge. A ductogram can show if there is a mass inside the duct at the nipple. A ductogram also is known as a galactogram
.
- Biopsy: Breast biopsies are performed when other diagnostic tests have indicated possible cancer. Biopsies are the only way for doctors to be 100% sure that breast cancer exists. When a doctor performs a biopsy, he or she removes breast tissue and sends it to a laboratory for testing. There are several types of biopsies, and your doctor will choose the one that is best for your situation.
The biopsy results will indicate whether the sampled breast tissue is benign
or cancerous. If it is cancerous, your doctor will be able to determine the type of cancer and the grade
of the cancer and decide what treatment options might be best.
After your doctor has diagnosed you with breast cancer, he or she may perform other tests to see if the cancer has spread, or metastasized
.
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Once you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and your doctor knows the extent of your cancer, you and your doctor will discuss your breast cancer treatment and select the most appropriate option or options. There are many breast cancer treatment options available, and the decision can be overwhelming. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have.
Following is a brief summary of common treatment options available for breast cancer. Your treatment may include one or a combination of these options.
- Surgery: Breast surgery is a common part of breast cancer treatment plans. Surgery is performed to remove as much of the breast cancer as possible, and to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
. There are several types of breast surgery, including lumpectomies
and mastectomies
. You and your doctor will pick the appropriate surgery or surgeries for you.
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy
is a breast cancer treatment that kills or shrinks cancer cells by using high-energy radiation. The radiation may be delivered through the outside of the body (external radiation) or internally by having radioactive materials placed inside the tumor.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy
is the use of drugs to help kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be administered in pill form or through a vein. Chemotherapy treatment may be chosen for several reasons, but typically it is used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy may have side effects
. Get Tips For Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects.
- Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy
is the use of drugs to help block the effects of estrogen - a hormone that may encourage the growth of breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy may be used to help treat breast cancer, prevent it from reoccurring, and prevent breast cancer in high-risk women.
Learn more about chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer in the About Taxotere® section of this site. Also, be sure to visit the Understanding Chemotherapy section for tips on managing chemotherapy side effects and more.
