The first sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast that you or your doctor can feel. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But sometimes cancers can be tender, soft, and rounded. It’s important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.
Any of the following unusual changes in the breast may be a symptom of breast cancer;
- Swelling of all or part of the breast
- Skin irritation or dimpling
- Breast pain
- Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
- Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- A nipple discharge other than breast milk
- A lump in the underarm area.
Medical procedures that are used in breast cancer diagnosis;
Ultrasound: The machine that uses sound waves as dedectors under the breast skin. Ultrasound machines creates a visual map of the breast area.
MRI (Breast magnetic resonance imaging): A scanning system that makes in depth pictured analysis through computer system.
Diagnostic Mammogram: This is a detailed X-ray for the diagnosis of breast.
Biopsy: A microscopic research examination. In this diagnosis technic we take a fluid or tissue sample and research it under microscopes. There are many biopsy types such as core biopsy, open biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.
Specialists usually add additional diagnosis researchs to find breast cancer and define it %100. Diagnosis process is the one of the most important stages of this disease’s treatment because it affects and creates the way of the cure such as surgery or medication.
