How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Cancer of the breast can be diagnosed by:

Medical history

A medical history helps your doctor to assess your risk of cancer. Your doctor will ask you for your family history of breast cancer, your menstrual history and the physical characteristics of your breast lump.

Palpation of a breast lump

Your doctor will perform a physical examination of your breast to detect the location, size and general condition of your breast lump and lymph nodes.

Mammogram

Your doctor may request a mammogram. This is a x-ray of the breast and is the most helpful technique for detecting lumps in the breast that are too small to be felt. A plate-like device is used to flatten your breast to provide a clear image of the breast. The mammogram can give the doctor important information about a breast lump. If an area on the mammogram looks suspicious or is not clear, additional x-ray may be needed.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound of the breast uses high-frequency sound waves to show whether a breast lump is solid or filled with fluid. This examination may be used with mammography.

Needle biopsy

Your doctor uses a fine needle to remove some cells from a breast lump and examines them under a microscope to check the presence of cancer cells. Sometimes a larger needle may be used to remove a core tissue from a solid lump.