Breast cancer is diagnosed either through breast self-examination when unusual signs and symptoms are noticed, or during breast screening procedures when abnormalities in the breast are detected.
Breast Self-examination
Breast cancer is one of the few cancers that can be detected at home through monthly self-examination.
During self-examination, women should look out for:
- Lump(s), swelling, or thickening in the breast or underarm area
- Changes in the size or shape of the breast
- Puckering or dimpling of the skin on the breast or nipple
- Persistent rash or change in the skin around the nipple
- Changes in the nipple, such as inversion or retraction
- Bleeding or unusual discharge from the nipple
- Skin redness or soreness of the breast
- Accentuated veins on the surface of the breast
- Unusual swelling in the upper arm
- Any enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit and collarbone areas
Look for visible changes in the breasts and nipples by turning them slowly from side to side and feel for changes in the breasts, underarm, and collarbone areas.
Should any lumps or unusual signs be noticed in the breast, consult a doctor for more in-depth tests, such as a mammogram.
Mammogram
A mammogram is a special X-ray imaging tool that can detect abnormal masses in the breast like calcium deposits, cysts and tumours. The X-ray pictures make it possible to detect cancerous tumours that cannot be felt by hand, or lumps in the breast that are not yet cancerous but may grow into cancerous tumours.
The mammogram is currently one of the most reliable screening tools for breast cancer. Regular mammograms can help detect breast cancer early, thus allowing for early treatment. It is recommended for women between 40 – 49 years old to take annual mammograms.
Tomosynthesis (3D Mammography)
Some breast tumours may be difficult to identify on standard mammography because they are hidden or obscured by overlapping or dense breast tissue. Tomosynthesis uses low dose X-rays to take mammogram images of the breast and shows only a few layers of the breast at a time. It has been shown to achieve a higher accuracy of cancer detection and lower false positive cases as compared to digital mammography.
Breast Ultrasound
A breast ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of the internal structures of the breast. Ultrasound imaging helps in the detection and diagnosis of breast tissue abnormalities, as it can tell the difference between a solid mass, which may be a cancer, or a fluid-filled cyst, which is usually not cancer.
Breast MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan takes images of the breast using strong magnetic fields and radio waves. It is usually used for screening younger women who are at high risk of breast cancer. MRI scans are also useful as a supplemental tool, when lesions found on the mammogram or ultrasound scans require further evaluation.