Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Breast cancer is one of most curable cancer if detected early. The incidence of breast cancer rises after age 40. The highest incidence (approximately 80% of invasive cases) occurs in women over age 50.

Symptoms

Mammography

It is basically X-Ray with low dose radiation; it takes two x-rays of each breast. Mammography procedure is not painful but gives some discomfort to breast. Mammography should be done after 40 years of age; younger female requires solography of breast to detect any kind of breast lump of breast cancer.

Microcalcification

Micro calcifications are small calcium deposits that look like white specks on a mammogram. This is extreme common finding on mammogram. Majority are non-cancerous (Benign).
Micro calcifications are usually not a result of cancer. But if they appear in certain patterns and are clustered together, they may be a sign of precancerous cells or early breast cancer.

Biopsy

Biopsy plays a significant role in confirming a cancer diagnosis. For this procedure, a tissue sample from the breast is taken and examined under the microscope for the presence of cancer cells. Different types of biopsies that may be considered for breast cancer diagnosis are fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, core needle biopsy, surgical (open) biopsy and lymph node biopsy.