Bring it to your doctor’s attention as soon as possible. It’s important to let your doctor examine you and decide how any lump should be evaluated. Some lumps turn out to be cysts or other noncancerous conditions. If a lump is cancerous, your doctor will refer you to a surgeon or oncologist (cancer doctor) who can help form a treatment plan.
Other changes in your breast also require a doctor’s attention: any unusual nipple discharge, or if an area of your breast skin seems thickened, bumpy or red. Men who detect a breast lump also should see a doctor, since men also can develop breast cancer.
Your doctor will ask about any past breast lumps and, if you have menstrual periods, ask if the lump seems to change during your cycle. Your family medical history is also important. It’s helpful if you can tell your doctor what types of cancers your relatives have had and their approximate age of diagnosis. Then your doctor will examine you.
He or she may order a mammogram. An ultrasound of the breast can also help determine if a lump is solid or filled with fluid. If additional images are needed, an MRI of the breast might be recommended.
Depending on the test results, you may also need a biopsy. A sample of the lump or skin is removed so a pathologist can examine it under a microscope. The biopsy result determines if a breast abnormality is cancer.
Q
How is breast cancer treated?
A Advances in treatment have improved the chances that breast cancer can be cured if detected early. Treatment often includes more than one type of doctor and may involve surgery, radiation or medications.
How breast cancer is treated depends on the tumor’s characteristics. Mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) may be recommended if there is cancer in more than one section of the breast. If only part of the breast is affected, lumpectomy might be an option.
L
eanne S. Budde, M
.
D
.
, is a medical
oncologist at Atrium Medical Center
i
n Middletown
.
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