Screening and Diagnosis << Breast Cancer << womenshealth.gov

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer screening looks for signs of cancer before a woman has symptoms. Screening can help find breast cancer early when it’s most treatable. Two tests are commonly used to screen for breast cancer:

Mammogram. A safe, low-dose x-ray exam of the breasts to look for changes that are not normal. Starting at age 40, women should have screening mammograms every 1-2 years. Depending on factors such as family history and your general health, your doctor may recommend a mammogram before age 40.

Clinical breast exam (CBE). The doctor looks at and feels the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that seems unusual. Ask your doctor if you need a CBE.

Regular screening is the best way to find breast cancer early in most women. If you are at higher risk you may need mammograms at an earlier age or more often. Or, your doctor might want to use other tests too, such as a different type of mammogram or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

It is important to let your doctor know if you find any changes in your breast, such as a lump or dimpling or puckering of the skin. While research data does not support an official recommendation that all women conduct breast self-exams, knowing your body is key to pointing out any concerns to your doctor.

Diagnosing Breast Cancer

Screening tests look for signs of cancer. If a screening mammogram or CBE shows a breast change that could be cancer, more tests are needed to learn more. These tests might include:

Diagnostic mammogram. This type of mammogram uses x-ray to take clearer, more detailed images of areas that look abnormal on a screening mammogram.

Clinical breast exam. The doctor might do this to learn how a lump feels. Lumps that are not cancer often feel different from lumps that are cancer.

Ultrasound exam. Sound waves help your doctor see if a lump is solid or filled with fluid.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Takes detailed pictures of areas inside the breast. Sometimes, large lymph nodes or breast lumps are found during a CBE that are not seen on a mammogram or ultrasound, so MRI is used.

Breast biopsy. Fluid or tissue is removed from the breast and checked for cancer cells. There are many types of biopsy. A biopsy is the only test to find out if cells are cancer.

Not all women who have abnormal screening test results need to have a biopsy. Sometimes, doctors can rule out cancer based on the results of follow-up tests without biopsy.

Finding out about "abnormal" breast changes can be scary. Talk to your doctor about what tests you might need and what the test results mean. If you learn that you have cancer, your doctor will help you move forward and begin treatment.

Additional Resources

Publications

Fact Sheet — Breast Cancer — This fact sheet provides information on why women should be concerned about breast cancer and gives resources for more information.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/breast-cancer.cfm

Fact Sheet — Early Stage Breast Cancer: A Patient and Doctor Dialogue — This publication addresses questions that women commonly have about breast cancer and its treatment. It explains many of the medical terms that can be confusing to patients and lists resources for patients seeking more information.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/early-stage-breast-cancer.cfm

Fact Sheet — Mammograms — This fact sheet discusses the different types of mammograms available, explains how often a woman should get them, and gives facts about their safety and effectiveness.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/mammograms.cfm

Mammograms — This fact sheet explains how screening mammograms differ from diagnostic mammograms. It also explains the benefits and limitations of screening mammography, as well as the National Cancer Institute’s recommendations for when a woman should begin and how frequently she should continue having screening mammograms.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/screening-mammograms

Mammograms and Breast Health: An Information Guide for Women — This booklet explains normal breast health, breast cancer, and mammograms, and lists resources for more information about where to get a mammogram.

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/pdf/cdc_mammogram_brochure.pdf

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program — This fact sheet is about the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and it provides information on breast and cervical cancer, the early detection program, screenings, common barriers to screening, and how the program has helped.

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/about.htm

Preventive Services: Breast Cancer Screening (Mammograms) — This fact sheet discusses Medicare’s coverage policy on breast cancer screening. It explains how often mammograms are covered, who is eligible, and what factors increase risk for breast cancer.

http://www.medicare.gov/health/mammography.asp

What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer — This booklet provides valuable information about breast cancer, including causes, screening, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Additionally, this booklet offers women with breast cancer information on how to cope with the disease.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/breast

For Women Facing a Breast Biopsy (Copyright © American Cancer Society) — This Web page explains the range of procedures that may be needed to determine a breast cancer diagnosis. It describes the different benign and malignant conditions that are possible, what to do if your biopsy comes up positive, and where you can go for emotional support.

http://www.medicare.gov/health/mammography.asp

Mammograms and Other Breast Imaging Procedures (Copyright © American Cancer Society) — This Web site describes the process of a mammogram and gives tips on how to find a good screening location, when you should start having screenings, and what to do on the day of the mammogram.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_6x_mammography_and_other_breast_imaging_procedures_5.asp...

Organizations

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Content last updated November 19, 2009.