General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
A lump, a recent change in the breast or nipple, pain or an abnormal discharge warrants a consultation. Assessment looks for the cause of the abnormality; it differs from screening in a person without symptoms.
The doctor asks about your personal and family medical history and examines the breasts and armpits. This initial clinical assessment helps select examinations appropriate to the situation.
A mammogram may be proposed after an abnormality is found during the clinical examination. This X-ray then forms part of diagnostic assessment; its prescription depends on the doctor’s findings.
Depending on the results, breast ultrasound and sometimes MRI may complement imaging to clarify the diagnosis. These examinations are selected for the individual case rather than being a routine checklist.
If a lesion looks suspicious, a biopsy may be necessary. Examination of the sampled tissue, called histopathology, establishes the nature of the abnormality and whether cancer is present.
The radiologist provides the images and report, which are also sent to the prescribing doctor. Keep these documents for future examinations and have the result and the next assessment step explained.
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