Breast cancer

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Breast Lump Removal: Illustrated Series	Breast self-exam	Breast self-exam	Breast self-exam
Female breast	Mammary gland	Mastectomy: An Illustrated Introduction	Needle biopsy of the breast
Open biopsy of the breast	Sentinel node biopsy

Cancer - breast; Carcinoma - ductal; Carcinoma - lobular

• Breast lump or breast mass noted upon breast exam -- usually painless, firm to hard and usually with irregular borders
• Lump or mass in the armpit
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Abnormal nipple discharge
  • Usually bloody or clear-to-yellow or green fluid
  • May look like pus (purulent)
• Change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, nipple, or areola
  • Dimpled, puckered, or scaly
  • Retraction, "orange peel" appearance
  • Redness
  • Accentuated veins on breast surface
• Change in appearance or sensation of the nipple
  • Pulled in (retraction), enlargement, or itching
• Breast pain, enlargement, or discomfort on one side only
• Any breast lump, pain, tenderness, or other change in a man
• Symptoms of advanced disease are bone pain, weight loss, swelling of one arm, and skin ulceration

Any worrisome breast changes should be confirmed and investigated by a medical professional. After getting as much information as possible about the symptom and any risk factors, the physician performs a physical examination including both breasts, armpits, and the area of the neck and chest. Additional tests and treatment may then be recommended:

• X-ray mammography may help identify the breast mass.
• Ultrasound (sonogram) can show whether the lump is solid or fluid-filled.
• Needle aspiration or needle biopsy of breast lumps can demonstrate if they are fluid-filled and provide material to send to the laboratory for analysis. In the case of very small abnormalities visible only on mammography, special techniques are necessary.
• A surgical biopsy or breast lump removal provides a portion or all of a breast lump for laboratory study.

If breast cancer is diagnosed, additional testing is performed, including chest X-ray and blood tests. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these may then be recommended, not only for treatment, but also to help determine the stage of disease. Staging is important to help guide future treatment and follow-up, and to give some idea of what to expect in the future.