Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling
to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all.
Symptoms that are similar to those of breast cancer may be the result of
non-cancerous conditions like infection or a cyst.
Breast self-exam should be part of your monthly health care
routine, and you should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If
you're over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an
annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor. The earlier breast cancer is
found and diagnosed, the better your chances of beating it.
The actual process of diagnosis can take weeks and involve
many different kinds of tests. Waiting for results can feel like a lifetime.
The uncertainty stinks. But once you understand your own unique “big picture,”
you can make better decisions. You and your doctors can formulate a treatment
plan tailored just for you.
In the following pages of the Symptoms and Diagnosis
section, you can learn about:
Understanding Breast Cancer
How breast cancer happens, how it progresses, the stages,
and a look at risk factors.
Screening and Testing
The tests used for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring,
including mammograms, ultrasound, MRI, CAT scans, PET scans, and more.
Types of Breast Cancer
The different types of breast cancer, including ductal
carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), invasive lobular
carcinoma (ILC), inflammatory breast cancer, male breast cancer, recurrent
breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and more.
Your Diagnosis
The characteristics of the cancer -- featured on your
pathology report -- that might affect your treatment plan, including size,
stage, lymph node status, hormone receptor status, and more.
Article Credit: www.breastcancer.org
No comments:
Post a Comment