Breast Biopsy (cont.)
What may a benign result indicate?
Among the most common benign growths in the breast are
cysts (sacs filled with fluid or semisolid material), intraductal papillomas (small wart-like growths that project above a tissue surface), and lumps formed by fat necrosis (the death of tissue often as a result of trauma to the breast). A fibroadenoma is the most common type of benign (non-cancerous) breast tumor and is found in young women.
How is a suspicious breast growth discovered?
A suspicious breast growth may be found by a
patient's self-examination, a physician's clinical examination, or a screening procedure such as a mammogram.
Patients who discover a lump in a breast should see a physician for testing. They should also see a physician if they find a lump in an armpit or above a collarbone (either of which could indicate the presence of spreading cancer). Finally, a physician should be consulted if they have:
- red or irritated breast skin,
- scaly skin on the breast,
- dimpling skin on the breast,
- swelling breast skin,
- nipple discharge other than milk,
- nipple retraction or inversion,
- nipple itching,
- a change in the size or shape of a breast, or
- breast pain.
It is important to remember that these signs and symptoms do not necessarily indicate the presence of cancer.
What should the patient tell the physician about the growth?
The patient should tell the doctor when the growth appeared, what its size was at the time of discovery compared to its present size, and where it is located. The patient should also outline any family history of breast cancer, as well as any personal history of breast problems of any kind.
Next: How does a physician confirm the presence of a breast growth? »
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