Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
How can a woman be certain that a lump is not cancer?
There is only one way to be certain that a lump is not cancerous is to have a tissue sampling (biopsy). There are several ways to do the biopsy.
Types of biopsy studies inlcude:
Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
Needle core biopsy
Excisional biopsy
Fine needle aspiration is like a blood test in that a needle is inserted and fluid is withdrawn. The fluid is examined by a pathologist for signs of abnormal or cancerous cells.
For some, a needle core biopsy may be performed. In this procedure, a hollow needle is inserted into the suspicious area, and a core of tissue is removed via the needle.
To determine the correct location to sample by either method, the lump can either be felt, or if it cannot be felt, the FNA or core biopsy may be done during an ultrasound or mammogram. FNA of a benign cyst may remove the fluid contents of the cyst and cause the mass to disappear or markedly decrease in size.
If no fluid can be aspirated, the mass is solid, and a direct tissue sampling must be performed. Tissue sampling using either a core biopsy or an
excisional biopsy (removal of all or a portion of the abnormal area in a surgical procedure) is the best method of making the accurate diagnosis. An excisional biopsy is done in the operating room using either local or general anesthesia.
How are breast lumps treated?
A breast infection (mastitis) in a
breastfeeding woman is treated with warm compresses and antibiotics.
A convenient and effective way of applying heat treatment is to wet some washcloths and put them in the microwave briefly to
warm them.
Hot showers are also helpful.
During heat treatment, the infected area can be massaged.
After heat treatment, which helps open up the milk ducts, either nursing the baby or using a breast pump can help relieve the swelling and pain. Contrary to common myth, nursing the baby or using a breast pump is a critical part of the treatment because it helps decrease the chance of the infection progressing.
If the area actually looks red or fails to get better with heat, massage, and nursing, a doctor should be consulted for consideration of antibiotics, because mastitis can progress quickly and develop into a severe infection. Whether a woman is pregnant or not, she needs to see a doctor if the area does not return completely to normal with treatment in order to rule out more unusual types of infections.
Cellulitis needs to be treated with antibiotics and frequent follow-ups with the doctor.
An abscess of the breast often needs to be drained by a doctor because antibiotics alone cannot adequately treat an abscess.
Fibroadenomas are usually removed because they are difficult to distinguish from cancer until they are removed.
Breast pain (mastodynia) is a common problem. As long as no mass can be felt by the doctor or patient, and no breast lump is seen on a mammogram or ultrasound, breast pain is often concluded to be a normal condition. It is often thought that this pain is caused by natural hormonal fluctuations. If the discomfort is particularly acute and interferes excessively with a woman's life,
oral contraceptives or other medications can be helpful, especially if the pain is worse around the time of the
menstrual cycles.
Fibrocystic changes do not require medication or surgery. Often, a baseline mammogram is done. Then, no further treatment is needed unless a new lump arises, in which case an evaluation with a mammogram and possibly ultrasound is necessary.
Breast cancer
requires urgent treatment. Treatment depends on the type of cancer detected,
its size, and its location.
Cysts are saclike structures that can occur throughout the body and usually contain a semisolid, liquid, or gaseous substance. Infections, tumors, genetic conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, and wear and tear can cause cysts. Though some cysts may be palpable, others may not produce any symptoms. Treatment depends upon the location and cause of the cyst.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
A hematoma is a collection of blood that is outside a blood vessel. There are different areas where hematomas occur including the inside the skull, scalp, ear, septum, bones, finger and toenails, and intra-abdominal. Treatment for hematomas depend on the type and location of the hematoma.
The breast generally refers to the chest, however, more specifically, to the mammary gland. The mammary gland is a milk producing gland comprised largely of fat. Within the mammary gland is a complex network of branching ducts. The ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules, which can produce milk in females. The darkened area around the nipple is called the areola. Common medical concerns in regard to the breast include breast lumps, breast cysts, breast cancer, and breast infections.
Inflammatory breast cancer is an accelerated form of breast cancer that is not usually detected by mammogram or ultrasound. Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include pain in the breast, skin change in the breast area, bruise on the breast,sudden swelling of the breast, nipple retraction or discharge, and swelling of the lymph nodes.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Lifestyle changes, a healthy antioxidant-rich diet, exercise, and weight reduction can help reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. It's important to be aware of how risk factors such as family history, lifestyle factors, breast conditions, radiation therapy, and hormonal factors may influence your chances of developing breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examinations are crucial steps in breast cancer prevention.
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