Show
Cancer.Net Assist is a digital assistant that can help you find the information you're looking for. ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors use to find the cause of a medical problem. Use the menu to see other pages. Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, breast cancer. They may also do tests to learn if the cancer has spread to a part of the body other than the breast and the lymph nodes under the arm. If the cancer has spread, it is called a metastasis (see the
Metastatic Breast Cancer guide for more information). Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best. For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know if an area of the body has cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis. There are many tests used for diagnosing breast cancer. Not all tests described here will be used for every person. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test: The type of cancer suspected Your signs and symptoms Your age and general health The results of earlier medical tests The series of tests needed to evaluate a possible breast cancer usually begins when a
person or their doctor discovers a mass or abnormal calcifications on a screening mammogram, or a lump or nodule in the breast during a clinical or self-examination. Less commonly, a person might notice a red or swollen breast or a mass or nodule under the arm. The following tests may be used to diagnose breast cancer or for follow-up testing after a breast cancer diagnosis. Imaging testsImaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body. They can show if cancer has spread. The following imaging tests of the breast may be done to learn more about a suspicious area found in the breast during screening. In addition to these, there are other new types of tests that are being studied.
BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. There are different types of biopsies, classified by the technique and/or size of needle used to collect the tissue sample.
Analyzing the biopsy sampleAnalyzing the sample(s) removed during the biopsy can help your doctor learn about specific features of a cancer that help determine your treatment options.
Results of these tests can help determine your treatment options. Genomic tests to predict recurrence risk (updated 04/2022)Doctors use genomic tests, also called multigene panels, to test a tumor to look for specific genes or proteins that are found in or on cancer cells. These tests help doctors better understand the unique features of a person's breast cancer. Genomic tests can also help estimate the risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. Knowing this information helps doctors and patients make decisions about specific treatments and can help some patients avoid unwanted side effects from a treatment they may not need. Genomic tests are different from genetic tests. Genetic tests are performed on blood or saliva and are used to determine what gene changes a person may have inherited from a parent that may increase their risk of developing breast cancer. The results of a few genetic tests (for example, tests looking for BRCA1 and BRCA2) can also be used to make decisions about specific treatments. The genomic tests listed below can be done on a sample of the tumor that was already removed during biopsy or surgery. Most patients will not need an extra biopsy or more surgery for these tests.
The tests described above have not been shown to be useful to predict risk of recurrence for people with HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. Therefore, none of these tests are currently recommended for testing HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. They are also not recommended for people who have cancer in more than 3 lymph nodes. Your doctor will use other factors to help recommend treatment options for you. Talk with your doctor for more information about genomic tests, what they mean, and how the results might affect your treatment plan. This information is based on several ASCO recommendations, including the Use of Biomarkers to Guide Decisions on Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Women with Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer, Biomarkers for Adjuvant Endocrine and Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer, and ASCO’s endorsement of recommendations from Cancer Care Ontario on the Role of Patient and Disease Factors in Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Decision-Making for Early-Stage, Operable Breast Cancer. Please note that these links take you to another ASCO website. Blood testsYour doctor may also need to do several types of blood tests. These tests may be done before or after surgery.
After diagnostic tests are completed, your doctor will review the results with you. If the diagnosis is cancer, these results also help the doctor describe the cancer. This is called staging. Depending on the stage of the cancer and the tumor biomarkers, additional imaging tests may be recommended. If there is a suspicious area found outside of the breast and nearby lymph nodes, you may need a biopsy of other parts of the body to find out if it is cancer. The next section in this guide is Stages. It explains the system doctors use to describe the extent of the disease. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide. What are the 5 parts of the patient assessment?emergency call; determining scene safety, taking BSI precautions, noting the mechanism of injury or patient's nature of illness, determining the number of patients, and deciding what, if any additional resources are needed including Advanced Life Support.
Which of the following patient is at greatest risk for complications caused by the influenza virus?Adults age 65 and older. Adults age 65 years and older are at greater risk of flu-related complications, in part because of decreasing immune function with increasing age.
Which of the following signs is commonly observed in patients with right sided heart failure?Shortness of breath during exercise or when lying flat. Coughing. Wheezing.
When forming your general impression of a patient with a medical complaint it is important to remember that?-limit your time at the scene to 10 minutes or less, if possible. When forming your general impression of a patient with a medical complaint, it is important to remember that: -the conditions of many medical patients may not appear serious at first.
|