A physical examination is performed by a doctor, and it is strongly recommended that you see your doctor for regular breast exams--at least every three years between the ages of 20 and 40 and every year after age 40.
A mammogram is a special x-ray picture of the breast. Due to modern mammography equipment and techniques, women only receive a minimal amount of radiation during the procedure. With the newer techniques that are available, a large percentage of the cancer is detected when the tumors are 2 centimeters or smaller. Two x-rays are taken of each breast during mammography, one from above and one from the side. A specially trained physician called a radiologist reads the mammogram to see if any suspicious areas exist. Routine mammography screening appears to reduce breast cancer mortality by approximately 25%.
A breast self-examination should be practiced monthly. Ask your doctor, nurse, or mammography technician to teach you the proper method. There is an illustrated BSE guide available, and your local office of the American Cancer Society also can provide how-to-do diagrams. Remember, most breast lumps are not cancer, but only a physician can make a proper diagnosis.
Needle aspiration helps to distinguish between solid tumors and liquid-filled tumors (cysts ). In this procedure, a fine needle is inserted into the breast and the fluid is removed. Cysts are rarely associated with cancer and only are tested if they are bloody or if the patient is older than 55 years of age. If the lump is solid, then a needle also is used to gather a cluster of cells, which can then be sent to a laboratory for further testing.
Surgical biopsy is usually performed if the lumps are solid. There are two types of surgical biopsy that can be performed. An incisional biopsy removes only a portion of the suspicious lump for the pathologist to examine. An excisional biopsy, the most commonly performed procedure, is used when lumps are small. In this case, the entire lump and a small amount of surrounding tissue are removed. The entire lump of suspicious tissue is then sent to the pathologist for further examination.
Recently, through studying blood samples of families in which there is a history of breast cancer, scientists have isolated and identified a gene linked to breast cancer. A person who has this modified gene, labelled BRCA-1 (meaning Breast Cancer 1), has an 85% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, as well as a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer.
By being able to identify these genes through particular markers associated with the gene, doctors will know which individuals are more susceptible to cancer and therefore can follow the proper procedure. The earlier the doctor can diagnose the cancer, the more effective the treatment will be.
Scientists warn however that, although they have discovered one of the genes associated with breast cancer, there is still no cure available. They have successfully identified the gene, but presently there is no way to "repair" the gene.
The recent isolation of the gene BRCA-1 has prompted investigators to identify other genes that may contribute to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and the breast-ovarian cancer syndrome.
Return to ELSI Home Page