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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Breast Cancer: Introduction > Breast Cancer: Detection and Diagnosis

Breast Cancer: Detection and Diagnosis

It is estimated that in the United States 209,060 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 40,230 people will die from this disease in 2010. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Despite these large numbers, the death rates from breast cancer have been steadily falling since 1990. ⁽¹⁾ The decrease in mortality is partly due to early detection methods, advanced diagnostic techniques, and improved treatment.

The three major ways to screen for breast cancer are self examination, clinical examination, and mammography. Since no one method is 100% effective, it is suggested that all three be used regularly. The American Cancer Society has published guidelines for screening for women with a normal risk for breast cancer.^(2)(3)(4) Women at high risk due to inherited mutations are suggested to follow a different set of guidelines.⁽⁵⁾

Advances in breast cancer treatment are facilitated by the knowledge gained from tumor biopsy and pathology. These techniques allow doctors to develop individual treatments for each patient based on their distinctive tumor biology. New techniques are constantly being researched to improve the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer.

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Below is a list of tests used in breast cancer detection and diagnosis: Detection Breast Exam Mammography Ultrasound Breast MRI Diagnosis Fine Needle Aspiration Core Needle Biopsy Breast Tumor Pathology Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy One of the new breast cancer detection techniques being studied is: Digital Tomosynthesis If you would like a copy our breast cancer education DVD, Breast Cancer: A Patient's Journey, send an email to cancerquest@emory.edu and we will send one FREE of charge. Don't forget to include your name and address.

Watch the video above and hear what breast cancer survivor Monica Pearson thinks about mammograms and breast cancer detection. Watch the full interview with Monica Pearson.

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	Young women DO get cancer. Watch an interview with Robin Shoulla, a breast cancer survivor diagnosed when she was 17 years old.
The National Cancer Institute has developed a 'calculator' that you can use to estimate your risk of developing breast cancer. Click to use the calculator

 

Click on the image above to see an interactive time line of breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

References for this page:

1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2010. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2010. [http://www.cancerquest.org/multimedia/pdf/facts&figures2010.pdf]
2. "Mammography and Other Breast Imaging Procedures." American Cancer Society (6-19-2002). [http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/FindCancerEarly/ExamandTestDescriptions/MammogramsandOtherBreastImagingProcedures/mammograms-and-other-breast-imaging-procedures]
3. Blamey RW, Wilson ARM, Patnick J. "Screening for Breast Cancer." British Medical Journal (September 2000). 321(7262): 689-693. [PUBMED]
4. Mettler FA, Upton AC, Kelsey CA, Ashby RN, Rosenburg RD, Linver MN. "Benefits Versus Risks from Mammography: A Critical Reassessment." Cancer (1996). 77(5): 903-909. [PUBMED]
5. Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W, Harms S, Leach MO, Lehman CD, Morris E, Pisano E, Schnall M, Sener S, Smith RA, Warner E, Yaffe M, Andrews KS, Russell CA; American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Advisory Group. American Cancer Society guidelines for breast screening with MRI as an adjunct to mammography. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007 May-Jun;57(3):185. [PUBMED]