1. Clinical Examination – Clinical Examination of the breast by a doctor is essential. This consists of two parts Inspection: Check for any obvious masses, scars, or asymmetry.
- Look for any skin changes or ulceration
- Look for any nipple changes
Palpation – method of feeling with the fingers or hands during a physical examination.
- Examine each quadrant of the breast in turn.
- Using a flat hand, press the breast against the underlying chest wall, rolling the underlying tissue
- Start with the ‘normal’ side first, examining any painful areas last
- If you palpate any lumps, note their position, size, shape, consistency, overlying skin changes, and mobility.
- Examine both axillae in turn
- Palpate for any lymphadenopathy- sets of axillary lymph nodes which are present near the armpits are inspected.
2. Imaging Study – Mammography, sono-mammography or MRI as per recommendation by the doctor.
- Mammography – Most important screening. This is X-ray mammography in which breast tissue is squeezed in between two plastic plates and exposed with 2 rad X-rays and film is taken. Mammography involves compression views of the breast across two views (oblique and craniocaudal).
- Sonomammography – in a few patients sonomammography is done to confirm the diagnosis from X-ray mammography.
- MRI breast – in a few patients where X-ray mammography / sonomammography is not clear then we suggest MRI of the breast for a few patients.
However, in young women of age 40 or below, sono mammography is recommended as their tissues are dense and simple mammography cannot detect cancer.
3. Tissue Biopsy – A biopsy is required of any suspicious mass or lesion presenting to the clinic, most commonly obtained via core biopsy. A tru cut biopsy is where a needle is used to obtain a part of the breast tumor and is more precise than FNAC, where only a few cells from tumor tissue can be observed.
Once the doctors receive the biopsy reports, it is compared with the imaging reports, clinical examination and patient history and the next step that is based on the stage and type of cancer, Line of treatment for cancer are decided. Airavat Cancer Care provide breast specialist doctor in Ahmedabad.
