Women's Breast Health
What is Cancer?
Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all have in common this out-of-control growth of cells.
Breast Cancer
Although widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, some breast cancers are not found by mammogram, either because the test was not done or because, even under ideal conditions, mammograms do not find every breast cancer. This is why a monthly breast self-exam and an annual clinical breast exam are so important.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. For this reason, it is important that any new breast mass or lump be checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases.
Other possible signs of breast cancer include:
- swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)
- skin irritation or dimpling
- breast or nipple pain
- nipple retraction (turning inward)
- redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- a discharge other than breast milk
If you have any signs or symptoms that might be due to breast cancer, you need to see your health care provider as soon as possible for a physical examination. If breast symptoms and/or the results of your physical exam suggest breast cancer might be present, more involved tests will likely be done.
There is a full arsenol of methods to detect and diagnose breast cancers available today. EMH offers and utilizes many of the methods up to and including one of the very newest: Mammotome, a form of large needle biopsy offered by surgeon, Dr. George Pfaltzgraff.
- Diagnostic mammograms:
Although mammograms are mostly used for screening, they can also be used to examine the breast of a woman who has a breast problem.
- Computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD):
Over the past 2 decades, computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) has been developed to help radiologists detect suspicious changes on mammograms. EMH utilizes a program called “Second Sight” for a second line of detection.
- Breast ultrasound:
Ultrasound, also known as sonography, uses sound waves to outline a part of the body. This test is painless and does not expose you to radiation. Ultrasound helps distinguish between cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and solid masses and between benign and cancerous tumors.
- Biopsy
During a biopsy, the doctor removes a sample of the suspicious area to be looked at under a microscope. A biopsy is done when mammograms, other imaging tests, or the physical exam finds a breast change (or abnormality) that is possibly cancer. A biopsy is the only way to tell if cancer is really present.
There are several types of biopsies, such as fine needle aspiration biopsy, core (large needle) biopsy, and surgical biopsy. Each has its pros and cons.
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy
In a fine needle aspiration biopsy , the doctor uses a very thin, hollow needle attached to a syringe to withdraw (aspirate) a small amount of tissue from a suspicious area, which is then looked at under a microscope.
- Core needle biopsy
A core biopsy uses a larger needle to sample breast changes felt by the doctor or pinpointed by ultrasound or mammogram. Because it removes larger pieces of tissue, a core needle biopsy is more likely to provide a clear diagnosis, although it may still miss some cancers.
- Larger core biopsies: A new biopsy method that can remove more tissue than a core biopsy:
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The Mammotome® is a type of vacuum-assisted biopsy. For this procedure the skin is numbed and a small incision (about ¼ inch) is made. A hollow probe is inserted through the incision into the abnormal area of breast tissue. A cylinder of tissue is then suctioned in through a hole in the side the probe, and a rotating knife within the probe cuts the tissue sample from the rest of the breast. The Mammotome procedure is done as an outpatient. No stitches are needed, and there is minimal scarring. This method usually removes about twice as much tissue as core biopsies.
Early detection is still the most significant factor in a positive outcome to cancer treatment. Ellsworth Municipal Hospital offers a variety of screening tools to help you get the answers you need as quickly as possible without a commute. You get to work with familiar health care providers when you need it most. If you need further evaluations, ask your health care provider about these services offered at EMH. These are just a few more ways that EMH is Caring for People in Special Ways.
The American Cancer Society website (www.cancer.org) served as a resource for much of the information contained in this article. |
