4. TAKE ACTION, IF NECESSARY

If you find that you exhibit any of the characteristics discussed in step 3 (aside from normal menstrual lumpiness or retention of water), don't screw around. Go see your physician immediately for a clinical breast exam and other tests. While some of the abnormalities we mentioned are usually benign, nothing is 100% and it's good to keep your doctor in the loop. The first step your doctor will take will probably be a diagnostic test to exclude the possibility of cancer (either an ultrasound or a mammogram). An ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to determine whether a lump is solid or fluid-filled. During a mammography, your boob is basically smooshed between 2 plates, which causes temporary discomfort, as an X-ray of your breast is taken.

After the ultrasound and mammogram, your doctor might rule out further testing and treatment. However, make sure you keep track of the changes you detected and that you have your doctor monitor these changes as well. More often, your doctor will want to get more information about your condition, like from a tissue or fluid sample. At this point, you may be referred to a specialist experienced in breast disease.

The following options are typical next steps (if you have a fear of needles, sorry to break it to you but you'll have to face your fears read on):

  • Fine-needle aspiration
    This is the least expensive and quickest test. It can be done in your surgeon's office with a local anesthetic. A needle syringe is inserted into the lump for a fluid sample. If clear fluid can be aspirated, that means it's a cyst. (Whew!) The aspiration procedure itself usually causes the cyst to disappear.

  • Needle biopsy
    For this procedure, a needle syringe is inserted into the lump for a tissue sample. The sample is then sent to a lab where a pathologist determines whether cancerous cells are present.

  • Surgical biopsy
    Okay, at least you don't have to worry about needles for this one, but it does mean what it sounds like. A surgeon operates to cut a small tissue sample of the lump. Then the sample is sent to lab pathologist to ascertain its status.

The next leg of the journey depends on your results from the tests above. Please make sure you feel comfortable with and confident in your doctor's abilities (and if you have any concern, get a second opinion). We wish you the best of luck and hope that this article has empowered you to feel more in tune with your body. Spread the word and tell your friends that a simple look & touch Breast Self-Exam just may save their lives.

Resources

Phone:

American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345
(24 hour hotline)

National Cancer Institute: 1-800-4-CANCER
(Cancer information service)

Websites:

American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov/

Illustrations provided by Julie Yu Chin Liu and are 2000, SoYouWanna.net, Inc.