All About Breast Cancer

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast, commonly used to screen for breast cancer. If an abnormality is detected, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram to further evaluate the abnormality. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures deep within the body. In this case, it’s used to help distinguish between a solid mass and a fluid-filled cyst. This is often obtained as part of the general screening. A biopsy involves removing a sample of breast cells for further testing. These samples are then sent to a lab to determine if they are cancerous. These samples are also analyzed to determine the type of cells involved in the cancer, its aggressiveness and whether the cancer cells have hormone receptors that may influence treatment options. Finally, an MRI is used to create pictures of the breast interior to further evaluate the abnormality.