The most common test used to identify early-stage breast cancer is mammogram, which consists of an X-ray that allows you to see if there is any injury to breast tissue even before the woman has symptoms of cancer, such as breast pain or release of fluid from the nipple. See the 12 signs that may indicate breast cancer.
Mammography should be done at least every 2 years from age 40, but women with a history of breast cancer in the family should be tested every year from age 35 to 69. If your mammogram results show any type of change, your doctor may order another mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy to confirm a change and whether or not to confirm the cancer diagnosis.
There are other tests that can help identify and confirm breast cancer, such as:
The physical exam is an examination performed by the gynecologist by palpation of the breast to identify lumps and other changes in the woman’s bosom. However, this test is not very accurate, as it only indicates the presence of nodules, without checking that it is a benign or malignant injury, for example. For example, your doctor usually recommends more specific tests, such as mammogram.
This is usually the first test that is done when a woman develops symptoms of breast cancer or discovers changes during breast self-exam.
Find out how to self-examine at home or watch the following video, which clearly explains how to perform the self-examination correctly:
Blood testing is useful in the diagnosis of breast cancer, because normally when there is a cancerous process, certain specific proteins have their increased concentration in the blood, such as CA125, CA 19.9, CEA, MCA, AFP, CA 27.29 or CA 15.3 , which is usually the most requested marker by the doctor. Understand what the CA exam is and how 15.3 is performed.
In addition to being important to help diagnose breast cancer, tumor markers can also tell your doctor about your response to treatment and recurrence of breast cancer.
In addition to tumor markers, mutations in tumor suppressor genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, can be identified by analyzing a blood sample that, when it mutates, can predispose to breast cancer. This genetic thesis is recommended for those with close relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, for example. Learn more about genetic breast cancer testing.
A breast ultrasound is a test that is often done after a woman has had a mammogram and the result has changed. This test is particularly suitable for women with large, firm breasts, especially if there are cases of breast cancer in the family. In these cases, ultrasound is an excellent complement to mammography, as this test does not show small nodules in women with large breasts.
However, when the woman does not have a case in the family and her breasts are widely visible on mammography, ultrasound is not a substitute for mammography. See who has the highest risk of breast cancer.
MRI is a test that is primarily used when there is a high risk of a woman developing breast cancer, especially when there are changes in mammography or ultrasound results. For example, MRI helps the gynecologist confirm the diagnosis and identify the size of the cancer, as well as the existence of other sites that may be affected.
During MRIs, the woman should lie face down, resting her breast on a special platform that prevents it from being pressed, allowing for a better image of breast tissue. In addition, it is also important that the woman remain as calm and quiet as possible to avoid causing changes in the images due to body movement.
Biopsy is usually the last diagnostic test used to confirm the presence of cancer, as this test is performed in the lab with samples taken directly from breast lesions, allowing you to see if there are tumor cells that, when present, confirm the cancer diagnosis. .
The biopsy is usually performed in the office of a gynecologist or pathologist under local anesthesia, as it is necessary to insert a needle into the breast to the injury to suck small pieces of the nodule or the alteration identified in other diagnostic tests.
“The FISH test is a genetic test that can be done after the biopsy, when there is a diagnosis of breast cancer, to help your doctor choose the type of treatment that is most appropriate to remove the cancer.
In this test, the biopsy sample is tested in the lab to identify specific genes of cancer cells, known as HER2, which, when present, indicate that the best treatment for cancer is, for example, with a chemotherapy substance called trastuzumab.