Detection and diagnosis

Finding breast cancer at an early stage greatly improves the chances of successful treatment. Screening for breast cancer refers to tests and examinations used to detect the disease in women who do not have any symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), early detection of breast cancer saves many thousands of lives each year, and it is important to take advantage of these screening tests. Some screening tests used for early detection of breast cancer include:

• Mammography
• Clinical breast exam
• Monthly breast self-exam

If screening identifies an abnormality in your breast, the next step is diagnosis, in which your doctor determines if breast cancer is present.

In this section, you will learn how cancer is detected and diagnosed and how to understand your test results.