Symptoms & Diagnosis

Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all. Symptoms that are similar to those of breast cancer may be the result of non-cancerous conditions like infection or a cyst.

Breast self-exam should be part of your monthly health care routine, and you should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If you're over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor. The earlier breast cancer is found and diagnosed, the better your chances of beating it.

The actual process of diagnosis can take weeks and involve many different kinds of tests. Waiting for results can feel like a lifetime. The uncertainty stinks. But once you understand your own unique "big picture," you can make better decisions. You and your doctors can formulate a treatment plan tailored just for you.

In the following pages of the Symptoms and Diagnosis section, you can learn about:

• Understanding Breast Cancer
  
  How breast cancer happens, how it progresses, the stages, and a look at risk factors.
• Male Breast Cancer
  
  Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. We also walk you through the pathology report for male breast cancer.
• Screening and Testing
  
  The importance of screening and the tests used for screening and treatment, including mammograms, ultrasound, MRI, CAT scans, PET scans, and more.
• Your Diagnosis
  
  The characteristics of the cancer that might affect your treatment plan, including size, stage, lymph node status, hormone receptor status, and more.
• Your Pathology Report
  
  A detailed, step-by-step explanation of what your pathology report says and how this might affect your treatment options.
• DCIS—Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
  
  Ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, is the most common kind of non-invasive breast cancer. Find out more about what to expect from a diagnosis of DCIS.
• LCIS—Lobular Carcinoma In Situ
  
  Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, is generally considered to be a pre-cancerous condition. Learn more about what this means for your health outlook.
• IDC—Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
  
  Invasive ductal carcinoma, or IDC, accounts for about 80% of all breast cancers. Find out what to expect from IDC.
• ILC—Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
  
  Invasive lobular carcinoma, or ILC, accounts for about 10%–15% of all breast cancers.
• Recurrent and Metastatic Disease
  
  Learn more about your options if the cancer comes back.
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer
  
  Inflammatory breast cancer is a very serious, aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for about 1% to 5% of breast cancers in the U.S.