Along with bodily exams, docs use imaging exams, biomarker exams, and biopsy outcomes to stage breast most cancers.
Imaging Exams
Mammogram The identical take a look at you get for breast most cancers screening can also be a part of the analysis. A mammogram makes use of X-rays to take footage of the within of the breast. Medical doctors use mammography to find out how massive the most cancers is and the place within the breast it’s positioned. This take a look at can even present whether or not most cancers is in lymph nodes close to the breast.
Ultrasound This take a look at makes use of sound waves to see inside your breasts. Your physician can use ultrasound to verify the analysis and discover out the place the most cancers is in your breast.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) An MRI makes use of highly effective magnets and radio waves to create photos of your breasts. This take a look at can find the most cancers within the breast and measure the tumor dimension. It might additionally assist detect some cancers earlier than they’re seen on a mammogram or ultrasound.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan This take a look at takes many X-ray footage of the breasts from completely different angles and combines them into a really detailed cross-sectional picture. A CT scan is often used for staging functions, after a affected person has already acquired a breast most cancers analysis. For instance, it will possibly present whether or not the most cancers has unfold into the chest wall.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan A PET scan makes use of a radioactive tracer to search out areas of most cancers all through the physique.
Chest X-Ray This take a look at can present whether or not the most cancers has unfold to the lungs.
Bone Scan This take a look at can discover breast most cancers that has unfold to the bones. A radioactive materials injected right into a vein collects in areas of the bone that comprise most cancers.
Breast Biopsies
Biomarker Exams
Hormone Receptor Standing Does the most cancers have receptors for the hormones estrogen, progesterone, or each?
HER2 Standing: Does the most cancers make an excessive amount of of the HER2 protein?
Exams for these biomarkers might typically be finished to search out the suitable remedy:
- Proteins like PD-L1 and Ki-67 that may have an effect on the expansion of most cancers cells
- Gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 and PIK3CA
