Some breast cancer tests may be for preventive purposes, such as a mammogram, while others may be for diagnostic reasons, such as a biopsy. Whatever the reason, it is important for women to know what each test is for and what to expect before...
According to breastcancer.org, breast cancer affects 13 percent of women in the United States. Information, medications and support are available if you are suffering with breast cancer.
Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed in the ducts and the lobules, according to the National Cancer Institute. These are the tubes and glands that produce and transport breast milk.
Inflammatory breast cancer (also called IBC) is rare but very aggressive. The cancer blocks the lymph vessels in the skin, causing the skin to become inflamed.
Breast calcifications are small calcium-rich areas within the breast. According to the National Institute of Health, most breast calcifications are benign, or non-cancerous. If benign, a breast calcification does not lead to or cause cancer....
Mammograms are used to screen for breast cancer. In some cases, the mammograms or other radiologic exams may not fully clarify what is happening in the breast. All suspicious mammograms or breast lumps are not necessarily indicative of cancer;...
Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a rare type of breast cancer that arises in the lymph vessels of the breast. It can occur in both men and women, and does not have a lump as a symptom of the disease, like other kinds of breast cancer. This...
Examine your breasts each month so you can easily detect any changes. A few days after your period ends is the best time, or the same day each month if you are past menopause. If you find a lump in one or both breasts, don't panic. Most breast...
The breasts are hormonally regulated tissues which undergo cyclical changes in size and texture throughout life. They are made up of a series of lobules connected to the nipple by ducts, all of which are surrounded by fat, connective tissue, lymph...
Stand in front of a full-length mirror, look carefully at both breasts and examine your nipples. It's not necessarily abnormal if one nipple looks different from the other, but be alert for changes in the nipple that are possible signs of a...
The online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus reports that many things can cause breast lumps, most of which prove non-cancerous. Breast lumps can appear at any age, and do so for a variety of different reasons. For example, infants may develop a...
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in American women, and most people know someone who has been touched by this disease. If a woman finds a lump in her breast or receives abnormal mammogram results, it's normal to feel a sense of urgency about...
A fibroid breast tumor, or fibroadenoma, is a benign breast growth that can occur in one or both breast. A fibroadenoma feels like a firm and rubbery lump that is usually painless to the touch and can be moved within the breast. The lumps can...
Breast dimpling, also known as orange peel appearance (peau d' orange), is a symptom of possible breast cancer that requires immediate medical attention. Any unusual change in the appearance, texture, skin temperature or size of a breast should be...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, affecting 200,000 and killing over 40,000 women each year. There is good news, however, according to Madeline Ellis of Health News: thanks to early detection efforts, death rates have...
All opposite body parts are just a little bit off. It's nature's way. Asymmetry is much more common that perfect symmetry. So if one of your breasts is a tad bit larger than the other, it is not something to be alarmed about. If you are having...
The male breast is composed of a mixture of tissue types, any of which may give rise to a mass or swelling. Cancerous breast tumors in men are rare, but do occur. Men can also develop benign, or non-cancerous breast disorders, causing breast...
According to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer occurs in about one of every 3,000 pregnancies. But since women are having babies at older ages and the risk of developing breast cancer increases as women get older, more...
Breast cancer will be diagnosed in 200,000 women annually in the United States or 1 in 8 women in their lifetime. Of those, 20% will die, ranking second only to lung cancer among women’s cancer deaths. Increased risk factors include the...
Breast cancer is the second most-common cancer in the United States, following skin cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Screening is for early detection of breast cancer, allowing diagnosis before symptoms manifest, at which point the cancer is...
Man boobs, also called gyno or gynecomastia, is when males grow breast tissue similar to women. It is not the same as "man boobs" caused from being overweight. Gyno occurs from changes in the amount of androgen and estrogen hormones and the body's...
Silicone breast implants are not guaranteed to last a woman's lifetime, and a variety of problems are associated with the implants, according to the Mayo Clinic. Silicone breast implants are currently approved by the FDA for women age 22 and over...
The breasts contain a number of specialized cell types. Each breast contains a number of lobules which produce and secrete milk, which are connected to the nipple by a series of ducts. The lobules and ducts are surround by fat cells and connective...
Many causes of pain or tenderness in the breast are the result of natural body processes such as menstruation and pregnancy, as well as puberty in both males and females, according to the National Institutes of Health. Medications, disease,...
Breastfeeding is an excellent way to bond with your baby, and provide her the antibodies and nutrients she'll need to stay healthy and strong. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP, babies should be breastfed exclusively for the...
Breast biopsies diagnose breast cancer in women who have suspicious lumps or breast changes. While the prospect of cancer causes great concern for many women, learning about breast biopsies can help ease some of the fears about the diagnostic...
Breasts are specialized sweat glands developed to produce milk to feed newborn children. Breasts are comprised of connective tissue, glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Swelling and tenderness of breasts can be caused by physiological factors and...
Breast exam methods depend on a doctor's recommendation and also include age, risk factors and prior involvement with breast cancer. Breast exams detect and evaluate changes in the breasts and the detection of breast cancer in its early stages,...
Breast tenderness or pain, also called mastalgia, can be caused by many things. It may come and go or be chronic. It can be sharp, dull, stabbing, burning or feel like a tightness. Some conditions cause pain in just one breast, while in other...