Breast Lump Removal

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Breast Lump Removal: Indications

If you find a lump in your breast, you should seek medical attention.

Your doctor will do a clinical breast exam and possibly order the following tests:

• An X-ray of the breast called a mammogram
• An ultrasound of the breast to determine whether the lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid mass
• A mammogram and an ultrasound

Based on these exams, the doctor may decide no further tests or treatment are needed. If no further tests are needed, the doctor will recommend regular checkups to detect any changes in the lump.

In some cases, the doctor may want to perform a needle biopsy or a lumpectomy to determine whether cancer is present.

If cancer is found, more tests will be required to tell the doctor whether the cancer has spread within the breast, to the lymph nodes in the armpit, or to other parts of the body. This is called staging and helps determine the treatment plan.

Treatment depends on the type and stage of cancer and the patient's age, menopausal status, and overall health. If the entire lump was not removed in the biopsy, further surgery to remove it and surrounding tissue may be necessary.

Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be needed.

The treatment of breast cancer in its earliest stages is much more likely to be successful than in more advanced stages. Routine mammography, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination all play a role in early detection.