Conditions |
Features |
What Your Doctor May Recommend |
Cysts
|
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Fluid-filled lumps
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Usually not cancer
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Occur most often in women ages 35-50
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Often in both breasts
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Some too small to be felt
|
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Doctors often watch cysts over time or use fine-needle aspiration to remove the
fluid from the cyst.
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Ultrasound may be used to see whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid.
|
Fibroadenoma |
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Hard, round, benign growth
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Feels like rubber; moves around easily
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Usually painless
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Often found by the woman herself
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Appears on mammogram as smooth, round lumps with clearly defined edges
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Can get bigger when the woman is pregnant or nursing
|
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Sometimes diagnosed with fine-needle aspiration
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If the fibroadenoma does not appear normal, the doctor may suggest taking it
out to make sure it is benign.
|
Macrocalcifications |
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Appear on a mammogram as large calcium deposits
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Often caused by aging
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Usually not cancer
|
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Have another mammogram to have a closer look at the area
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A biopsy may be used for diagnosis
|
Mass |
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May be round and smooth or have irregular borders
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May be caused by normal hormone changes
|
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A mammogram and/or ultrasound may be used to see whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid
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A biopsy may be used for diagnosis
|
Microcalcifications |
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Appear on a mammogram as tiny specks of calcium that might be found in an area
of rapidly dividing cells
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If they are found grouped together in a certain way, they may be a sign of
cancer.
|
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Have another mammogram to have a closer look at the area
-
A biopsy may be used for diagnosis
|