Discovering a lump in a breast can be very frightening for a woman, and the first thing that may come to mind is cancer. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, as many as four out of five lumps biopsied are benign. Before a biopsy can be performed, a physician must pinpoint the location of the lump.
Instructions
1. Perform a self-examination of your breasts. Lay flat on your back with one arm over your head. Use your three middle fingers to feel for lumps as you work your way over the entire breast in an up-and-down pattern. Switch arms and repeat the process for the other breast. You can go to the American Cancer Society website for pictures and videos on perform a self-exam.
2. Make an appointment with your doctor and let him know the general area where you felt the lump. He will perform a clinical breast examination to feel for a lump in both the breasts and armpits.
3. Set up an appointment for an ultrasound. The ultrasound will use sound waves to receive images of your breasts. Cysts and tumors can both be detected with ultrasound technology. If a lump is found, an MRI may be ordered as a way to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous growths.
4. Find out if you need a mammogram. Mammograms may be done on their own or in conjunction with an X-ray. Mammograms can detect calcium deposits to pinpoint the location of lumps in the breasts.
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