Breast cancer found at an early stage is curable in most cases. We explain how to do a self-examination, when mammography, ultrasound or MRI is needed, who should start screening earlier, and where to have tests done abroad.
Why early diagnosis matters
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. At stage 1 it is cured in the great majority of cases, often without removing the breast — read more in Stage 1 breast cancer. The most reliable way to find a tumour in time is regular screening, while knowing your own body helps you notice changes between check-ups.
Self-examination: what to look for
Check your breasts once a month, ideally in the first week after your period:
- Skin. Look for dimpling, redness or areas resembling orange peel.
- Nipples. Check for a newly inverted nipple, discharge (outside breastfeeding), crusting or scaling.
- Palpation. Feel the whole breast and the armpit — standing with your arm raised and lying down — for lumps and thickening.
- Shape and size. Slight asymmetry is normal. A sudden change in the size or shape of one breast is a warning sign.
Most lumps turn out to be benign, so there is no need to panic or diagnose yourself online — but do not postpone a visit to a breast specialist either. Self-examination does not replace mammography: a tumour smaller than 1 cm usually cannot be felt.
What the doctor will order
- Examination and history — symptoms, family history, palpation of the breasts and lymph nodes.
- Mammography — the main screening method; digital mammography with tomosynthesis shows the smallest changes.
- Breast ultrasound — complements mammography, especially in young women and dense breast tissue.
- Breast MRI — for women at high hereditary risk and in unclear cases.
- Biopsy — if a suspicious lesion is found, a tissue sample is taken with a needle under ultrasound guidance. Only histology confirms or rules out cancer.
When to start screening
- Most programmes recommend mammography every one to two years from the age of 40–50.
- If your mother, sister or grandmother had breast or ovarian cancer, screening starts earlier — usually from 30, or 10 years before the age at which the relative was diagnosed.
- Women with a strong family history should discuss genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.
Diagnosis abroad
Many clinics abroad have certified breast centres where mammography, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy are completed in one or two days and the results are discussed by a team of specialists straight away. See clinics in the oncology section.
Need a diagnostic work-up or a second opinion on your mammogram? Send a request — Clinics Direct coordinators will help you choose a clinic and answer your questions, free of charge.
