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Early Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer screening can find breast cancer before symptoms appear. Knowing your body and alerting your care team about any new symptoms can also help find breast cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
If breast cancer is suspected on screening tests or because of symptoms, more testing might be needed to confirm the diagnosis and find out if the cancer has spread.
Can breast cancer be found early?
Breast cancer screening can find breast cancer before symptoms appear and when treatment is more likely to be successful. This is why regular age-appropriate breast cancer screening is so important.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast, but other symptoms, such as skin changes or nipple discharge, are also possible. It's important to know your body and have any changes checked out by a healthcare provider.
Imaging tests to find breast cancer
Different tests can be used to look for and diagnose breast cancer. If your doctor finds an area of concern on a screening test, such as a mammogram, or if you have symptoms that could mean breast cancer, you will need more tests to know for sure.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure that removes a small piece of tissue so it can be examined. It is done when a test or physical exam of the breast shows a change that might be cancer. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure whether an abnormal area is cancer.
Finding breast cancer during pregnancy
Breast cancer during pregnancy is rare. But if you find a lump or notice any unusual changes in your breasts that concern you, tell your doctor or nurse right away.
Last Revised: July 23, 2026
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