Get an Accurate Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Yearly breast cancer screenings are the best way to identify cancer early. It is important to be familiar with how your breasts usually look and feel, and to get regular mammograms. This enables you to notice any changes and report them to your doctor. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the better the chances of successful treatment.

Diagnostic Steps

Cancer specialists may use many tests to diagnose breast cancer. They may also conduct tests to see if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and other areas of the body.

After reviewing a complete medical history, your health professional will likely recommend:

  • A physical examination to check for lumps in the breasts, nearby tissue and lymph nodes.
  • A screening to look for changes in the breast, including masses and unusual calcifications.

In the event a lump or other possible symptom of breast cancer is detected during a physical examination or screening, health care providers usually order:

  • A diagnostic mammogram, or in some cases an MRI, to aid in further identifying the breast condition.
  • Breast ultrasound to evaluate information from the physical exam or mammography.
  • Laboratory tests of any discharge, other than milk, from the nipples.

If the diagnostic mammogram results warrant further investigation, the next step is a breast cancer biopsy to obtain a sample for testing.

Breast Cancer Biopsies

A breast cancer biopsy involves taking a sample of breast tissue to examine it closely.

There are different types of breast cancer biopsies:

  • Fine needle aspiration. A thin needle is guided into the suspicious area, and a small amount of tissue is removed.
  • Core needle biopsy. A large needle is guided into the lump or mass to remove a small cylinder, or core, of tissue.
  • Surgical biopsy. A surgical procedure is used to remove part of the lump or mass.
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy. Used to find out if there is cancer in the lymph nodes of the breast. The sentinel lymph node is the lymph node or group of lymph nodes cancer first reaches, usually under the arms.

Diagnosis

After the breast cancer biopsy has been studied, a diagnosis is made.

There are two types of diagnoses:

  • Benign. This diagnosis means the lump or mass is not cancer and therefore is expected to remain self-contained.
  • Malignant. This diagnosis means the lump or mass is cancerous and further evaluation may be needed to create a treatment plan.

Staging Breast Cancer

Once a breast cancer diagnosis has been made, doctors stage or determine the extent of cancer. This helps to identify the best treatment options.

Tests used to stage breast cancer may include:

The appropriate tests are selected based on your cancer specifics and symptoms. In some cases, doctors may not be able to stage cancer until after breast cancer surgery.

Stages of breast cancer include:

  • Stage 0. Cancer is noninvasive or contained in the milk ducts.
  • Stage 1. Cells are invading normal surrounding breast tissue.
  • Stage 2. There is a tumor between 20-50mm and lymph node involvement. Or, a tumor is larger than 50mm with no lymph node involvement.
  • Stage 3. There is a tumor greater than 50mm with lymph node involvement in a larger area.
  • Stage 4. Metastatic breast cancer. Cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

Whatever the diagnosis, you have access to world-class breast doctors at RWJBarnabas Health. Find a breast specialist near you or learn more about breast cancer symptoms.

To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best breast cancer specialists call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

Patient Stories

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Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
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Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center
377 Jersey Avenue
Ground Floor, Medical Office Building
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(877) 393-5374
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Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Westfield
560 Springfield Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
(973) 322-7020
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Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
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Community Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center
368 Lakehurst Rd
1st Floor
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-3363
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The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Howell
4013 Route 9
Suite 2S
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 923-7700
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The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Colts Neck
310 Route 34 South
Second Floor
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 923-7700
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Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation Infusion Center
414 Grand Street
Suite 9
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2730
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The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7700
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Jersey City Medical Center Radiation Oncology
631 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(844) 226-2376
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Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
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Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
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Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
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Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
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Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
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Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465
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Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
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The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
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RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
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RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
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The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Lakewood
600 River Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 923-7700
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Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
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The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
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Monmouth Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Center
100 State Route 36 West
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 222-6046
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RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
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Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
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Jersey City Medical Center Women's Health at Grove Street
116 Newark Avenue
(at Grove Street PATH Plaza)
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 984-1270
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Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Livingston
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 102
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7020
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Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
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The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
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Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-6200
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Community Medical Center Women’s Imaging Center – Barnegat
770 Lighthouse Drive
Suite 118A
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(848) 208-6203
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Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
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Laurie Proton Therapy Center
141 French Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 253-3176
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Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
18 Centre Drive
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(609) 655-5178
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Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton
2575 Klockner Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08690
(609) 631-6960
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