When Being Checked/treated For Breast Cancer, What Is The Process?
When being checked for breast cancer by a doctor they will first start off by doing a breast exam checking it while the woman is lying down, and in many cases do it with the woman sitting up on the table as well with her arms up above her head and even with her standing up. The reason is to check the breasts from all aspects to make sure nothing is missed.
If something is found the doctor will watch it for about 6 months and then check again. If there is still something there they may send you off for a mammogram and ultrasound. If it is noncancerous they will just continue to watch it.
If it turns out to be cancerous they may recommend a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor) depending on its size along with radiation. If it’s bigger they may recommend a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast and also checking the sentinel nodes-this is to make sure that the cancer has not spread in to the lymph nodes) along with chemotherapy and radiation. Also, if the cancer is hormone positive such as for estrogen they may recommend a hormone medication like Arimidex (this is not the same as HRT-hormone replacement therapy-that is used to treat symptoms of menopause).