How to Tell Whether a Breast Lump Is Cancerous or Not: Breast Examinations at Mandaya Puri

A breast lump does not necessarily mean cancer. Breast lumps can occur due to various conditions, ranging from harmless changes in breast tissue to tumors that require further examination and treatment. Therefore, a breast lump should not immediately be assumed to be a sign of cancer, but it should not be ignored either.

Determining whether a breast lump is cancerous or not requires a medical examination. Doctors may recommend examinations such as mammography and breast ultrasound to assess the characteristics of the lump and the condition of the surrounding tissue. If necessary, further examinations such as vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) may be performed to collect tissue samples for examination.

Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital provides various examination options to help evaluate breast lumps, ranging from imaging examinations to biopsy procedures. With early detection and evaluation, the condition of a breast lump can be assessed more clearly, allowing doctors to determine the appropriate treatment.

Contents

How to Tell Whether a Breast Lump Is Cancerous or Not

Routine breast cancer screening can help detect breast cancer at an early stage, when the disease is generally easier to treat. Although mammography is considered the primary standard examination for detecting breast cancer, doctors may also recommend other screening examinations, such as breast ultrasound.

Here are several technologies and services available at Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital that can help determine whether a breast lump is cancerous or not:

1. Mammography

Mammography is an examination that uses low-dose X-rays to help detect breast cancer. It can be performed as a screening examination for women who do not have symptoms, as well as to evaluate the breasts in women who have symptoms that may be associated with cancer.

Mammography can help detect breast cancer at an early stage, even when the cancer is still small. In some cases, breast cancer can be detected through mammography before a lump can be felt. When breast cancer is detected at an early stage, the chances of successful treatment are generally higher.

In general, mammography is used for two main purposes:

Screening mammography, an examination performed to look for signs of breast cancer in women who do not have symptoms or breast-related complaints. Usually, X-ray images are taken of each breast from two different angles.
Diagnostic mammography, an examination performed to evaluate the breasts when someone has certain symptoms or when an abnormality is found on a screening mammogram. This examination may include additional images of specific areas of the breast that were not included in the screening examination. Diagnostic mammography may also be performed in people who have previously undergone breast cancer treatment.

2. Breast Ultrasound

Breast ultrasound is an imaging examination used by doctors to examine the inside of the breast. This examination allows doctors to look at specific areas of the breast in greater detail. Breast ultrasound may be performed after mammography to further evaluate changes that have been detected, or together with mammography as part of an examination to detect breast cancer.

Breast ultrasound can help determine whether a breast lump is a fluid-filled cyst, which is generally not cancerous, or a solid mass that may be associated with cancer and may require further examination.

Doctors may recommend a breast ultrasound if:

There is an area of the breast that appears abnormal, unclear, or different from the surrounding tissue on a mammogram and requires further evaluation.
You or your doctor can feel a lump in the breast.
There is a specific area of the breast that feels painful.
You have dense breast tissue. In this situation, your doctor may recommend ultrasound as an additional examination alongside mammography for breast cancer screening.
You are younger than the age at which routine mammography is generally recommended.

Breast ultrasound can also be used to assist doctors during a biopsy procedure. With ultrasound guidance, doctors can ensure that the tissue sample is taken from the appropriate area. The sample can then be examined by a pathologist under a microscope to help determine whether breast cancer is present.

3. Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB)

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is a biopsy procedure that uses vacuum pressure to collect multiple tissue samples from an area of the breast that appears abnormal. The samples are then examined to help determine whether the tissue changes are benign or associated with cancer.

VABB is one alternative to conventional core biopsy for evaluating suspicious breast lesions. With a single insertion of the biopsy device, the doctor can collect multiple tissue samples from the area that needs to be examined.

Before the procedure, the location of the abnormality in the breast is precisely identified using imaging examinations such as ultrasound or mammography. The doctor then makes a small incision, approximately 5 mm (0.5 cm), to insert the device and collect tissue samples from the suspicious area.

Some breast abnormalities are very small and can only be detected through mammography. If a doctor identifies a suspicious area on mammography, breast ultrasound, or MRI, a biopsy may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether breast cancer is present.

VABB can be one of the options for collecting tissue samples to help diagnose or rule out the possibility of breast cancer.

Why Breast Cancer Screening Is Important Even Without a Lump or Symptoms

The absence of a breast lump or symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has no risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening is performed to look for signs of cancer before symptoms appear, allowing changes in breast tissue to be detected earlier.

One of the benefits of screening is that it can help detect breast cancer at an early stage, when the cancer is still small and generally easier to treat. Therefore, screening remains important even if you do not feel a lump, pain, or other changes in your breasts.

The type and timing of breast cancer screening may vary from person to person. Consult your doctor to determine the appropriate breast examination based on your age, condition, and risk factors.

Breast Lumps Are Not the Only Sign: Recognize Other Breast Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of breast cancer can vary from person to person. One of the most common signs is the appearance of a new lump or mass in the breast. Malignant lumps tend to feel hard, painless, and irregular in shape. However, breast cancer can also appear as a lump that is round, soft, painful, or tender. Therefore, any new lump or change in the breast should be evaluated by a doctor, regardless of its shape or characteristics.

In addition to a lump, there are several other signs and symptoms of breast cancer that should be recognized, including:

Pain in the breast or nipple.
The skin of the breast appears dimpled or pulled inward, resembling the surface of an orange peel.
Swelling in part or all of the breast.
The nipple becomes inverted.
The skin of the nipple or breast becomes red, dry, scaly, or thickened.
Discharge from the nipple that is not breast milk.
Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or around the collarbone.

However, some people with breast cancer do not experience any symptoms. This is why routine breast cancer screening remains important, even when there is no breast lump or breast-related complaint.

Facilities for Out-of-Town and International Patients at Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital

Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital provides several facilities to assist patients and families traveling from other cities or countries, including:

VIP transport: Pickup services from Soekarno-Hatta Airport, train stations, or ports to the hospital using a vehicle accompanied by the Patient Experience Officer (PEO) team.
Medical ambulance pickup: Pickup services for patients with certain medical conditions from airports, train stations, or ports using an ambulance equipped with medical equipment and accompanied by healthcare professionals.
Accommodation (Sleep Hub & apartments): Accommodation options for families accompanying patients, including the Sleep Hub located on the 8th floor of Mandaya Royal Puri Hospital and apartment options around the hospital.
International Patient Relation: Assistance for international patients, including coordination of medical needs, translation services, and administrative processes. For more information, International Patient Relation can be contacted at 021 5092 8888 or by email at [email protected].

To make your visit to Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri easier, use Chat via WhatsApp, Book Appointment, or the Care Dokter app, which can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store to make appointments, check queue numbers, and access other information.

*The information provided on this page is intended for educational purposes and general information only and does not represent the full range of medical services that may be performed by each doctor. To determine the most appropriate treatment based on your medical condition, consultation with the relevant doctor is recommended.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or need further information, please contact our call center at 0811-1900-2000.