Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Getting Started
• Method 2 of 3: Evaluation and Treatment
• Method 3 of 3: What to do after receiving a doctor's opinion
• Similar articles

It is important for women to regularly check their breasts for lumps, especially after forty years. You should feel the breast on your own in time, see a doctor and undergo a mammogram. But what if you feel for a seal? First you need to calm down. Then you should find out what types of seals are, and start acting.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Getting Started

1. 1 Learn to feel your breasts. Perhaps you don't do this every month because you are young, healthy, there is no cancer in your family, or you simply don’t have such a habit. However, you need to figure out what a healthy breast should feel like.
   • The tissues of the upper chest are elongated and dense, or uneven and round.
   • The lower chest is smoother.
   • There may be small dots in the chest, and this is normal. Track changes monthly.
2. 2 Know what to look for. Different symptoms can indicate problems. You should memorize them and check your breasts regularly. When it comes to health, knowledge is the most powerful weapon.
   • Remember that your breasts can be sore and bumpy during your period. If these symptoms persist after your period ends, you should see your doctor.
   • If your breasts are red, rash, or dry and flaky, see your doctor.
   • If the nipple is sunken, you should also see a doctor.
   • If a reddish, brown, yellow, or clear fluid oozes out of your nipples, see your doctor.
3. 3 See your doctor for your own peace of mind. Do not postpone your visit to the doctor if you feel a lump in your chest.It is better to always know everything at once, but you should not dramatize and think about the worst.
   • See your doctor as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse the situation will be if it turns out that you have a tumor or cancer.
   • Talk to colleagues and friends. Ask other women if they have experienced this and how it ended. Stories with a good ending can help calm you down.
   • Excessive stress raises the level of cortisol in the blood, which increases the desire to eat something sweet, fatty and unhealthy. Better drink chamomile tea and take it easy.
4. 4 Find out what are the types of lumps in your breasts. You will probably get very scared when you feel something tight in your chest, but you should not do this. Most likely, the lump is benign, but in this case, the diagnosis can only be made by a doctor.
   • Some lumps are cysts. Cysts (that is, formations with fluid inside) appear due to changes in the hormonal background. All women face this phenomenon.
   • Lumps can also be benign tumors. This happens if the tissue has formed too quickly.
   • You may be diagnosed with mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammatory disease that is most commonly caused by breastfeeding. Mastitis is treated with antibiotics.

Method 2 of 3: Evaluation and Treatment

1. 1 If you have health insurance, contact your insurance company. Please read all of the terms and conditions before going to your doctor's appointment so that the health center does not bill you that you cannot pay.
   • Consider if you need to go to a therapist first for a referral.
   • Find out how many doctor visits your insurance company will pay.
   • Please be aware that some services may not be covered by insurance.
2. 2 If you don't have insurance, make an appointment with your doctor yourself. Don't think that if you don't have a lot of money, you won't get the help you need. There are other options as well.
   • Make an appointment at the free clinic.
   • Look for a doctor at a paid clinic or at a low-cost health center.
   • Ask your friends to recommend inexpensive centers for you.
   • Find out if there are breast cancer organizations in your city that you can turn to for free help.
3. 3 Choose a doctor. The websites of many medical centers describe in detail the education and experience of doctors. Sometimes you can even find video presentations. If you are visiting a doctor for the first time, it is best to choose a doctor you can trust.
   • If you have insurance, choose one of the doctors that the insurance company will pay for. If there is no insurance, research all the specialists available to you.
   • Read the reviews. Remember that 1-2 bad reviews do not mean anything, but if there are a lot of them, it is better to look for another doctor.
   • Ask friends, coworkers, or family members to recommend a specialist.
4. 4 Prepare for a breast exam. First, your doctor will examine you. Go to your appointment in a good mood and stay calm.
   • The doctor will ask you questions about your general health, symptoms, and if anyone in your family has cancer.
   • The doctor will then examine the skin of your breasts and nipples.
   • Finally, the doctor will feel your breasts and armpits to check the tissue for lumps and other problems.
5. 5 Get tested. Doctors often order one or more tests to examine breast tissue. These examinations are necessary so that the doctor can determine the nature of the education and decide what to do next.
   • Mammography is often prescribed for seals. This is a special kind of X-ray examination. It allows you to get images of the breast tissue that your doctor needs to make a diagnosis.
   • An ultrasound scan may be ordered instead of or in conjunction with mammography. This procedure uses ultrasound waves to help obtain information about tissues, including the presence of fluid in them.
   • If, even with the results of these studies, the doctor cannot make a diagnosis, you may be prescribed an MRI or ductography, in which a dye is used to enhance the visibility of breast tissue.
6. 6 Get a biopsy if your doctor insists on this test. A biopsy takes a small section of breast tissue. This is a common, minimally invasive procedure that allows you to better understand the nature of the lesions.
   • The biopsy is done with a thick or thin needle. The size of the needle depends on the amount of material required. A thicker needle allows a larger sample to be taken.
   • A stereotactic biopsy also uses a needle, but the doctor will first take a scan of the breast.
   • In a vacuum biopsy, anesthesia is first done and then the breast is cut open.
   • A surgical biopsy removes a portion of the mass. This is done under anesthesia so that the patient does not feel pain.

Method 3 of 3: What to do after receiving a doctor's opinion

1. 1 Be prepared to see your doctor, even if the lump is benign. Your doctor will schedule appointments for you. The need to see a doctor should not be seen as a burden. Better be happy that you are healthy!
   • At your appointments, tell your doctor how you are feeling. Tell your doctor if you feel tired, gained or lost weight, if you have decreased cravings, or are in pain.
   • From time to time, you will be given blood tests or X-rays to look for signs of cancer.
   • Of course, you will also need to have a mammogram every year to prevent new lumps from forming.
2. 2 If the lesion turns out to be malignant, study all the necessary information. Even if you have been given a disappointing diagnosis, all is not lost. There are many types of treatments and experienced doctors in the modern world. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
   • Go to a consultation with another doctor to get another conclusion. If you don't trust a doctor or just want confirmation from another specialist, see another doctor.
   • Read the histological examination report. This document will describe the results of breast tissue examination. This paper will enable the doctor to make a diagnosis. Ask your doctor to explain medical terms if you don't understand them.
   • Ask your doctor substantive questions. Find out what stage you are in and how it might affect your health and life expectancy. Ask what other tests you will need to undergo and find out when you will need to make a decision and start treatment.
3. 3 Sign up for a support group. If you do not deal with emotions and thoughts during or after examinations, remember that many other women face this at the same time. Talk to people - perhaps this will make it easier for you.
   • Talking to people who are going through the same will help you deal with the stress as you can speak up about anything that bothers you.
   • Many support groups teach specific relaxation techniques that can also help combat stress. Rhythmic breathing and visualization will help you calm down.
   • As you feel more confident, you will be able to direct group conversations and help those who are just starting treatment. This will fill your actions with meaning and relieve emotional stress.

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