How do I Determine DCIS With Palpable Mass?

Ductal carcinoma in situ is a form of breast cancer that forms inside the milk ducts of the breast but has not infiltrated other body parts. According to breastcancer.org, DCIS usually has no signs or symptoms, although a small number of women may have a lump in the breast or experience some nipple discharge. If a palpable mass is detected during a breast self-exam exam, a woman should make an appointment with a health care provider for a clinical examination. To confirm DCIS, further studies must be performed. It's important to remember a palpable breast mass does not necessarily mean breast cancer.

Instructions

• 1

  Prepare for a mammogram. A physician who confirms a palpable mass and suspects DCIS will likely order a mammogram as the next step in diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, mammography is X-ray imaging of your breasts. In mammograms DCIS often shows up as clusters of white, hardened material in the breast ducts called calcifications. To detect the extent of a mass seen on a mammogram, an ultrasound is usually ordered.

• 2

  Make an appointment for an ultrasound. Ultrasound radiologists use reflected sound waves to define the shape, density and size of DCIS matter. Ultrasounds are useful for seeing all areas of the breast including areas closest to the chest wall. If the DCIS has spread, or if another form of breast cancer is present, an ultrasound may detect this.

• 3

  Ask your doctor to refer you to a surgeon for a biopsy. Biopsies are the only way to get a definitive diagnosis of DCIS. There are various types of biopsy procedures. A fine needle aspiration biopsy uses a thin, hollow needle to extract a small sample of cells for examination. A core needle biopsy uses a larger needle to remove a larger sample of breast tissue for microscopic examination. If results from either of these biopsies are inconclusive, a surgeon may perform an incisional or excisional biopsy. An incisional biopsy is similar to a core needle biopsy. An excisional biopsy is more like a lumpectomy, as it attempts to remove the suspicious lump in its entirety. If a biopsy confirms DCIS, a woman must mentally prepare herself for further surgery to remove the cancer completely; and for the possibility of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to prevent recurrence.