Info
Mammography
Diagnosis
What it means
An X-ray investigation of the breasts, used mainly for the early detection of breast cancer or to assess suspicious changes. It can be recommended as screening or as a diagnostic investigation.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Cancer screening
- Regular tests carried out in healthy people to detect cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. Examples: mammography, Pap test, colonoscopy. It increases the chances of a complete cure.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- A tumor marker useful especially for liver cancer and certain testicular or ovarian tumors. It is measured in the blood for diagnosis, monitoring treatment and detecting a recurrence.
- ALK-positive
- A gene rearrangement found in a subset of lung cancers, more common in non-smoking or younger patients. ALK-positive tumors often respond very well to specific targeted therapies, different from standard chemotherapy.
Other terms in “Diagnosis”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.