Info
Breast lump
Diagnosis
What it means
A palpable lump in the breast, noticed by the patient or found during a clinical exam. Most lumps are benign (cysts, fibroadenomas), but any new lump should be evaluated through ultrasound or mammography to rule out cancer.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Mammography
- 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.
- 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.