Breast Cancer: Diagnosis

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 10/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors use to find the cause of a medical problem. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, breast cancer. They may also do tests to learn if the cancer has spread to a part of the body other than the breast and the lymph nodes under the arm. If the cancer has spread, it is called metastasis (see the Metastatic Breast Cancer guide for more information). Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.

For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know if an area of the body has cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis.

How breast cancer is diagnosed

There are many tests used to diagnose breast cancer. Not all tests described here will be used for every person. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

  • The type of cancer suspected

  • Your signs and symptoms

  • Your age and general health

  • The results of earlier medical tests

The series of tests needed to evaluate a possible breast cancer usually begins when a person or their doctor discovers a mass or abnormal calcifications on a screening mammogram, or a lump or nodule in the breast during a clinical or self-examination. Less commonly, a person might notice a red or swollen breast or a mass or nodule under the arm.

The tests described below may be used to diagnose breast cancer or be used for follow-up testing after a breast cancer diagnosis is made.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body. They can show if cancer has spread. The following imaging tests of the breast may be done to learn more about a suspicious area found in the breast during screening. In addition to these, there are other new types of tests that are being studied.

  • Diagnostic mammography. Diagnostic mammography is similar to screening mammography except that more pictures of the breast are taken. It is often used when a person is experiencing signs, such as a new lump or nipple discharge. Diagnostic mammography may also be used if something suspicious is found on a screening mammogram.

  • Ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the breast tissue. An ultrasound can distinguish between a solid mass, which may be cancer, and a fluid-filled cyst, which is usually not cancer. When ultrasound is used to examine a finding that could be cancer, it is often used to examine that specific area of the breast rather than the whole breast.

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. A special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to help create a clear picture of the possible cancer. This dye is injected into the patient’s vein. A breast MRI may be used after a person has been diagnosed with cancer to find out how much the disease has grown throughout the breast or to check the other breast for cancer. Breast MRI may also be a screening option, along with mammography, for someone with a very high risk of developing breast cancer and for some women who have a history of breast cancer (see Risk Factors and Prevention). MRI may also be used if locally advanced breast cancer is diagnosed or if chemotherapy or hormonal therapy is being given first, followed by a repeated MRI for surgical planning (see Types of Treatment). Finally, MRI may be used as a surveillance method following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Biopsy

A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. There are different types of biopsies, classified by the technique and/or size of needle used to collect the tissue sample.

  • Fine needle aspiration biopsy. This type of biopsy uses a thin needle to remove a small sample of cells.

  • Core needle biopsy. This type of biopsy uses a wider needle to remove a larger sample of tissue. This is usually the preferred biopsy technique. If a tumor is identified, the cancer biomarkers, such as hormone receptor status (ER, PR) and HER2 status, will be tested to help guide treatment options. These biomarkers are found on or in the tumor cells. Additional types of biomarkers that are made by the tumor or by the body in response to the cancer can be found in the blood or other fluids, although these are not commonly used to establish a breast cancer diagnosis. This information will help the doctor recommend a treatment plan. Local anesthesia, which is medication to block pain, is used to lessen the patient’s discomfort during the procedure.

  • Image-guided biopsy. During this procedure, a needle is guided to the location of the mass or calcifications with the help of an imaging technique, such as mammography, ultrasound, or MRI. These are usually core needle biopsies, but they can also be fine needle aspiration biopsies. A stereotactic biopsy is a type of image-guided biopsy that is done using mammography to help guide the needle. Your doctor will let you know what type of biopsy is best for your situation. A small metal clip is usually put into the breast at the time of biopsy to mark where the biopsy sample was taken, in case the tissue is cancerous and more surgery is needed. This clip is usually titanium, so it will not cause problems with future imaging tests, but check with your doctor before you have any imaging tests done.

  • Surgical biopsy. This type of biopsy removes the largest amount of tissue. Because surgery is best done after a cancer diagnosis has been made, a surgical biopsy is usually not the recommended way to diagnose breast cancer. Most often, non-surgical core needle biopsies are recommended to diagnose breast cancer in order to limit the amount of tissue removed. Since many people who are recommended to undergo breast biopsy are not diagnosed with cancer, using a needle biopsy for diagnosis reduces the number of people who have surgery unnecessarily.

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy. When cancer spreads through the lymphatic system, the lymph node or group of lymph nodes the cancer reaches first is called the “sentinel” lymph node. In breast cancer, these are usually the lymph nodes under the arms called the axillary lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure is a way to find out if there is cancer in the lymph nodes near the breast. Learn more about sentinel lymph node biopsy in the Types of Treatment section.

Analyzing the biopsy sample

Analyzing the sample(s) removed during the biopsy can help your doctor learn about specific features of a cancer that help determine your treatment options.

  • Tumor features. Examination of the tumor under the microscope is used to determine if it is invasive or non-invasive (in situ); ductal, lobular, or another type of breast cancer; and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The margins or edges of the tumor are also examined, and the distance from the tumor to the edge of the tissue that was removed is measured, which is called margin width.

  • Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). Testing for ER and PR (see Introduction) helps determine both the patient’s risk of recurrence (risk of the cancer coming back) and the type of treatment that is most likely to lower the risk of recurrence. Generally, hormonal therapy, also called endocrine therapy or hormone-blocking therapy (see Types of Treatment), reduces the chance of recurrence of ER-positive and/or PR-positive cancers. Guidelines from ASCO and the College of American Pathologists recommend that the ER and PR status should be tested on the breast tumor and/or areas of spread for everyone newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer or when there is a breast cancer recurrence. For those with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), testing for ER status is recommended to find out if hormone therapy may reduce the risk of future breast cancer.

  • Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The HER2 status of the cancer (see Introduction) helps determine whether drugs that target the HER2 receptor, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta), might help treat the cancer. This test is only done on invasive cancers. Guidelines recommend that HER2 testing be done when you are first diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer. In addition, if the cancer has spread to another part of your body or comes back after treatment, testing should be done again on the new tumor or areas where the cancer has spread.

    In early-stage breast cancer, HER2 tests are usually clearly positive or negative, meaning that your cancer has either a high level or a low or absent level of HER2. If your test results are not clearly positive or negative, additional testing may need to be done, either on a different tumor sample or with a different test. Sometimes, even with repeated testing, the results may not be conclusive, so you and your doctor will have to discuss the best treatment option.

    If the cancer is HER2 positive, HER2-targeted therapy may be a recommended treatment option for you.

  • Grade. The tumor grade is also determined from a biopsy. Grade refers to how different the cancer cells look from healthy cells and whether they appear slower growing or faster growing. If the cancer looks similar to healthy tissue and has different cell groupings, it is called "well differentiated" or a "low-grade tumor." If the cancerous tissue looks very different from healthy tissue, it is called "poorly differentiated" or a "high-grade tumor." There are 3 grades: grade 1 (well differentiated), grade 2 (moderately differentiated), and grade 3 (poorly differentiated).

Results of these tests can help determine your treatment options, which are outlined in another section in this guide.

Genomic tests to predict recurrence risk

Doctors use genomic tests, also called multigene panels, to test a tumor to look for specific genes or proteins that are found in or on cancer cells. These tests help doctors better understand the unique features of a person's breast cancer. Genomic tests can also help estimate the risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. Knowing this information helps doctors and patients make decisions about specific treatments and can help some patients avoid unwanted side effects from a treatment they may not need.

Genomic tests are different from genetic tests. Genetic tests are performed on blood or saliva and are used to determine what gene changes a person may have inherited from a parent that may increase their risk of developing breast cancer. The results of a few genetic tests (for example, tests looking for BRCA1 and BRCA2) can also be used to make decisions about specific treatments.

The genomic tests listed below can be done on a sample of the tumor that was already removed during biopsy or surgery. Most patients will not need an extra biopsy or more surgery for these tests.

  • Oncotype Dx™. This test is an option for people with ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes. It is also an option in some cases where the cancer has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes, such as for women who have been through menopause. This test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy should be added to hormonal therapy. This test looks at 16 cancer-related genes and 5 reference genes to calculate a “recurrence score” that estimates the risk of the cancer coming back outside of the breast or regional lymph nodes within 10 years after diagnosis, assuming a patient takes 5 years of hormonal therapy. The recurrence score is used to guide recommendations on the use of chemotherapy. For example, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that people with a recurrence score of 26 or higher should be offered chemotherapy followed by hormonal therapy. Recommendations are listed by age group below. Oncotype Dx™ testing is not recommended for people whose cancer has spread to the lymph nodes if they have not yet been through menopause. It is important to talk with your doctor about the specific testing and treatment recommendation for you.

     For patients age 50 or younger who do not have cancer in any lymph nodes

    • Recurrence score less than 16: Hormonal therapy is usually recommended, but chemotherapy is generally not needed

    • Recurrence score of 16 to 25: Chemotherapy may be recommended before hormonal therapy is given

    • Recurrence score of 26 or higher: Chemotherapy is usually recommended before hormonal therapy is given

    For patients age 50 or younger who have cancer in 1 to 3 lymph nodes

    • Recurrence score less than 26: Chemotherapy is often recommended before hormonal therapy is given

    • Recurrence score of 26 or higher: Chemotherapy is usually recommended before hormonal therapy is given

    For patients older than 50 who do not have cancer in any lymph nodes or who have cancer in 1 to 3 lymph nodes

    • Recurrence score less than 26: Hormonal therapy is usually recommended, but chemotherapy is generally not needed

    • Recurrence score of 26 or higher: Chemotherapy is usually recommended before hormonal therapy is given

  • MammaPrint™. This test is an option for people older than 50 with ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to 3 or fewer lymph nodes. This test uses information from 70 genes to estimate the risk of recurrence for early-stage breast cancer. For people with a high risk of the cancer coming back based on the size and grade of the cancer, this test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy should be given before hormonal therapy. This test is not recommended for people with a low risk of the cancer coming back, for people 50 or younger, or for people with cancer in more than 3 lymph nodes.

  • EndoPredict. This test is an option for people with ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to 3 or fewer lymph nodes and who have been through menopause. This test uses information from 12 genes to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back within 10 years after diagnosis. This test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy and hormonal therapy should be given following surgery.

  • Prosigna™ (PAM50). This test is an option for people who have been through menopause and have ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes. This test uses information from 50 genes to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back within 10 years after diagnosis. This test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy and hormonal therapy should be given following surgery.

  • Additional tests. There are additional tests that may be options for people with ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes or has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes. They can also be used to estimate how likely it is that the cancer will spread to other parts of the body.

    • Ki-67 index. Ki-67 is a protein in cells that increases as they prepare to divide. If there is a high percentage of cells with the Ki-67 protein in the tumor, it means that the cells are dividing rapidly. The Ki-67 index, which is also called a proliferative index, is an indicator of how quickly the tumor cells are multiplying. When the genomic tests described above cannot be used for people with stage I or II breast cancer who have been through menopause, the Ki-67 index may be used to help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy and hormonal therapy should be given following surgery.

    • Immunohistochemistry 4 (IHC). This test uses ER, PR, and HER2 status as well as the Ki-67 index from a sample of tumor to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back within 10 years after diagnosis. It can be used for people whose cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or has only spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes and when the genomic tests described above are not available. This test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether chemotherapy should be given before hormonal therapy.

    • Breast Cancer Index (BCI). This test uses information from 11 genes to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back within 5 to 10 years after a diagnosis. It is used for people whose cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or has only spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes. For a patient who has had 5 years of hormonal therapy and who has no evidence of cancer recurrence, this test can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether additional hormonal therapy with tamoxifen, an AI, or tamoxifen followed by an AI is needed (see Types of Treatment).

    • Clinical Treatment Score post-5 years (CTS5). This is an online tool doctors can use to calculate the risk of cancer recurrence between 5 and 10 years after a diagnosis. ASCO recommends using CTS5 for people who have been through menopause, have received 5 years of hormonal therapy for invasive breast cancer, and have not had a recurrence. This tool can help patients and their doctors make decisions about whether additional hormonal therapy may be needed.

The tests described above have not been shown to be useful to predict risk of recurrence for people with HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. Therefore, none of these tests are currently recommended for testing HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. They are also not recommended for people who have cancer in more than 3 lymph nodes. Your doctor will use other factors to help recommend treatment options for you.

Talk with your doctor for more information about genomic tests, what they mean, and how the results might affect your treatment plan.

This information is based on several ASCO recommendations, including the Use of Biomarkers to Guide Decisions on Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Women with Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer, Biomarkers for Adjuvant Endocrine and Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer,  and ASCO’s endorsement of recommendations from Cancer Care Ontario on the Role of Patient and Disease Factors in Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Decision-Making for Early-Stage, Operable Breast Cancer. Please note that these links take you to another ASCO website.

Blood tests

Your doctor may also need to do several types of blood tests. These tests may be done before or after surgery.

  • Complete blood count. A complete blood count (CBC) is used to measure the number of different types of cells, such as red blood cells and white blood cells, in a sample of a person’s blood. It is done to make sure that your bone marrow is functioning well.

  • Blood chemistry. This test evaluates how well your liver and kidneys are working.

  • Hepatitis tests. These tests are used to check for evidence of prior exposure to hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C. If you have evidence of an active hepatitis B infection, you may need to take a special medication to suppress the virus before you receive chemotherapy. Without this medication, the chemotherapy can cause the virus to grow and damage the liver. Learn more about hepatitis B screening before treatment.

After diagnostic tests are completed, your doctor will review the results with you. If the diagnosis is cancer, these results also help the doctor describe the cancer. This is called staging. Depending on the stage of the cancer and the tumor biomarkers, additional imaging tests may be recommended. If there is a suspicious area found outside of the breast and nearby lymph nodes, you may need a biopsy of other parts of the body to find out if it is cancer.

The next section in this guide is Stages. It explains the system doctors use to describe the extent of the disease. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.