Breast Cancer Symptoms & Diagnosis

[x]   Tags: breast cancer symptoms, symptoms of breast cancer, cancer symptoms, breast cancer, breast health, breasts, womens health, cancer, Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: Breast cancer, the second most common cancer in women, occurs when abnormal cells accumulate and form a mass of tissue, or a tumor. The most common symptom of breast cancer is the presence of a tumor, which may manifest as a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm. Unfortunately, most early breast cancers are silent, and have no symptoms. The breast may change in size or shape, or the skin may appear dimpled or puckered. The nipples may emit a clear or blood discharge, or they may turn inward. A woman with breast cancer may also notice scaly, red, or swollen skin on any part of her breast or nipple. Unfortunately, these symptoms usually don't manifest until breast cancer has grown and even spread in the body. All cancers are easier to treat in their earliest stages, so doctors check women for breast cancer as a precaution, even when symptoms aren't present. This precautionary screening includes a clinical breast exam, where the breasts are felt for changes a patient may have missed. A mammogram, which is an x-ray image of the tissue inside the breasts, is also part of a normal examination, though women are not given this test until their 40s, when breast cancer risk increases. Younger women with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors may also choose to have regular mammograms. If an abnormality is found during either of these examinations, a doctor may order imaging tests to get a better look. Imaging tests include ultrasounds, which use sound waves to photograph the breast's interior, and MRIs, which use a magnet and radio waves to do the same thing. Even if some or all of these tests show that breast cancer is LIKELY, only a biopsy can say for SURE. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of the suspicious breast cells, which are sent to a lab and examined for the presence of cancer. The GOOD news is that breast cancer survival rates are very high, ranging from 80 to 98%, depending on the stage of cancer and whether its spread. To learn more about breast cancer, check out the breast cancer series on this site and have a conversation with your doctor.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Jennifer Walden is one of a relatively small number of female plastic surgeons in New York City, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery. She is very interested in women's health issues as they relate to plastic surgery and breast health.

Dr. Walden is currently an Attending in Plastic Surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat and Lenox Hill Hospitals, and has the academic appointment of Clinical Instructor of Surgery (Plastic Surgery) at New York University Langone Medical Center. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She currently serves as Program Director of the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital's Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship, one of the foremost training programs of cosmetic surgery in the nation.

A regular in the media, Dr. Walden's appeared on national news outlets such as Fox News Channel and E! TV's Dr. 90210, ABC's 20/20 and CBS's The Early Show. Her comments have also appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and The New York Sun.

A native Texan, Dr. Walden received her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She then went on to receive her Medical Doctorate with Highest Honors, graduating as the Salutatorian at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Visit her website: http://www.drjenniferwalden.com