Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Breast symptoms. These may include a physical examination or other medical tests. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
Why: to establish if acute or chronic.
Why: suggests benign mammary dysplasia or benign breast cysts.
Why: to assess possibility of pregnancy as cause of breast symptoms.
Why: suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
Why: suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
Why: may suggest acute mastitis (most common) or inflammatory breast cancer.
Why: e.g. newborn babies of either sex can present with breast lump which lasts for 7-10 days due to the mother's hormones; a benign breast lump under the nipple can occur in boys in one or both breasts at about 12-14 years; cysts and benign mammary dysplasia unlikely after menopause, breast cancer rare in age 12-25 and uncommon in age 26-35.
Why: if male, malignancy is rare. Gynecomastia (true enlargement of the male breasts) can occur in Klinefelter's syndrome, testicular failure, liver failure, estrogen secreting tumors and due to certain drugs.
Why: may suggest acute mastitis, breast abscess or Candida albicans infection (which causes severe breast pain, producing a feeling like "hot cords", especially during and after breast feeding).
Why: e.g. cyclical breast pain, mastitis, nipple problems or breast cancer.
Why: increases the risk threefold.
Why: Hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Breast enlargement in men can occur with estrogen, digoxin, marijuana, spironolactone, cimetidine.
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. These may include:
Why: suggests mastitis, abscess, benign mammary dysplasia or advanced breast cancer. If tender masses in both breasts consider benign mammary dysplasia.
Why: a painful breast lump is most likely due to an infection (e.g. mastitis or abscess). Other possibilities are benign mammary dysplasia or advanced breast cancer. Note only 5% of breast cancers are associated with pain. The ache may extend down inner aspect of the upper arm in benign mammary dysplasia.
Why: may suggest pregnancy, benign mammary dysplasia or the effect of oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy.
Why: A bloody discharge from the breast suggests a benign breast cancer (intraduct papilloma), malignant breast cancer or sometimes benign mammary dysplasia. A pus-like discharge may suggest an abscess or mastitis. A watery discharge of various colors (clear to green-grey) suggests benign mammary dysplasia.
Why: would suggest acute mastitis or abscess.
Why: may suggest cause of breast pain.
What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2010 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 9 February, 2010 (2:16)
