How should I seek medical attention if I suspect breast cancer?

Women can usually be screened for breast cancer starting at age 40, and some people at higher risk can start screening earlier. In addition, self-examination can also be done in your life by looking and feeling. If you find abnormalities in your breast during screening or self-examination and suspect breast cancer, you can follow this process to seek medical attention.

How do I choose a hospital and department?

When breast cancer is suspected, it is recommended to choose a qualified and regular hospital for consultation, and choose hospitals affiliated with medical universities and oncology specialties around the world if possible.

Because of the difference in size and department settings, you can choose breast surgery, surgical oncology, medical oncology, or general surgery, depending on the situation.

In addition, it is important to make sure that you choose a doctor who specializes in a hospital that you trust, and many hospitals have official websites where you can log in for information.

What do I need to do before I go to the doctor?

Avoid holiday visits. Hospitals also have a vacation system, and some tests may not be done during holidays. So, try to visit the hospital on a weekday.

Consider whether you can accurately communicate your condition to the doctor, and if you have difficulty, you may need to inform a relative and ask them to accompany you to the appointment.

Consider making an appointment to register online or by phone to reduce the time spent waiting in line at the site.

Bring all your documents to the appointment. Bring your ID and health insurance card. Bring the following information from previous visits if you have them.

• Outpatient medical records.
• Medication records.
• Discharge summary.
• Imaging information, such as ultrasound, x-rays (mammograms), CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc. Be careful to bring the film of the exam rather than just the paper report.
• Blood test reports from the last 1-2 months.
• If you have had breast puncture pathology, genetic testing, etc., bring the report as well.

Empty stomach visits are not recommended. Most tests require an appointment and few can be done immediately on the same day, so fasting is not necessary; on the other hand, the outpatient line is quite large, the waiting time is long, and hypoglycemia can easily occur on an empty stomach.

What questions might the doctor ask if breast cancer is suspected?

The doctor will usually start by asking, “Where are you not feeling well?” After the person has described their condition well, they will ask questions that may include the following, the answers to which can be prepared in advance.

• What are the symptoms and how long have they been present? For example, were there any breast lumps, nipple overflow or invagination, redness and edema of the breast skin, etc., and when were they found.
• Did the symptoms worsen and did they change?
• Is there a history or family history of breast, ovarian, or other types of cancer?
• Have a history of benign breast disease? Has there been any breast surgery?
• History of menstruation and fertility?
• What is the menstrual and reproductive history?
• Have you ever breastfed and for how long? If recently weaned, for how long?
• What medications have you used?

How do you describe the condition to your doctor?

With limited time for outpatient visits, it is important to be concise in your answers to the doctor’s questions, and to capture the key issues that are bothering you. But don’t leave out some information either. For example, tell the doctor when you first noticed the abnormality, what the discomfort was, how the symptoms changed, whether you have been seen, whether you have been tested and treated, and what the results were. Of course, the doctor will also ask further questions, so just answer truthfully. To avoid forgetting, you can organize the questions you want your doctor to understand and answer before your visit and bring them with you during your visit.