If you have a history of fibrocystic breast disease, you may not be too concerned if you develop new lumps in your breasts, especially if it happens every time you menstruate. However, you may want to speak to a doctor about the new lumps in your breasts to ensure that the lumps aren't cancerous. Fibrocystic breast tissue can make it difficult to feel lumps that can be or become cancerous. Here's what you look for in your new lumps, how 3D mammograms work and why you should get one now.

What Symptoms Do You Look For in Your New Lumps?

Fibrocystic breast disease develops in a number of women at some point in their lives. The health condition normally occurs before or during menstruation, or it may occur when you become pregnant or experience times of stress. If doctors previously diagnosed you with fibrocystic breast disease, and you don't have a history of breast cancer in your family, you may not pay much attention to any new lumps that develop in your breasts. However, this may be the wrong thing to do. If new lumps do show up in your breasts, it's essential that you check other places in your upper body for changes.

Breast cancer lumps can develop anywhere in the breast tissues. They can also show up in the lymph nodes found in your armpits and around the collarbones. The skin over your breasts may dimple, thicken or discolor. Although fibrous breast tissue tends to hurt or feel sore and tender during menstruation or when you consume certain foods that contain caffeine, breast cancer lumps may not always show signs of pain. However, if you experience pain in your breasts that doesn't go away, see your doctor for immediate care, as it might be a sign of breast cancer.

What Does 3D Mammography Do?

A mammogram is often recommended to women who are 45 years old and over. But you may have your breasts screened when you reach age 40 if you develop abnormal changes in your breasts, or if you have dense or thick breasts. Fibrous breast tissue makes your breasts appear dense, which may be a problem when detecting cancer. Traditional 2D imaging may not be able to see through thick breast tissues.

One of the newest screening tools for dense breast tissue is 3D mammography. The technique allows doctors to see through the entire breast structure to locate abnormal lumps. The technique may give doctors an opportunity test the lumps for cancer. Usually, doctors remove cells from the lumps and inspect them in a laboratory to determine whether or not they contain cancer.

If the lumps aren't cancerous, doctors may continue to monitor your condition just to ensure that you remain cancer-free. If the 3D mammograms reveal cancerous cells, physicians can begin treatment right away to protect your health and save your breasts.

If you want to know more about 3D mammography or testing your new breast lumps, contact a doctor like one from EVDI Medical Imaging today.