Therefore it is important that a woman have both her mammogram and clinical breast exam done in the same month. The earliest sign of breast cancer is usually an abnormality that shows up on an annual mammogram before a woman or her health care provider can feel it. The National Cancer Institute estimates that mammography can often detect very small cancers up to two years before it can be discovered by physical exam. See or contact your doctor immediately if you find a lump or any other change in your breast. Many are fluid-filled cysts that can be easily drained or left alone.
Many women have naturally fibrous breasts that feel lumpy.
Although this is normal, women with lumpy breast must be diligent about self-examinations. Even if a woman has a normal mammogram, all persistent lumps should be re-evaluated at the proper interval. These images were created for viewing at 800 by 600 resolution on a 16-inch monitor. They will appear larger or smaller depending upon display size and resolution. However, the relative size of the detected tumor will remain consistent.