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Suggest Tests To Diagnose Breast Cancer
Question: Hello, My name is XXXXXX. Is there a test for breast cancer? I had cancer 5 years ago. I think it is recurring.
Is amas test good?
Is amas test good?
Brief Answer:
Breast conventional mammography and ultrasound with pathological test
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Having worked in a cancer institute for many years, I would like to share thoughts on the detection of recurrent breast cancer in women.
There has been a lot of research done using AMAS test (anti-malignin antibody serum test) but the results are not reliable. In a research concerning breast cancer and AMAS test, the overall statistics show sensitivity (59%) and specificity (62%). This means a recurrent cancer as in your case cannot be reliable confirmed with AMAS test alone. The false positive rates are too high by doing AMAS and this test is still in research stage.
The best test for you will be a combination of conventional mammography and breast ultrasound. Any suspicious lesion found requires pathological confirmation.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Breast conventional mammography and ultrasound with pathological test
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Having worked in a cancer institute for many years, I would like to share thoughts on the detection of recurrent breast cancer in women.
There has been a lot of research done using AMAS test (anti-malignin antibody serum test) but the results are not reliable. In a research concerning breast cancer and AMAS test, the overall statistics show sensitivity (59%) and specificity (62%). This means a recurrent cancer as in your case cannot be reliable confirmed with AMAS test alone. The false positive rates are too high by doing AMAS and this test is still in research stage.
The best test for you will be a combination of conventional mammography and breast ultrasound. Any suspicious lesion found requires pathological confirmation.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I appreciate your answer as far as it goes. What two tests would you recommend for me to see if cancer has returned? I had a double mastectomy. Conventional mammogram and breast ultrasound are not for me. I am wasting questions by not explaining well enough you in the first place. XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Research has shown MRI might help in presence of doubtful physical findings
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
I think now your clinical details are more clear and I can give you a better reply concerning your query.
When a patient undergoes double mastectomy, recurrence still cannot be completely ruled out though the possibility of having a recurrence in double mastectomy is about 1 in 100 patients.
In the recent past, keeping in mind the possibility of detecting an early recurrence in patients with double mastectomy, a research was carried out on the investigations that might be of help to the patient and the treating doctor.
The research says that MRI was used for post double mastectomy imaging in 48 women. MRI confirmed locoregional recurrence in two patients with highly suspicious physical findings. Therefore I consider that if you have any suspicious findings on clinical examination then a detailed MRI scan might help your doctor in taking a decision.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Research has shown MRI might help in presence of doubtful physical findings
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
I think now your clinical details are more clear and I can give you a better reply concerning your query.
When a patient undergoes double mastectomy, recurrence still cannot be completely ruled out though the possibility of having a recurrence in double mastectomy is about 1 in 100 patients.
In the recent past, keeping in mind the possibility of detecting an early recurrence in patients with double mastectomy, a research was carried out on the investigations that might be of help to the patient and the treating doctor.
The research says that MRI was used for post double mastectomy imaging in 48 women. MRI confirmed locoregional recurrence in two patients with highly suspicious physical findings. Therefore I consider that if you have any suspicious findings on clinical examination then a detailed MRI scan might help your doctor in taking a decision.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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