Diagnosis and Staging

Diagnosis. The diagnosis of breast cancer is commonly made after discovering an abnormality on a mammogram, or an obvious abnormality during a routine physical exam. The abnormality is then diagnosed, most often using a core biopsy technique. In many situations, several weeks may pass between the discovery of the abnormality to the subsequent diagnosis and treatment. We find this timetable unacceptable. In order to expedite the care of patients with breast abnormalities, we established a multidisciplinary breast clinic whose commitment to patients is to move them from abnormality to diagnosis to an effective treatment plan within three days.

Staging. After a diagnosis is established, we determine the stage of cancer by using the AJCC system—a classification that stages patients from 0 to IV based on the size, lymph node involvement and distant spread of the disease. In Stage O, ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, the tumor is non-invasive and pre-cancerous. In Stage IV, however, we see the spread of cancer to distant organs outside of the breast.

To schedule a Mammography or Biopsy, or to join our Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, ask your primary care physician for a referral or make a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-685-LACK(S).