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Diagnosis and tests

Chapter 05 of 15 · 8 cards · about 5 min

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Chapter 05 · Diagnosis and tests
THE QUESTION

They found a lump: what happens next?

The answer in a few cards.

1 / 8

The clinical exam

The health worker looks at and feels your breasts and armpits, and asks about your signs and your family.

Source: NCI, 2026

2 / 8

Mammography

It shows the inside of the breast and helps to see whether the lump is suspicious.

Source: ACS, 2026

3 / 8

Ultrasound

Using sound waves, with no radiation, it shows whether a lump is filled with fluid or solid. It is often used in young women.

Source: ACS, 2026

4 / 8

The biopsy: the test that confirms

A small piece of the lump is taken, often with a needle. Only a can tell whether it is cancer.

Source: ACS, 2026

5 / 8

Under the microscope

The sample is analysed in . In Nouakchott, the CHN department is the national reference.

Source: National Hospital Centre (CHN)

6 / 8

The cancer's ID card

A test called measures hormone receptors, and . In Mauritania, it has only been reliably available since 2024.

Source: PAMJ, 2025

7 / 8

Staging tests

Depending on the case, other tests (CT scan, …) check whether the cancer has spread.

Source: NCI, 2026

8 / 8

No more than 60 days

The WHO recommends that a diagnosis be made within 60 days of the first consultation.

Source: WHO, 2023

DID YOU KNOW?

A does not make cancer “burst” or spread. That is a myth.

Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2026

TRUE OR FALSE?

“A mammogram is enough to be sure it is cancer.”

TRUE OR FALSE?

“Having a biopsy makes cancer spread.”

KEY POINTS
  • , imaging, then .
  • The confirms the diagnosis and gives the cancer's “ID card”.
  • Keep a copy of all your results.
SOURCES FOR THIS CHAPTER

Information based on publications by the WHO, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the French National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK and published scientific studies. The information on ROSE does not replace the advice of a health professional.

Chapter complete!

You now know more than many people. Pass it on.

Next chapter: Types: hormone-sensitive, HER2, triple-negative →
Sources: NCI, 2026 · ACS, 2026 · National Hospital Centre (CHN)…

15 stories to understand it all

Pick a question and let the cards guide you.

01To readWhat is breast cancer?Is a lump in the breast always cancer?5 min read02To readThe signsWould you recognise breast cancer?5 min read03To readRisk factorsWhy do some people get breast cancer and others don't?5 min read04To readScreening, by country and ageShould you wait for a sign before getting a test?5 min read05In progressDiagnosis and testsThey found a lump: what happens next?5 min read06To readTypes: hormone-sensitive, HER2, triple-negativeAre all breast cancers the same?5 min read07To readStagesWhat does “stage 2” mean?5 min read08To readTreatmentsHow is breast cancer treated?5 min read09To readLiving with treatment side effectsFatigue, hair, morale: how to get through treatment?5 min read10To readLife afterAnd when treatment is over?5 min read11To readGenetics and BRCAIs breast cancer passed down in families?5 min read12To readBreast cancer in menCan a man get breast cancer?5 min read13To readYoung womenI'm under 40: can it happen to me?5 min read14To readSupporting a loved oneHow can you help someone with breast cancer?5 min read15To readPreventionCan you reduce your risk of breast cancer?5 min read

Information based on publications by the WHO, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the French National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK and published scientific studies. The information on ROSE does not replace the advice of a health professional.