Breast cancer
Diagnosing breast cancer
Tests for breast cancer, how it is diagnosed and staged, and who will provide your care.
Last updated: 10 March 2026
Sources and references 
Overview
If you notice any breast changes or a swelling in your armpit, your GP will ask about your medical history and any family history of breast cancer. They will do a physical examination, checking both breasts and the lymph nodes in your armpit and above your collarbone. Your GP may also arrange some imaging tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram and/or an ultrasound and, if required, a biopsy. This is called a triple test.
Sometimes, a specialist will arrange these and additional tests, such as a breast MRI scan. You will also be referred for further tests if a screening mammogram has shown anything unusual.
Scans and tests
Staging breast cancer
Scans and tests for breast cancer will show the size of the breast cancer and if it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. It helps you and your health care team decide what treatment is best. The most common staging system used for breast cancer is the TNM system. Letters and numbers describe how big the tumour is (T), if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N), or if it has spread to the bones or other organs, which is known as having metastasised (M).
The staging system also describes other details about the breast tumour such as oestrogen and progesterone receptor status, HER2 status and the grade of the cancer. Staging is usually done after surgery so the treatment team have full information about the cancer and whether it has spread to lymph nodes. The cancer may be classified as:
- Early breast cancer (stage 1 or 2) – The cancer is contained in the breast and may or may not have spread to lymph nodes in the armpit.
- Locally advanced breast cancer (stage 3) – The cancer is larger than 5 cm, has spread to tissues around the breast such as the skin or muscle or ribs, or has spread to a large number of lymph nodes.
- Metastatic breast cancer (stage 4) – The cancer has spread to other parts of the body from the breast. Also called secondary or advanced breast cancer, it is different from locally advanced breast cancer.
Grading breast cancer
The grade describes how active the cancer cells are and how fast the cancer is likely to be growing.
Grade 1 (low grade): Cancer cells look a little different from normal cells. They are usually growing slowly.
Grade 2 (intermediate grade): Cancer cells do not look like normal cells. They are growing faster than grade 1 cancer cells.
Grade 3 (high grade): Cancer cells look very different from normal cells. They are usually growing fast.
Prognosis and outcomes
Prognosis means the expected outcome of a disease. You may wish to discuss your prognosis with your doctor, but it is not possible for anyone to predict the exact course of the disease.
To work out your prognosis, your doctor will consider the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as features such as the cancer’s hormone receptor and HER2 status.
The survival rates for people with breast cancer have increased significantly over time due to more people taking part in breast screening, better tests and scans, and improved medicines and treatments. Doctors often use 5-year survival rates as a way to discuss prognosis. This is because research studies often follow people for 5 years; it does not mean you will survive for only 5 years. It also does not mean that the cancer cannot come back after 5 years.
Compared with other cancers, breast cancer has one of the highest 5-year survival rates when diagnosed early.
After a diagnosis
Your healthcare team
You may be sent for tests after a screening mammogram, or your general practitioner (GP) may arrange tests to check your symptoms. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you will usually be referred to a specialist or breast clinic. If breast cancer is diagnosed, you will see a breast surgeon or a medical oncologist, who will talk to you about your treatment options. Often these will be discussed with other health professionals at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. During and after treatment, you will see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care. You may not see all members of the MDT.
Health professionals you may see
GP: arranges initial tests to investigate symptoms; assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care when cancer is diagnosed
Breast physician: diagnoses breast cancer and other breast conditions, especially when initial test results are unclear; provides care and support during and after treatment
Radiologist: analyses mammograms, ultrasounds and other scans; performs fine needle and core biopsies to confirm diagnosis
Radiographer/sonographer: performs mammograms, breast ultrasound and other scans
Breast surgeon: diagnoses breast cancer, performs surgical (excisional) biopsies in some clinics; performs breast surgery; some breast surgeons also perform breast reconstruction; oncoplastic breast surgeons specialise in using plastic surgery techniques to reconstruct breast tissue after surgery
Reconstructive (plastic) surgeon: performs breast reconstruction after mastectomy
Radiation oncologist: treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy
Medical oncologist: treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatment)
Breast care nurse: provides breast cancer care; also provides information and facilitates referrals during and after treatment
Chemotherapy nurse: administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout treatment
Anaesthetist: assesses your health before the operation, administers anaesthetic and looks after you during and after surgery; plans your pain relief
Radiation therapist: plans and delivers radiation therapy
Physiotherapist, exercise physiologist: help restore movement and mobility, and improve fitness and wellbeing
Occupational therapist: assists in adapting your living and working environment to help you resume usual activities after treatment
Lymphoedema practitioner: educates people about lymphoedema prevention and management, and provides treatment if lymphoedema occurs; is often a physiotherapist or occupational therapist
Social worker: links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues
Dietitian: helps with nutrition concerns and recommends changes to diet during treatment and recovery
Psychologist, counsellor: help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment
Genetic counsellor: provides advice for people with a strong family history of breast cancer or for people with a genetic condition linked to cancer
Sexual health counsellor: helps you manage the sexual side effects of cancer and its treatments
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Sources and references
This information has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils and Cancer Council Australia as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers of this content: Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW; Prof Bruce Mann, Specialist Breast Surgeon and Director, Breast Cancer Services, The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Women’s Hospitals, VIC; Dr Shagun Aggarwal, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s and Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Andrea Concannon, consumer; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Monica Graham, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Natasha Keir, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, GenesisCare, QLD; Dr Bronwyn Kennedy, Breast Physician, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Lisa Montgomery, consumer; A/Prof Sanjay Warrier, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
Photographs have been reproduced with permission from A/Prof James French, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Prof Elisabeth Elder, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and The University of Sydney, NSW; and Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing, 2010.
Breast Cancer
Cancer Council 13 11 20
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