Breast Health and Surgery

A new breast change deserves a clear assessment, not an automatic operation. Breast health services evaluate benign conditions, suspicious findings and confirmed cancer in women and men. MPGCARE coordinates records and appointments at Medical Park and Liv Hospital in Türkiye. The receiving center confirms its breast surgeon, breast radiology/pathology services and access to oncology or reconstruction; hospital physicians determine the clinical plan.

Examination, imaging, biopsy and surgery are separate stages. Each test is chosen for the individual, and the clinical examination, images and pathology must be consistent before treatment planning.

Benign breast conditions and other changes

Condition	Symptoms / points to discuss	Possible tests and options
Breast cysts	A lump may be tender or vary with the cycle; a newly found lump should be checked rather than assumed to be a cyst.	Ultrasound distinguishes fluid from solid tissue; mammography according to age/risk. A simple cyst may be observed; aspiration for selected symptoms or biopsy for suspicious complex features.
Fibroadenoma	Often a mobile lump, but touch alone cannot establish the diagnosis. Report growth or new changes.	Ultrasound, age-appropriate imaging and core biopsy when indicated. Observation or excision depends on imaging/pathology agreement, growth, symptoms and patient preference.
Fibrocystic changes and breast pain	Cycle-related tenderness or nodularity can be benign; persistent focal pain, a distinct lump or skin change needs assessment.	Examination and targeted imaging when indicated. Symptom care is individualized; pain alone does not automatically require biopsy or surgery.
Duct ectasia	Dilated ducts may cause discharge or nipple change. New spontaneous, one-sided or bloody discharge must be assessed.	Examination, ultrasound and selected mammography; biopsy or duct surgery only for an appropriate finding/clinical indication.
Intraductal papilloma	A duct growth may cause discharge, sometimes bloody. Benign appearance does not replace tissue assessment when needed.	Targeted imaging and image-guided biopsy; monitoring or removal depends on atypia, symptoms and pathology/imaging agreement.
Mastitis	Pain, redness and warmth, sometimes fever, during or outside breastfeeding. Persistent changes require review for other causes.	Clinical assessment; ultrasound for a suspected collection and selected cultures/tests. Medicines and breastfeeding advice are individualized; systemic illness needs urgent local care.
Breast abscess	Painful swelling and infection may contain pus; severe fever or rapidly worsening illness is urgent.	Ultrasound and selected culture; antibiotics and image-guided or surgical drainage according to the case, with review until resolution.
Phyllodes tumor	A growing mass can resemble fibroadenoma; phyllodes tumors may be benign, borderline or malignant.	Imaging and tissue assessment, sometimes definitive excision for classification. Surgery/margins and surveillance depend on pathology; further surgery can be needed.
Gynecomastia and male breast changes	Men can develop breast enlargement or cancer. A hard unilateral lump, discharge or nipple retraction should not be dismissed.	Examination, medicines/hormonal history, selected imaging, laboratory tests or biopsy. Treat the cause; surgery for selected persistent symptoms is distinct from cancer surgery.

Breast cancer and suspicious findings

Condition	Symptoms / points to discuss	Possible tests and options
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)	Often found as mammographic calcifications rather than a palpable lump; it is confined to ducts but requires specialist treatment planning.	Image-guided tissue biopsy and pathology; selected extent imaging. Breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy and radiation/endocrine options depend on the individual findings.
Invasive breast cancer	A lump, skin/nipple changes or an abnormal image may lead to diagnosis; some cancers have no symptoms.	Core biopsy, tumor type/grade and ER/PR/HER2 testing; selected nodal/extent studies, not routine whole-body scans for everyone. Surgery, medicines and radiation are coordinated; systemic treatment may precede surgery.
Inflammatory breast cancer	Rapid enlargement, redness, edema or orange-peel skin may occur without a distinct lump and can resemble infection.	Prompt examination, imaging and breast/skin biopsy when indicated. Oncology-led multimodal treatment often starts before surgery; do not wait for routine screening.
Paget disease of the breast	Persistent one-sided nipple/areolar scaling, crusting or bleeding should be assessed, rather than repeatedly assumed to be eczema.	Skin biopsy and breast imaging assess associated DCIS or invasive cancer; surgery and additional treatment follow the confirmed extent.

Women: what to consider at different ages

In your 20s and 30s, know your usual breast appearance and report new changes; breast awareness does not replace imaging when indicated. Review family/personal risk early, especially with early-onset breast/ovarian cancer, male breast cancer, a known inherited variant or previous chest radiation. ACR recommends formal risk assessment by age 25; this does not mean everyone needs a mammogram or MRI at 25.

Screening from age 40 and later

Türkiye’s population program offers mammography every two years for women aged 40–69; this is a population reference, not a universal schedule for every visitor. Country guidelines differ, and high-risk or previously treated patients may need earlier/different follow-up. At 70 and beyond, screening depends on health, prior results, risk and preferences. At every age, a new lump, bloody discharge, nipple retraction or persistent skin change needs diagnostic assessment without waiting for screening.

Which breast images should I send?

Send dated mammography/tomosynthesis, ultrasound and any MRI reports with BI-RADS findings, plus original DICOM images and earlier comparison studies if available. Explain the affected side, symptoms, previous operations, implants, pregnancy/breastfeeding and contrast history. Ultrasound, diagnostic mammography or MRI is selected for the clinical question; MRI is not mandatory for everyone and ultrasound does not universally replace mammography.

Can I send my biopsy report?

Yes. Include the sampling date/site, procedure note, pathology and available receptor/additional test results. The center may request slides or blocks through an agreed secure process. A second pathology review, repeat sampling or further imaging may be needed if tissue and images do not agree. Atypia or LCIS can change risk management without automatically meaning invasive cancer. MPGCARE confirms the secure submission channel and translation needs.

Is assessment the same stage as surgery?

No. The specialist first reviews history, examination, imaging and tissue findings when needed. Biopsy is diagnostic and is not automatically cancer-removal surgery. A confirmed indication leads to a separate discussion of alternatives, consent and risks such as bleeding, infection, scarring, altered sensation, asymmetry, lymphedema or repeat surgery. Cancer decisions may involve a multidisciplinary team; current services and individual suitability must be confirmed.

Surgical options to discuss with the team

Selected benign-lesion excision removes a symptomatic or uncertain mass. Lumpectomy removes a cancer with surrounding tissue and usually requires discussion of radiation. Mastectomy removes breast tissue; skin/nipple preservation is only for suitable cases. Sentinel-node biopsy samples selected draining nodes; full axillary dissection is reserved for indicated situations. Oncoplastic surgery combines tumor removal with reshaping; immediate or delayed reconstruction uses selected implant/tissue options with plastic surgery. Reconstruction may require several stages and does not guarantee appearance or cancer control.

Preparation, results and follow-up at home

Only the center provides individual written fasting, medicines and anesthesia/biopsy preparation; do not stop blood thinners yourself. Ask who explains pathology, margins/receptors and the next treatment decision. Obtain discharge, wound/drain instructions, warning signs and imaging/oncology follow-up. Agree on a local clinician, rehabilitation/arm care when relevant and contact with the treating team. Visit count, stay, companion needs and travel fitness are individualized; no cure or permanent-result guarantee is offered.

When to seek urgent local care

Rapidly spreading redness with fever or severe illness, major bleeding, fainting or breathing difficulty requires urgent local care. A new lump, bloody spontaneous discharge, persistent nipple/skin change or an unresolved finding needs prompt breast assessment, even if a previous screen was normal. Do not wait for international travel; stable follow-up can be planned after triage.

Contact MPGCARE to prepare your images and reports and request an individual breast specialist assessment.

Request a specialist assessment

+90 850 259 5553