Make an appointment with a mammologist. Mammologist - all about the medical specialty

A mammologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the mammary glands. In Russian medical practice, doctors involved in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of this organ have a basic specialization in gynecology, surgery or oncology.

Pathology of the mammary glands can occur in both women and men, but in women it is detected much more often. This is explained by the fact that female mammary glands are much more developed, as well as their dependence on hormonal fluctuations. All major changes in a woman’s life inevitably affect the condition of her breasts. Breasts form during puberty. With the advent of menstruation, the mammary glands begin to respond to the menstrual cycle. Significant restructuring occurs during pregnancy: the body prepares for the fact that breastfeeding will follow the birth of a child. Despite the fact that breastfeeding is inherent in nature, it carries its own risks - mechanical damage, lactostasis (clogging of the milk ducts). A decrease in hormonal levels associated with the attenuation of reproductive function, however, like other age-related changes, also affects the condition of this organ.

Women's breasts are very vulnerable. The most dangerous threat is breast cancer. Cancer of this localization is currently considered the most common among oncological diseases. It is detected in every eighth woman over 45 years of age. Moreover, in the early stages it is curable, and the earlier the pathology is identified, the less damage to the body the treatment will be. The creation of a mammologist as a separate medical specialty is connected precisely with the need to achieve the widest possible early diagnosis.

Breast cancer also occurs in men, only less frequently (the ratio of cases in men and women is 1:100). Therefore, doctors recommend that men contact a mammologist if disturbing symptoms appear, and women over 35 years of age undergo an annual preventive examination.

If you need an appointment with a mammologist in Moscow, contact Family Doctor JSC. Below you can choose the clinic that is most convenient for you and check the prices for doctor’s services. You can make an appointment through the call center, mobile application or patient’s personal account.

Why should you contact a mammologist?

The area of expertise of a mammologist includes all diseases of the mammary glands. There are two main groups of diseases:

inflammatory

non-inflammatory nature.

The first group includes mastitis: lactation and non-lactation.

Lactation mastitis occurs during breastfeeding and is usually associated with lactostasis. If milk is not completely sucked out of the breast, it stagnates, which leads to the development of inflammation.

Non-lactation mastitis is an inflammation not associated with lactation.

The group of non-inflammatory diseases consists of neoplasms, which can be benign and malignant.

Benign formations include:

mastopathy (pathological change in gland tissue, which is fibrocystic in nature. Manifests itself in the form of fine-grained compactions, usually painful);

fibroadenoma (tumor developing from glandular tissue);

cyst (formation in the form of a cavity with liquid contents);

intraductal papilloma (caused by the human papillomavirus);

lipoma (popular name - “wen”, formed from adipose tissue).

Mastopathy is considered a precancerous condition. Other formations can also degenerate malignantly - fibroadenomas, cysts, intrastream papillomas. Therefore, any lump in the gland should be a reason to contact a mammologist and undergo an examination.

The competence of a mammologist also includes gynecomastia in men (pathological increase in the size of the mammary glands), as well as malformations and injuries of the mammary glands in women.

When do you need to see a mammologist?

Doctors recommend that every woman conduct a self-diagnosis once a month. Self-diagnosis consists of visually examining the breast in front of a mirror, palpating (each breast and armpits are palpated in turn), squeezing the nipple (checking for discharge). It is best to do a self-exam within a week after your period ends.

If alarming signs are detected, you should consult a mammologist as soon as possible. Such signs may be:

changes in the size and shape of the breast or nipple

lumps or redness;

soreness or feeling of tension in the gland area;

discharge from the nipple.

However, if the examination does not reveal anything alarming, you still need to go for an annual preventive examination. The sensitivity of instrumental diagnostic methods is significantly superior to your hands. Those who belong to the risk group should be especially vigilant:

nulliparous women over 30 years of age. The risk is even greater if you have a history of miscarriages or abortions;

with a history of chest trauma;

women with high levels of estrogen in the blood.

It is best to undergo a preventive examination on the 5-6th day of the menstrual cycle, at which time the mammary gland experiences the least impact from hormonal levels. Women in menopause can make an appointment with a mammologist regardless of time.

Diagnostic methods in mammology

At the appointment, the mammologist will perform an examination, which necessarily includes palpation (palpation), ask about complaints, find out whether gynecological pathology has been detected previously, and whether there have been cases of oncology in close relatives.

The examination standard involves conducting instrumental studies. Women under 35 are prescribed a breast ultrasound; those over this age are referred for mammography.

Can also be done:

radiothermometry of the breast;

biopsy of gland tissue followed by histological examination

laboratory tests: blood tests for tumor markers, hormones, analysis of nipple discharge (if there is discharge)

Treatment methods

Inflammatory diseases are treated with conservative methods. Treatment of mastopathy in most cases also turns out to be conservative.

Cysts, tumors and intraductal papillomas must be removed surgically. If surgery is unavoidable, doctors try to ensure that the necessary intervention is minimal. Operations are performed at the Family Doctor Hospital Center.

A mammologist is a specialist who diagnoses certain diseases related to the mammary glands, as well as their treatment and the development of subsequent preventive measures to prevent diseases in this area. Thus, answering the question of who is a mammologist, we can supplement the answer with the fact that it is this specialist who should be contacted if a number of different problems arise, ranging from manifestations such as engorgement of the mammary glands, which occurs before the onset of menstruation, to mastitis (and It is with this problem that patients most often turn to a mammologist), mastopathy or tumor formation.

The competence of a mammologist presupposes the possibility of treating this type of problem within the framework of outpatient treatment, as well as the possibility of treatment in a hospital setting (surgical intervention, drug therapy). These areas of activity can be combined or implemented only separately, it all depends on the specific specialist.

It should be noted that in the conditions of the CIS countries, as well as in neighboring countries, such a specialization as “mammologist” does not exist in principle. Basically, the functions that are assigned to mammologists are performed by doctors whose activities are related to the treatment of cancer, related conditions and conditions of similar types. The mammary glands, accordingly, are also among the areas of their profile, and the specialists themselves in this case are oncologists.

Considering the fact that breast cancer is practically the leader in terms of cancer diseases in various countries, including Russia, an appointment with a mammologist is available in almost any serious clinic. The mammologist also works in the clinic, so finding a mammologist, regardless of the situation, is not so difficult.

Mammologist: what does this specialist treat?

The main areas of activity of a mammologist regarding specific diseases are the following:

dishormonal pathologies of the mammary glands - in this case fibrocystic disease or mastopathy, as well as gynecomastia are considered;
tumor pathologies of the mammary glands - this includes breast cancer, lipoma, fibroadenoma, sarcoma, etc.;
pathologies of the inflammatory nature of the mammary glands - mastitis is considered here in particular; in general, inflammatory diseases of the glands also fall under the competence of surgeons, whose area of specialization relates to purulent surgery.

When to go to a mammologist: preventive, first and urgent examination

As a preventative measure, you should visit a mammologist twice a year. You should take into account a certain feature, taking into account which a mammologist can see you - the days of your cycle. Taking this into account, you can go to him after the end of menstruation, before ovulation occurs (about 5-6 days).

It is better if the first consultation with this specialist is carried out in youth, because precisely due to early diagnosis in the presence of any pathology and the need for treatment, the doctor, accordingly, will be able to prescribe it, thereby minimizing as much as possible the possible threat of it development.

As for urgent consultation, it is necessary regardless of age or other factors; the fundamental reason for going to this specialist is the appearance of symptoms (discharge from the nipple, chest pain, etc.). In the absence of complaints, aggravating heredity and other predisposing factors, a visit to a mammologist after 30 years of age can be considered a necessity, implemented within a period of once every one and a half years. Accordingly, in case of aggravating factors and hereditary predisposition, visits to the doctor should occur twice a year.
It is also important for women to understand that breast cancer in its initial form does not show visible and painful symptoms. Moreover, the traditional measure (independent palpation of the glands) may also be ineffective during this period of the disease. Thus, identifying pathology in the latent (initial) form of its existence is possible only when visiting a mammologist’s office.

Examination by a mammologist: when does it become necessary?

There are a number of conditions of the mammary glands that necessarily require an appropriate approach to them, namely, consultation with a mammologist. These are specific symptoms, on the basis of which, even without this recommendation, a woman may have serious concerns about her own condition and the actual disease. In order for the reader to understand what exactly is meant by such states, let us highlight them in detail:

redness of the mammary glands;
change in the size of the mammary glands (both larger and smaller);
the appearance of a lump in the chest;
the appearance of discharge from the nipples;
pain in the armpits and surrounding areas;
pain in the mammary glands (or in one of the glands);
bulging or retraction of the skin noted in the area near the nipple;
asymmetry of the mammary glands.

In addition, there are also a number of predisposing factors, against the backdrop of the influence of which attention should also be paid to the need to visit a mammologist; we will highlight them below.

the presence of diseases of the genital organs (currently relevant or previously suffered);
the presence of specific sensations, which may even be insignificant in the nature of their manifestation (a feeling of fullness, pain in the mammary gland, a palpable lump, various types of discharge from the nipples/nipple, a feeling of engorgement of the glands, etc.);
the course of pregnancy was accompanied by the occurrence of certain unpleasant moments in it;
trauma to the mammary gland/glands occurred in the past, relatively recently or in the present;
there is a pressing problem in the form of liver dysfunction;
severe and prolonged stay in a state provoked by a traumatic situation, in other words, in this case, stress is considered as a predisposing factor;
the relevance of a hereditary predisposition in which breast cancer occurred in one of the closest relatives.

Basically, the appointment of the specialist we are considering is outpatient, which means consulting a mammologist and performing the necessary diagnostic procedures. In parallel, as already noted, they undergo surgery in a hospital setting, as well as the required treatment.

Mammologist appointment: how does it go?

This specialist’s appointment involves palpation (that is, palpation of the mammary glands), as well as identifying specific complaints that are relevant to the patient. The following options can be assigned as research methods through which subsequent diagnosis of pathology can be made:

mammography (as part of this study, the mammary glands are examined using x-rays);
ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the mammary glands;
examination of tissues removed by biopsy for subsequent oncological analysis of the material.

Additionally, the following methods can be used:

scintigraphy;
CT and MRI of the chest;
ductography (a method of x-ray examination of the ducts of the mammary glands).

Tests prescribed by a mammologist

The option of carrying out analyzes cannot be excluded; they include the following:

taking a smear (the procedure is carried out with the removal of material from one nipple), conducting a cytological examination (the removed material is examined);
taking a smear from both nipple glands, cytological examination of the removed material;
puncture for one of the palpable formations, carried out as a diagnostic method using an ultrasound machine during this procedure.

Pediatric mammologist

We have already highlighted the need to visit a mammologist at an early age above; in fact, a pediatric mammologist is a specialist whose visit is necessary for a child or adolescent to treat certain conditions and diseases. These include pseudotumor formations, asymmetry of the glands, injury to the glands or their hypertrophy (enlargement). This is also age-related mastopathy, fibroadenoma, etc. Let us repeat that with a timely visit to a mammologist, the possibility of a complete cure is possible with the implementation of adequate therapy measures.

In adolescence, consultation with a mammologist is necessary during the period of the so-called “hormonal storm”, because diseases of the mammary glands often begin to develop precisely from this period, and their manifestation can be noted already during pregnancy or lactation (breastfeeding).

It should be noted that a pediatric mammologist must partly also be a psychologist, taking into account the characteristics of the child’s psyche and the psyche of adolescents. The ability to establish contact and inspire trust on the part of patients is important. Taking this into account, a mammologist, reviews of whom are often the best confirmation of compliance with the requirements regarding professionalism and treatment, must be selected carefully, that is, again, taking into account qualifications, the effectiveness of treatment, and attitude towards patients.

Breast cancer: symptoms

Considering that breast cancer is perhaps one of those major diseases that women are especially afraid of, it is important to know what symptoms appear with it at the obvious stages of its relevance, that is, when, in general, any phenomena have already otherwise, but they make themselves felt.

So, first of all, this pain. An important fact is that from time to time women, one way or another, encounter pain in this area. If chest pain occurs frequently, it can be assumed that hormonal changes are the cause of this phenomenon (in up to 90% of cases this is exactly the case). With pain in only one of the mammary glands, as well as with the appearance of discharge in the same gland, with engorgement of the skin and with the detection of a tumor formation during palpation, we can say that the symptoms manifested in a particular case look somewhat more serious than just pain in the breast. breasts

Pain in the armpits, pain in the nipple area – these manifestations occur in approximately 10% of cases in women during the premenstrual period. The pain that appears in this case is characterized as dull. To relieve pain, you should reduce the amount of salt in your diet a few days before your period begins, and you should also avoid drinks that contain caffeine during this period. Due to this, fluid removal from the body will occur unhindered; breast tissue is also no exception.

If you have undergone a previous biopsy procedure or with a previous injury, the pain is of a slightly different nature. Thus, the concentration of pain is noted in a specific area, without connection with the menstrual cycle. The nature of the pain is cutting or shooting. It should be noted that after a biopsy, pain can persist for up to two years, the pain is concentrated mainly in the chest, although the main focus of pain is concentrated in the ribs. If the pain increases with a deep sharp breath or when pressing on the ribs, there is reason to assume that the patient has nothing more than arthritis.

Stress in pain also has its own position in terms of the manifestation of symptoms. So, if the level of stress hormone in the body is increased, then the pain in it also increases, regardless of the area of their localization; accordingly, this is also true for the mammary glands. If you add this to the influence of alcohol, coffee and poor diet in combination with your daily routine, you will soon notice that pain in the chest increases.

The next symptom that you should pay attention to in the context of this disease is the appearance of discharge. Discharge although they may alarm, in reality they have nothing to do with cancer in most cases. Basically, this is a normal phenomenon, relevant for the second part of the menstrual cycle; the reason for their occurrence is the accumulation of a certain amount of fluid in the area of the milk canals. If pregnancy does not occur, this fluid disappears over time. It should be noted that the excited state of the nipples can lead to the release of a small amount of this fluid; it is mostly either transparent or slightly cloudy. Sometimes such discharge occurs against the background of undergoing significant physical activity.

Despite the fact that discharge is not a direct indication of actual breast cancer, certain features of it should nevertheless raise suspicion:

the constant nature of the discharge (that is, it appears not only in the period of several days preceding menstruation);
the discharge is accompanied by external changes in the mammary glands (palpation of lumps, engorgement of the skin);
the appearance of a spontaneous type of discharge (that is, discharge appears without prior compression of the chest, without previous physical activity or friction);
the liquid released from the nipples has a certain color (that is, it is not cloudy or transparent, but reddish, greenish, etc.);
the nipple skin itches and is generally inflamed;
discharge is noted from only one breast or discharge is noted from 1-2 pores in the nipple.

Seals, which we have already noted, in many cases are not malignant, but this is not a reason to exclude them as a serious symptom indicating possible breast cancer, quite the contrary. In particular, a visit to a mammologist may include the following symptoms associated with a lump in the breast:

when palpated, the hardness of the seal is noted;
the edges of the seal are uneven;
it is characterized by pain;
there are no similar lumps in the other breast;
the movement of the compaction occurs only with the tissues adjacent to it;
the features inherent in compaction do not change in accordance with the menstrual cycle.

If you need a good mammologist in Moscow, do not rely on chance when choosing. Of course, you can ask your acquaintances, colleagues, friends at the fitness club, or ask on an online forum. But such advice is sometimes emotional and subjective. So listen, but also use factual material.

Refer to a specialized website - take advantage of the offer of our resource. Here is an opportunity to clarify the doctor’s specialization, find out what professional experience he has, get acquainted with his achievements, and read the opinions of patients who have already been seen or undergone treatment. The desire of patients to entrust serious problems depends not only on the professional competence of the mammologist, but also on his human qualities, contact, and attentiveness. Only after this can you make a decision and make an appointment.

Women's fears

Most women who, by chance or during self-examination, notice changes in the appearance of the mammary glands or feel pain, are first of all suspected of cancer. These fears are quite understandable. The number of people with this pathology continues to grow steadily every year. Breast cancer ranks third in the list of causes of female mortality.

It should be noted that most cysts, tumors, and lumps of breast tissue - almost 80% - are benign, that is, they do not pose a threat. A visit to a mammologist will help you make sure that this is really the case. But even if the tumor turns out to be dangerous, with early diagnosis and adequate treatment the patient will be completely cured in 9 out of 10 cases.

Who is a mammologist

Mammologists are professional doctors who are involved in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pathological conditions and breast tumors. Specialists in this profile work in outpatient clinics and also provide inpatient treatment with the help of medications. If necessary, many of them can perform surgical operations. The listed types of treatment can be shared or performed by one physician. Therefore, when looking for a good mammologist in Moscow, take this into account, paying attention to the specialization and practical capabilities of the candidates.

Note that in the Russian Federation, as in other CIS countries, mammology is not a separate specialty. Despite the fact that there are many mammology departments in the city of Moscow (and other regions), this is a subspecialization for related areas of medical workers. Among mammologists, the largest number are oncologists, since they are the ones who treat patients with malignant tumors and other similar diagnoses. A slightly smaller number of specialists in breast diseases are surgeons, plastic surgeons, gynecologists, and obstetricians.

A mammologist in Moscow treats:

Diseases accompanied by tumors of the mammary glands (fibroadenoma, lipoma, sarcoma, oncological pathologies, etc.).
Pathologies of the mammary glands caused by hormonal imbalance (diffuse fibrocystic and nodular mastopathy).
Diseases of an inflammatory, purulent nature (mastitis).
Congenital malformations of the mammary glands.

How often should a woman visit a mammologist?

Experts recommend that 15-16 year old girls come to see a mammologist for the first time. This will allow us to identify pathological processes at the beginning of their development and take timely measures. Moreover, it is early diagnosis that ensures the use of conservative, least traumatic methods and complete cure. Or you can rejoice in the absence of breast diseases. You can and should make an appointment for the first time and then undergo an examination by a mammologist, feeling completely healthy. If at least one unusual symptom is noticed (pain in the gland tissue, fluid discharge from the nipples), immediate consultation with a specialized specialist is needed.

After turning 30, women who do not have complaints about the condition of the mammary glands, as well as breast pathologies among relatives, are recommended to visit a mammologist at least once every two years. If there are aggravating hereditary factors or symptoms, visits should be more frequent, at least 2 times a year. At this age, self-examination of the mammary glands after the end of menstruation (on the 5-7th day of the cycle) should become regular. But such monthly feeling of the breast does not guarantee timely detection of hidden tumors, so a visit to a mammologist is mandatory.

After 45, a professional preventive examination of the mammary glands should be carried out every year.

Please note that the examination results will be most revealing and reliable if you schedule a visit to the mammologist on certain days. Go to the doctor in the period after the end of discharge before ovulation, this is the 5-6th day of the menstrual cycle.

Reasons for an unscheduled visit

Some conditions of the mammary glands are a serious reason to urgently find out their true cause. These symptoms include:

Redness (hyperemia) of the mammary glands or areas thereof.
Breast reduction or enlargement.
The appearance of compactions in the tissues of the mammary glands.
Secretion from the nipples, regardless of color. Particular caution should be exercised if these secretions contain streaks of blood.
The appearance of pain in or near the armpits.
Pain in the mammary glands or in one of them.
Changing the shape of the nipples to more convex or, conversely, retracted.
Changes in the condition of the skin around the nipples (swelling or retraction).
Asymmetry of the right and left mammary glands.

But even in the absence of such signs, if you have a history of certain factors predisposing to the development of dysfunction or structure of the mammary glands, you should visit a mammologist more often. Among such circumstances are the following:

Gynecological diseases that currently exist or have previously occurred.
Difficult birth.

The presence of even minor discomfort in the breast area (chest pain, feeling of fullness, hardening, discharge from the nipples, swelling of the glands, etc.).
Breast problems during pregnancy and/or lactation.
Old or recent injuries to the mammary glands or one of them.
Functional pathologies of the liver.
Prolonged stay in a state of nervous system tension, repeated or single traumatic stressful situations, feelings of anxiety.
Hereditary predisposition - if close relatives on the female side had breast cancer or other pathologies.

Such problems are the subject of specialist competence. A mammologist in Moscow will see the patient on an outpatient basis and provide professional assistance.

How does an appointment with a mammologist work?

At an appointment with a mammologist, the patient outlines all existing complaints about the health of the mammary glands. A good specialist will definitely ask a number of questions that will help find out the reason for your visit and the appearance of changes in the breast. Then a visual inspection of the glands and palpation (palpation) is carried out. If the doctor finds grounds for a more detailed diagnosis, he will recommend several or one of the following types of examinations:

Mammography (X-ray examination of the mammary glands using a special machine - a mammograph).
Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the breast.
If necessary, an aspiration biopsy is prescribed - analysis of breast tissue, which is taken using a thin needle, while simultaneously monitoring the process using an ultrasound machine. The material is then sent to the laboratory for cytological examination.
Scintigraphy is a procedure that uses the injection of a small amount of radioactive substance followed by analysis of tumor formations on a gamma tomograph.
Ductography is a method of x-ray examination of the condition of the ducts of the mammary glands.

MRI or CT scan of the chest.
Taking a sample of material (liquid) released from the nipple with a referral for cytology testing (detection of structural changes in the biomaterial).

After receiving and evaluating the research results, the oncologist mammologist in Moscow will offer adequate treatment tactics for the disease and prescribe a number of procedures that will help overcome the disease. The best option is for the same doctor to treat the patient and observe her until complete recovery.

Help in choosing a doctor: how to make an appointment

Often on the Internet, women ask: “Recommend a good mammologist and advise on the price per appointment.” Our website contains a large amount of information useful to you. These are profiles of experienced doctors who successfully help women with breast problems. You will find information about specialists' education and work experience. But the most important thing is to get acquainted with the opinions of real patients about mammologist doctors. This is the only way patients can help each other by exchanging experiences and leaving honest feedback. The average cost of a consultation with a mammologist in Moscow is 1,850 rubles.

On mammologist appointment Every woman should come every year, from the age of 18 to old age. Visiting and conducting a basic examination does not take much time, but it allows timely detection of diseases such as fibroadenoma, fibroma, and breast cancer.

The latter is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. Cancerous breast tumors cause the death of tens of thousands of women every year, and you can avoid becoming part of this sad statistic if you undergo a timely preventive examination, which allows you to detect the tumor at an early stage. This guarantees successful treatment in most cases.

When to see a mammologist

There are a number of signs that indicate the onset of breast disease. Any woman should know them. In order not to miss the onset of the disease, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

Pain in the mammary glands. Unpleasant sensations and pain in the mammary glands can be a sign of many diseases. They can be localized in one place or diffuse, but both require consultation.
The appearance of formations. If, upon palpation of the breast, you find a lump in it, you must urgently come to an appointment with a mammologist.
Change of size . If the breasts of an adult woman begin to change size or shape, this is a sign of a disease, especially if the growth is asymmetrical, i.e., one breast is enlarged.
Nipple change . An alarming factor is if the nipple is deformed, curved, retracted, a platform appears if the nipples are asymmetrical.
Nipple discharge . Any discharge from the nipples that is not associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding requires additional diagnostics.
Enlarged lymph nodes . Often, diseases of the mammary glands manifest themselves as enlarged or painful axillary lymph nodes.
Skin change . If there is an area on your breast skin that is too smooth, wrinkled, retracted, orange-peeled, or otherwise different from normal, it is best to consult your doctor.

In addition to the listed cases, you should visit a mammologist at least once a year for the purpose of prevention, at the stage of preparation for pregnancy, during, and also after breastfeeding.

What happens at an appointment with a mammologist

An appointment with a mammologist may differ depending on the purpose, but it always begins with a survey. The doctor finds out the reasons for the visit, subjective symptoms and complaints, ascertains family and personal history. Afterwards, he begins a visual examination of the mammary glands, paying attention to the color and condition of the skin, size and symmetry.

The most informative part of the appointment is palpation of the gland. The doctor palpates her tissues in search of possible formations. If any suspicious areas are detected, additional examination may be required: mammography. Having received their results, the doctor will be able to determine their condition in more detail.

Where to go for an appointment with a mammologist?

Today, mammologists are part of the permanent staff of many private medical institutions, and making an appointment is not difficult. The main thing is to choose a clinic with suitable conditions.

And if you have any difficulties with this, you can solve it using the “Your Doctor” website. This service allows you to collect and analyze information about the working conditions provided by different private clinics as simply and quickly as possible, and then make an appointment at any of them.