BREAST CANCER
UNDERSTANDING BREAST CANCER
The disease is caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast.
Depending on which cells in the breast turn cancerous, it can be classified into different kinds. It is possible for breast cancer to begin in different parts of the breast. Breast tissue is divided into three parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. The most common types of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. Detecting breast cancer early can save lives and has high cure rates.
SYMPTOMS
- Lump in the breast especially painless
- Irritation or dimpling of skin over the breast
- Redness or flakiness or ulceration of skin of the breast
- Lump in the armpit or axilla
- Pain in the nipple area
- Thicker or swollen breasts
- Changes in breast size or shape changes
- Breast pain in any area
- Breast discharge, including blood, other than breast milk
RISK FACTORS?
- Female gender
- Increase in age
- Overweight or Obesity
- Dense breasts
- Genetic mutations
- Not being physically active
- Alcohol consumption
- Hormonal treatment in past
- Contralateral breast cancer
- Having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
- Radiation treatment in the past
HOW TO DIAGNOSE?
First of all your doctor, will try to connect with you and understand the symptoms to know the type of cancer suspected.
He/she may ask questions like signs or symptoms, age, health changes, any family cancer history, earlier medical test reports, etc. to analyze your cancer.
Ultrasound scanning is used to create pictures of areas inside the breast, which are called sonograms.
It will provide the required images for the doctor’s evolution.
Doctors may recommend a diagnostic mammogram if you have lumps in your breast or if an area of the breast looks abnormal on a screening mammogram. Screening mammography is similar to diagnostic mammography, except that more pictures are taken of the breast during diagnostic mammography.
An MRI produces detailed images of the body by using magnetic fields. MRI helps in creating a clear picture of breast cancer.
Biopsies are tests performed under a microscope on small amounts of tissue. The results of other tests can indicate the presence of cancer, but the only way to confirm the diagnosis is with a biopsy.
A biopsy can be of different types:
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy
- Surgical biopsy
- Image-guided biopsy
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy
If you seek out the help of the appropriate doctor in the early stages, you will have a better chance of curing quickly.
Take a look at the symptoms, causes, and prevention to be aware of the problem.
TREATMENTS
- Surgery
- Hormonal therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer with neoadjuvant systemic therapy
