Being diagnosed with breast cancer comes as a shudder at first, and makes people feel scared and nervous. Breast cancer, to put in simple words, is the abnormal growth of the cells lining the breast ducts or lobules. These cells have the tendency to spread to other parts of the body. Most breast cancers are detected when they are virulent. This means cancer has outspread from the breast ducts or lobules into the neighbouring breast tissue.
This write-up intends to shed light on the symptoms and diagnosis, causes/risk, treatment etc. of breast cancer.
If truth be told, even though breast cancer is much more common in women, men can also get it. In actual fact, anyone can develop it. Breast cancer is generally spotted and treated in the same way for everyone.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is generally not throbbing in the early stages. However, some things may be indications of breast cancer – or a non-cancerous lump. It is imperative to see your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following changes:
- A lump in the breast that feels different from the neighbouring tissue
- Modification is the form, size, or look of the breast
- Discharge from the nipple
- Breast pain
- Changes in the skin over the breast, let's say, dimpling
- Pulling-in of the nipple
- Peeling,Scaling, or flaking skin over the breast
- Redness and/or pitting of the breast skin, similar to the skin of an orange
If you notice any of these; don’t ignore them. It is important to see a doctor and convey the symptoms at your earliest.
Detecting Breast Cancer
Abnormalities may be discovered through breast cancer screening. If this is the case, subsequent investigations can be done to get a closer look of the area.
Causes of Breast Cancer
When you are intimated that you have breast cancer, it’s normal to wonder what may have caused the disease. Well, it is difficult to be able to pinpoint an exact cause.
What could be the possible reasons:
- Family history
- Hormonal changes
- Cancer in one breast rises the possibilities of having cancer in the other breast
- Lifestyle, counting excess alcohol consumption
- Environmental influences, including exposure to radiation
- Obesity
- Menarche
- Pregnancy: getting pregnant at an older age or never being pregnant
- Hormone use, counting continuing contraceptive use or postmenopausal Hormone therapy
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
It progresses silently, and in most cases discovered during routine screening.
Breast cancer is the most frequently spotted cancer; usually, there is a 1 in 8 chance.
- Breast ultrasound: A machine that uses sound waves to make pictures, referred to as sonograms, of parts inside the breast.
- Diagnostic mammogram: If you have an issue in your breast, for example, lumps, or if an area of the breast appears abnormal on a screening mammogram, doctors may have you get a diagnostic mammogram. This is actually, a more comprehensive X-ray of the breast.
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A kind of body examination that uses a magnet connected to a computer. The MRI scan will give a detailed picture of areas inside the breast.
- Biopsy: This is an examination that eliminates tissue or fluid from the breast to be looked at under a microscope and do more testing. There are different kinds of biopsies (for instance, fine-needle aspiration, open biopsy or core biopsy).
How common is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the most frequently spotted cancer; usually, there is a 1 in 8 chance.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Certain factors upsurge the danger of breast cancer counting increasing age, overweightness, excessive consumption of alcohol, family history of breast cancer, reproductive history, history of radiation exposure, tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone treatment.
Treatment
The treatment opportunities generally depend on the kind and size of the tumour, where it has spread and the patient’s general health. However, the personal preference of the patient too is taken into consideration if possible. The doctor may suggest surgery, radiation or medication. Different approaches too are often combined.
The normal treatment is to attempt to surgically eradicate as much of the tumour as feasible. Adjoining lymph nodes are occasionally removed too. If the tumour is small, women are generally confused if they should keep the breast or lets them keep the breast. This is referred to as breast-conserving surgery. Nevertheless, at times the whole breast needs to be taken off (mastectomy) to confirm that all of the tumour tissue has gone.
Chemotherapy is often used to shrink bigger tumours prior to surgery and make it easier to operate on them. This type of treatment is named “neoadjuvant chemotherapy.” The process is at times used as post-surgery treatment as well. Women with hormone-sensitive tumour may be recommended anti-hormonal therapy. This aims to reduce the speedof tumour growth.
Once the breast-conserving surgery is done the surrounding tissue is exposed to radiation. This is done so that any residual tumour cells can be wiped out. This is often obligatory after a mastectomy too. Radiotherapy is also usually used if the tumour cannot be surgically taken off.
Before settling on which treatment to go for; it is important that you get enough information from your doctor about the possible benefits and the expected side effects. You may if needed as well look for a second opinion from another doctor.
Choosing The Best Hospital For Breast Cancer Treatment
If breast cancer is diagnosed; it’s hard to decide on a hospital when they all look perfect. Being under the right team, that consists of professionals with whom you are comfortable, makes an immense difference in how your treatment will progress. It is important that the hospital you choose have knowledgeable physicians. The professionals should welcome questions and be able to explicate your treatment choices to you in a way you understand. The hospital should have a proficient team of medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, care-manager and so on.
The hospital should have a registered dietitian to recommend an eating plan to follow during treatment and recovery.
Relax, don’t panic. Hunt for The Right Treatment!
