Health & Fitness

Breast Cancer: An awareness to spread

Breast Cancer
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Breast cancer occurs when cells in your breast grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner and form a tumor which is definitely of malignant nature. Currently, there are 3.9 million women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Men can also develop breast cancer, but this disease is approximately 100 times more common among women as compared to men. Symptoms of breast cancer include feeling a piece of a lump in the breast, change in the size of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple retraction, and breast pain. Early detection of breast cancer can be done with a Mammogram which is the process of using low-energy X-rays to examine the human breast.

Scientifically, what is breast cancer?

Breast cancer evolves in the breast tissue. It occurs when cells of the breast grow out of control and form a tumor. It is so harmful that it can also invade the other surrounding tissues. In this way, it can cause Metastasis. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women after Lung cancer.

Circulating Tumor
Circulating Tumor

Who is most commonly affected by breast cancer?

It is most likely to affect women over the age of 45. Men can also develop breast cancer but cases are very rare. Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors. Increasing age is also one of the main risk factors for this disease.

Different types of breast cancer

There are approximately 7 types of breast cancer that include:

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)

It is also known as Infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This disease starts in the milk ducts of breasts and also spreads to surrounding tissues. IDC is the most common form of breast cancer making up about 80% of all cases.

Invasive lobular carcinoma

It forms lobules in breasts where breast milk production takes place and also has the ability to spread to the surrounding tissue of the breast. It accounts for about 20% of the cases.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

This condition is mild and can be treated very easily because the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast have become cancerous but they have not spread into surrounding tissues. It is also referred to be stage zero breast cancer. However, proper care is needed to prevent this cancer from changing into an invasive form and spreading to surrounding tissues.

Lobular carcinoma in situ

It is a condition in which there are abnormal cells in the lobules of the breast. It is not true cancer so women with this condition should have regular clinical breast examinations.

Paget’s disease of breast

It is a rare condition associated with breast cancer. It affects the skin around the nipple.

Inflammatory breast cancer

It develops rapidly and makes the breast red and swollen. It is mainly caused by Obstructive cancer cells in the skin’s lymph vessels.

Triple negative breast cancer

This kind of breast cancer is very hard to treat. The reason it is called triple-negative breast cancer is that it does not contain three of the markers associated with other types of breast cancer.

Early symptoms of breast cancer

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A lump or mass in the breast which can easily be felt when palpitated.
  • Change in the shape and size of the breast.
  • Breast or nipple pain.
  • Redness of skin on the breast or nipple.
  • Discharge from nipple that is usually blood-stained or clear fluid.
  • Skin irritation or dimpling on the area affected by breast cancer.
  • A hardened area under the skin of breast.

Regular mammograms are of great importance for the early detection of breast cancer.

Main causes of breast cancer

There are certain risk factors involved in the onset of breast cancer which includes:

  • Age factor plays a key role. Being 45 or older increases the chances of having breast cancer.
  • Genetics also have a role. If your parents or siblings have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you are more likely to develop this disease at some stage of your life.
  • Obesity can increase the risk of breast cancer.
  • Smoking is not only harmful for your lungs but also linked with breast cancer.
  • Harmon replacement therapy can also be a cause of breast cancer.

Stages of breast cancer

Breast cancer stages help to describe how much cancer is in your body. It is determined by a variable factor such as the size and shape of the tumor and its spread. The Stages of breast cancer are as follows:

Stage zero

It is the beginning of breast cancer and the tumor has not broken out of the breast ducts yet. So this stage is a non-invasive stage of breast cancer.

Stage I

During this stage, cancerous cells have spread to the surrounding tissue.

Stage II

During this phase, cancer is either in the breast or in nearby lymph nodes or both. The Size of the tumor is approximately 5 centimeters.

Stage III

Cancer has spread ahead of the point of origin. It is locally advanced breast stage means that tumor may invade nearby tissue or lymph nodes but has not spread too far to the other organs.

Stage IV

Stage IV breast cancer is also known as Metastatic breast cancer. This cancer spreads away to other areas such as bones, liver, and brain. This stage is life-threatening but the patient may live for years.

Breast cancer treatment

There is no natural cure for breast cancer. Medical treatments are necessary to remove the tumor. There are several ways which include:

Breast cancer surgery

Lumpectomy or partial mastectomy followed by radiation therapy if cancer is invasive. During the process of surgery, surgeons remove a breast tumor and a small rim of normal tissue around it.

Chemotherapy

Some physicians may recommend chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer before surgery to shrink the tumor. In some cases, chemotherapy is performed after the surgery to kill any remaining cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is recommended as primary treatment if cancer spreads to other parts of the body such as bones or liver.

Hormone therapy

There are some kinds of breast cancer that use endocrine hormones such as estrogen and progesterone for their growth. In these situations, physicians recommend hormone therapy that can lower estrogen levels in the body.

Radiation therapy

It is usually given after mastectomy or lumpectomy to kill the remaining cancerous cells.

Breast cancer awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness about symptoms and treatment of breast cancer. In 1985, the entire month of October was designated as “National Breast Cancer Awareness” as a partnership between the American cancer society and an anti-breast cancer drugs pharmaceutical company. The main aim was mammography which is regarded as the most powerful weapon against breast cancer. Mammography reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer. It allows women to know the health of their breasts.

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