Brest Cancer depends upon the type and stage of the cancer. Breast is made of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 lobes, which have many smaller lobules. Lobules lead to many tiny bulbs that produce milk. Thin tubes called ducts link the lobes, lobules and bulbs.
Ductal Carcinoma is a very common breast cancer developing in the duct cells. Cancer arising in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma. Inflamatory brest cancer is relatively rare wherein the breast becomes, warm, red and swollen.
symptoms For Brest Cancer :
-
A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
-
Change in the size or shape of the breast
-
A dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast
-
Nipple turned inward into the breast
-
Bloody fluid other than breast milk oozing from the nipple
-
Scaly and swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola
-
Dimples in the breast that resemble the skin of an orange, called peau d'orange
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
-
Old age
-
Menstruating at an early age
-
No child birth or delivering a baby at an old age
-
Medical history of breast cancer or benign tumor
-
Mother or sister with breast cancer
-
Breast tissue appearing dense on a mammogram
-
Taking hormones like estrogen and progesterone
-
Alcoholism
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
-
A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
-
Change in the size or shape of the breast
-
A dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast
-
Nipple turned inward into the breast
-
Bloody fluid other than breast milk oozing from the nipple
-
Scaly and swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola
-
Dimples in the breast that resemble the skin of an orange, called peau d'orange
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
-
Old age
-
Menstruating at an early age
-
No child birth or delivering a baby at an old age
-
Medical history of breast cancer or benign tumor
-
Mother or sister with breast cancer
-
Breast tissue appearing dense on a mammogram
-
Taking hormones like estrogen and progesterone
-
Alcoholism
Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
The various treatment options available to treat breast cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. These are generally given in combinations.
Surgery is the preferred line of treatment. There are types of surgeries depending on the health and spread of the cancer-
Breast-sparing surgery: This is called as breast conserving surgery wherein only the tumor is removed and the breasts are spared. This can be a lumpectomy, segmental mastectomy or an excisional biopsy to remove the whole lump.
Mastectomy: In this, the entire breast or maximum breast tissue is removed. Usually one lymph node in the underarm is removed to check for cancer cells. If the cancer cells are found, then further treatment is essential.
Plastic Surgery: This is for breast reconstruction, i.e. to rebuild the shape and size of the breast.
Radiation: X-rays are used to kill cancer cells, given either orally or intravenously.
External radiation therapy: The radiation comes from a machine outside the body.
Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy: A radioactive substance is inserted into the breast and kept there for a few minutes. When the substance is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body.
Hormone therapy is also called anti-hormone treatment. If the tumor has hormone receptors, then hormone therapy is considered. Hormone therapy refrains the cancer cells from using the natural hormones like estrogen and progesterone to facilitate their growth.
Tamoxifen: This prevents the cancer from returning and developing into new cancers. This slows or stops the cancer cell growth. You have to take this pill for 5 years. There are side effects, which include irregular menses, irritation of, skin around the vagina, vaginal discharge, nausea and vomiting.
LH-RH agonist: This drug prevents the ovaries from producing estrogen. This is given in an injection under the skin in the stomach area. Side effects are hot flashes, headaches, weight gain and thinning bones.
Surgery to remove the ovaries: If the ovaries are removed then estrogen production automatically stops. However, the side effects are adverse than a natural menopause.
Chemotherapy is the application of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs are given orally or through a vein. This process normally happens on an outpatient basis. However, this therapy kills the normal cells along with the cancer cells. Some of the side effects of this drug are fatigue, loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, low levels of healthy blood cells, mouth and lip sores, etc. This is used as a single line of treatment or in combination with surgery or radiation.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy consists of drugs that block the growth of breast cancer cells. For example, targeted therapy blocks the action of an abnormal protein like HER2 that stimulates the growth of breast cancer cells.
Treatment for breast cancer nowadays can be very effective as there are many advanced forms of treatments available. Clinical trials are still under research. Women with breast cancer have many alternatives to cure the disease and enhance quality of life. However, a general awareness regarding this disease and regular checkups especially after menopause are essential.
