Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast in which with cancer; abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way.
- Breast Cancer is one of the leading diseases found in women aside of skin cancer.
- Early detection is the best way to fight against the disease.
2 Types of breast cancer
- Noninvasive cancer- cancers is confined to the lobules and ducts of the breast and do not spread to surrounding tissues.
- Invasive cancer- cancers break through normal breast tissue and infiltrate surrounding tissues. This comes in two forms:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) where cancers begin in the milk ducts and breaks the duct into the main breast tissue. Most common of the forms found in 80% of invasive cases. If gone untreated it can possibly spread to the rest of the body.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) where cancers break through the wall of the milk producing lobules and spreads to the breast tissue. It can also spread through the lymph nodes and possibly other parts of the body.
Detecting Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer can often be early detected by performing a monthly self exam. It is important to get to know the different areas of your breasts and to familiarize yourself with the way they normally feel.
Steps of the self-breast exam
1) Examine the breast’s size, shape, color and if swelling occurs in the mirror with shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Consult doctor if you notice dimpling or puckering.
2) Raise arms above head and look for the same changes along with any signs of fluid of any kind coming from your breast.
3) While lying down, hold three fingers together on the pad of your hand. Lift the arm of the breast you are examining. Feel your right breast with your left hand and your left breast with your right hand in a circular motion about the size of a quarter firmly. Continue this covering both breasts.
4) Try these same steps standing, preferably in the shower.
Forms of testing:
- Screening tests- early detection in patients with no signs. Example-mammogram
- Diagnostic tests- Patient exhibits systems or from the result of a screening test. Example- biopsy
- Monitoring test- performed after diagnosis and throughout treatment to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Treatment
- Surgery- the removal of cancer cells by:
- Lumpectomy- removal of the tumor and small amount of surrounding tissue, breast conserving effort
- Mastectomy- removal of the breast tissue
- Lymph node dissection- removal of lymph nodes for further testing
- Chemotherapy- systematic therapy that enters the bloodstream to help kill off any other cancer cells that might have spread through the body
- Radiation therapy- highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells in the breast that may stick around after surgery, 70% effective of reducing the risk of recurring cancer
- Hormonal therapy- lowers the amount of estrogen in the body to prevent hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers from forming or recurring
- You and your doctor will determine which treatment regimen is best for you.
The idea of any cancer is frightening. At its worst, it’s deadly. Period. There is no way around that fact. However since positivity can help you lead a healthier life, early detection has saved lives! Talk to your doctor. Don’t hesitate to get answers to even those “scary” questions you would rather not say aloud. Survival begins with awareness!