BREAST CANCER

OVERVIEW

Doctor prescribed breast cancer is a disease that develops from breast tissue, characterized by the growth of malignant cells in the mammary glands. It is the most commonly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer occurs when healthy cells in the breast mutate and expand uncontrollably, generating a tumour, which is a mass or sheet of cells. A tumour might be malignant or benign. A malignant tumour is one that can develop and spread to other regions of the body. A benign tumour is one that can develop but does not spread.

Although breast cancer most usually travels to adjacent lymph nodes, in which case it is still considered a local or regional illness, it can also move to places such as the bones, lungs, liver, and brain via blood arteries and/or lymph nodes. This is known as metastatic or stage IV breast cancer, and it is the disease’s most advanced stage. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. To get a complete overview about breast cancer, type “general physician near me” in the Google search bar to talk to a doctor.

SYMPTOMS

• A noticeable lump on your breast that feels very different from the surrounding tissue.
• Noticeable change in the size, shape or appearance of your breast
• The pigmented region of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast flesh peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking.
• Redness or pitting of the skin around your breast, similar to orange skin.
• A recently inverted nipple
• Dimpling on the skin over the breast.

If you have been displaying any of these signs of breast cancer, type “general physician near me” into the Google search bar to consult with a doctor, and ideally get a screening done.

CAUSES

The precise causes of breast cancer are unknown, however both environmental and hereditary factors have a role. Breast cancer has been related to certain mutations in the genes HER2, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and p53; these mutations can be inherited or acquired. Inherited mutations frequently significantly enhance a person’s chance of getting breast cancer. Approximately 60 percent of women who inherit mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 eventually develop the disease. Women with these mutations also have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. To find out the exact cause of a suspected case of breast cancer inflicted on you or your loved one, type “general physician near me” in the Google search bar to talk to a doctor for an expert opinion.

RISK FACTORS

• Being female: There is a risk of breast cancer developing in both males and females, although women are much more likely to be affected by the disease. 
• Advanced age: Most breast cancers occur in women around the time of menopause. Three-quarters of all breast cancer cases are diagnosed after age 40. Generally, the older a woman is, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer.
• Family history: If your mother, sister, father, or child has been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, especially before the age of 50, you are more likely to get the disease yourself.
• Hormone replacement therapy during menopause
• Early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after 55)
• Personal history of breast cancer: cancer in one breast increases the possibility of having it in another breast, or the precedence of certain kinds of benign tumours. 
• Dense breast tissue: This can increase your risk for breast cancer, and can make lumps harder to detect.
• Pregnancy at an older age, or never having been pregnant, which causes a prolonged exposure to the hormone estrogen.
• Shorter breastfeeding periods
• Environmental factors like exposure to radiation, or previous treatment involving chest radiation.
• Hormonal changes
• Lifestyle factors like high body mass index/obesity, excess alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercise, use of oral contraceptives, and a poor diet heavy in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables might raise your risk of breast cancer.

60-70% of patients with breast cancer have no link to these risk factors at all, while others who have risk factors will never develop cancer. There are many popular myths as to the causes of breast cancer, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Things that DO NOT cause breast cancer are: 

• Underwire brassieres
• Implants
• Deodorants
• Caffeine
• Cell phones
• Antiperspirants
• Mammograms
• Plastic food serving items
• Microwaves

Do not go by myth, get an expert opinion about the risk factors of breast cancer, type “general physician near me” in the Google search bar to talk to a doctor.

DIAGNOSIS

Early diagnosis is key in improving the odds of survival. Breast cancer is a very deadly disease, but if it is detected early, the five-year survival rate is high. Many patients who reach this stage go on to live long, healthy lives. Cancers that have spread locally have lower survival rates than cancers that have not spread. Similarly, survival rates for cancers that have metastasized are very low.

Breast cancer can be detected by the patient through regular breast self-examination. When self-examination is done on a monthly basis, a woman becomes familiar with her breasts and can easily detect an abnormal change, such as a lump, swelling, pit, or change in shape, which requires immediate clinical examination. It’s possible that a change that you observe in yourself, even if it’s not always a sign of cancer, is still important to check out. Or, if the change found is cancer, the growth may already be fairly advanced. 

Before they are noticeable, lumps in the breast may be detected through a procedure known as mammography, which entails the usage of low-energy X-rays to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. Mammograms use doses of ionizing radiation to create images, which are then analysed for abnormal findings. Mammography is supplemented with ultrasound, ductography, positron emission mammography (PEM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To get a mammogram scheduled for you, type “general physician near me” in the Google search bar.

PREVENTION

If your doctor has determined that apart from family history and previous history of breast cancer you have other factors that increase your risk of breast cancer, you may want to discuss options to reduce your risk, such as getting regular mammograms.

BREAST CANCER RISK REDUCTION PROCEDURES FOR WOMEN AT AVERAGE RISK:

• Consult doctor about breast cancer screening:  to decide which breast cancer screening strategies are suitable for you.
• Routine check your own breasts for breast awareness: If you can notice any new changes, lumps, or other unusual signs in your breasts, see your doctor right away. Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but it can help you better understand the natural changes that occur in your breasts and recognise any odd signs and symptoms.
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Choose a nutritious diet. Women who follow a Mediterranean diet that includes extra-virgin olive oil and mixed nuts may have a lower risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet emphasises plant-based foods such fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. People who follow the Mediterranean diet choose healthy fats like olive oil over butter and fish to red meat.
• Quit or decrease alcohol intake
• Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy: Postmenopausal hormone treatment (PHT), commonly known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may be harmful to women who have had breast cancer.

BREAST CANCER RISK REDUCTION PROCEDURES FOR WOMEN AT HIGH RISK:

• Preventive drugs (chemoprevention): Women at high risk of breast cancer benefit from oestrogen-blocking drugs, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. Doctors generally reserve these treatments for women who have a very high risk of breast cancer. This includes women who have a family history of the disease, or who have been diagnosed with the disease recently. Discuss with your doctor the advantages and disadvantages of having surgery.
• Preventive surgery: Women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer may choose to have their healthy breasts surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy). Some women may elect to have their healthy ovaries removed (prophylactic oophorectomy) in order to lower their risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

Even if you have tried all the preventive measures against breast cancer, you may need to hear from a doctor for advanced preventive measures, type “general physician near me” in the Google search bar to talk to a doctor.

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