Breast cancer is not like it was 20 years ago. Because of increasing health awareness, more early detection and advances in treatment technology, the survival rate for breast cancer patients has greatly improved. With roughly 200,000 Americans diagnosed with breast cancer each year, there is new hope for them.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer usually has no symptoms, but women sometimes discover breast problems on their own. The main common signs and symptoms are as follows.
1.A painless lump
2. Change in size or shape
3. Swelling in the armpit
4. Nipple changes or milk flow
5. Breast pain is also a symptom of breast cancer, but this is not common.
Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare, fast-growing tumor that usually has no visible lumps. However, the skin of the breast becomes thickened and red, resembling an orange peel. The area may usually feel warm and have small bumps, like a rash.
Breast Cancer and Mammograms
The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Mammograms can detect a lump before it has grown. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that women should have a mammogram every year starting at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women ages 50-74, and given the benefits of regular screening, every woman should talk to her own doctor before she turns 50 about which screening is more beneficial to her.
Breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
In addition to X-rays, our doctor will recommend a mammogram, which can help us determine whether it is a cyst, a fluid sac or cancer, and MRI is commonly used along with X-rays to screen high-risk women.
Self-examination of the breast
Self-examination of the breast once a month was once recommended by many people, but studies have shown that self-examination of the breast is a very small part of detecting early stage breast cancer and that it is more about understanding the breast and observing its changes. If you really want to check, you must borrow advanced instruments and the experience of your doctor.
What if you find a lump on your own?
First of all, don’t be afraid. Eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous and are often harmless cysts or tissue changes that are related to the menstrual cycle. But you should let your doctor know immediately what you have found. If it’s cancer, it’s good to find it early, and if it’s not when it’s diagnosed, you can give up your worries.
Breast Biopsy
The gold standard for determining if a lump is cancer is a biopsy, usually with a small needle aspiration or going over the entire specimen. If it is cancer, then it is important to distinguish what type it is as well, because different types of cancer have different treatment options.
Hormone-sensitive breast cancer
Some types of breast cancer are caused by estrogen or progesterone stimulation. A biopsy can reveal whether the tumor is estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone (PR positive). About 2/3 of breast cancers are hormone-sensitive. There are also medications available that block the hormones that drive tumor growth.
HER2-positive breast cancer
In 20% of patients, breast cancer cells have many HER2 protein receptors. This type of tumor is called HER2-positive, and it tends to spread more quickly than other forms of breast cancer. It is important to determine if a tumor is HER2-positive because there are specific treatments for this type of cancer.
Stages of Breast Cancer
Once breast cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to determine how large the tumor is and how far the cancer has spread. This process is known as staging. Doctors use stages 0-4 to describe whether the tumor is confined to the breast, has invaded adjacent lymph nodes, or has spread to other organs, such as the lungs. Recognizing the stage and the type of breast cancer will help your health care team develop a treatment strategy.
Survival rates for breast cancer patients
Breast cancer survival rates are highly dependent on how early or late it is detected. According to the American Cancer Society study the five-year survival rate for patients with type I breast cancer reaches 88%, the higher the grade, the lower the survival rate, and the five-year survival rate for type IV breast cancer is only 15%.
Breast Cancer Surgery
There are various types of breast cancer surgery, such as: removal of the surrounding mass (lumpectomy or breast-conserving surgery), and the entire breast (mastectomy). It is best to discuss the pros and cons of these procedures, and your doctor can decide what is right for you.
Radiation therapy for breast cancer
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used after breast cancer surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells in the tumor site. It can also be used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Side effects can be fatigue, swelling or a sunburn-like sensation at the treatment site.
Chemotherapy for breast cancer
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells anywhere in the body, and these drugs are usually used in stage IV. Post-operative chemotherapy can reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence. In patients with advanced breast cancer, chemotherapy helps control the growth of the tumor. Possible side effects include hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and a higher risk of infection.
Hormone therapy for breast cancer
Hormone therapy is an effective treatment for women with ER- or PR-positive breast cancer. These tumors grow very quickly because they can react with estrogen or progesterone. Hormone therapy then blocks this effect. This is the most common way to stop the cancer from coming back after breast cancer surgery. It can also be used to reduce the likelihood of cancer in women at high risk of developing it.
Targeted drugs for breast cancer
Targeted therapy is targeted to kill tumor cells. For example, women with HER2-positive breast cancer have too much of the HER2 protein. Targeted therapy stops this protein from promoting the growth of cancer cells. These drugs are often used in combination with chemotherapy.
Life after treatment
There is no doubt that cancer can change a person’s life. Wearing less during treatment and having more trouble with daily tasks and social activities can lead to feelings of isolation. Friends and family will be very supportive, they help you go help with chores and talk to you, and you are not alone. Many people also choose to join a support group – either locally or online.
Breast reconstruction
Many patients with metastatic breast cancer choose to undergo reconstructive surgery. Resurface the skin, nipple and breast tissue. Have a breast implant or tissue from elsewhere in the body, such as the stomach. Reconstruction can be chosen to coincide with the resection or several months after surgery.
Breast Cancer: Why Me?
The most obvious risk factor for breast cancer is gender. Men will too, but the probability is about 1/100th that of women. other risk factors include being over 55 years old, having a family history, and marrying late. But remember, as many as 80% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
Breast Cancer Genes
Some women have a high risk of developing breast cancer because of an associated genetic predisposition. The most common breast cancer genes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2, and women with mutations in these genes have about an 80% chance of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. There are other genes that have also been linked to breast cancer.
The main thing is your own control of risk factors
Being overweight, exercising too little, and drinking more than one alcoholic beverage a day can increase your risk of breast cancer. Birth control pills and postmenopausal hormone therapy can also increase your risk. However, the risk is also eliminated when these medications are stopped. A healthy lifestyle has been found to be beneficial among survivors. And recent studies suggest that physical activity may help reduce the risk of recurrence, something that makes it easier to do to prevent breast cancer.
Breast cancer research
Doctors continue to look for more effective and less harmful treatments for breast cancer. Funding for this research comes from many sources, including groups across the country. 2,500,000 breast cancer survivors, a large percentage of whom and their families choose to participate in walk-a-thons and other fundraising events. This is our collective effort to make progress in breast cancer prevention and cancer-fighting technology.