I. Types of breast cancer 1. Breast cancer caused by hormonal abnormalities Two-thirds of breast cancers are caused by abnormalities of estrogen or progesterone, but there are drugs that can suppress hormonal abnormalities. Biopsy can determine whether the tumor is positive for estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. 2. HER2-positive breast cancer research shows that about 20% of breast cancer patients have excess HER2 receptors in their cancer cells. This type of cancer is called HER2-positive breast cancer, and it spreads faster than other breast cancers. For this type of breast cancer, special treatment is needed and patients should be diagnosed as early as possible if it is this type of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening 1. Breast self-examination Women should be well aware of the changes in their own breasts. Before doing self-examination, women should consult their doctors in advance. What should I do if I find a lump during self-examination? First of all, don’t panic. Eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous and are mostly benign cysts or menstruation-related phenomena. If you find any abnormal breast, go to see your doctor immediately. If it is cancer, it can be detected and treated early; if it is not cancer, the test result can be a relief. 2. Breast biopsy is the only effective way to determine whether a lump is cancerous or not is biopsy: the tissue of the lump is extracted for laboratory testing to confirm whether it is cancerous and what type of cancer it is. There are different types of breast cancer and different treatment options. 3. Breast cancer and mammograms The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Mammograms can detect tumors before they are even perceived. The American Cancer Society recommends women to have regular mammograms from the age of 40. 4. Breast ultrasound and MRI In addition to mammograms, doctors will also recommend breast ultrasound to rule out the possibility of breast cysts. MRI can also help people who are at high risk of breast cancer to have a more detailed examination. Symptoms of breast cancer 1. After breast cancer stage is diagnosed, the next step should be to confirm the size of the tumor and the development of the cancer: doctors often use stage 0-4 to describe whether the cancer has invaded the lymph glands or other organs. Knowing what stage the cancer is in can help doctors to better plan the treatment plan. 2.Symptoms of breast cancer Breast cancer usually has no obvious symptoms, but women may notice abnormalities in the breast, such as: painless lumps, changes in the shape and size of the breast, swelling in the armpit, changes or displacement of the nipple, etc. Breast pain may also be a sign of cancer, but it is not common. 3. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and rapidly developing cancer. It does not appear as an obvious lump, but as a thickening, reddening and “orange peel” indentation on the skin of the breast; at the same time, the breast will become soft and have a rash-like lump. Breast cancer treatment 1. There are many kinds of breast cancer surgeries, from removing the lump to removing the whole breast. Before surgery, patients should consult with their doctors about the pros and cons of various surgeries to determine the most suitable surgery for them. Radiation therapy for breast cancer is to kill cancer cells with high-energy rays, and can be combined with chemotherapy to treat cancer that has spread to other organs. Chemotherapy for breast cancer uses drugs to kill cancer cells in the body, usually given intravenously or sometimes orally; chemotherapy can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery and can help women with breast cancer to stop the cancer from getting worse. However, the side effects of chemotherapy are hair loss, nausea, fatigue and susceptibility to infection. 4.Targeted therapy for breast cancer Targeted therapy is a therapy to administer drugs to specific properties in cancer cells. Targeted drugs are usually used together with chemotherapy, which produces less side effects than chemotherapy only. 5.Hormone therapy for breast cancer Hormone therapy is an effective way to treat breast cancer that occurs due to abnormal estrogen or progesterone. Hormone therapy can suppress hormone abnormalities and is often used after surgery to prevent cancer recurrence.