BREAST CANCER

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/

This is the growth of malignant cells affecting, initially the breast. As with other forms of cancer, there is abnormal uncontrolled cell growth and these cells continue to proliferate until they form a tumor. Breast cancer spreads when cells escape from tumor and travel to other parts of the body such as the spine or lung. There they begin to multiply, forming other tumors, in the process known as metastasis. It is the most common cancer in women and is a cancer mainly of older women.

Despite increasing incidence rate, deaths from breast cancer are declining in many developed countries due to early detection and appropriate facilities. The earlier the breast cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chances of a cure. Mammograms are specialized x ray images of the breast that detect tumors and other breast abnormalities before they can be felt as lumps. They also detect the cancer in early stages before they have chance to spread to other parts of the body. It is recommended that all women aged 40 years and above has an annual screening mammogram and those between 20 to 40 years have one every two to three years.

Women are also advised to practice self-examination between screenings. Self-examination involves a monthly check for unusual lumps or other breast changes such as nipple discharge of bleeding. A lot of breast cancer can be found by women themselves before they have a mammography screening.

Causes of Breast Cancer:

The female hormone estrogen plays an important part in breast cancer development. The following factors also increase risk:

·      Starting menstruation (periods) early in life

·      Late menopause

·      Late first pregnancy (e.g. having first child after 40 years of age) or having no children

·      About 5% breast cancers are linked to family history. The risk for a woman whose mother or sister had breast cancer is at least double that of someone with no family history. Two genes have been discovered to be involved in familiar breast cancer and a woman who has a fault in one of these genes has a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

The symptoms of breast cancer usually include the following:

·      An unusual lump or change in the size or shape of the breast

·      Puckering or dimpling of the skin of the breast

·      Drawing back of the nipple

·      Pain or discomfort (although pain is rarely a symptom of breast cancer)

·      Swelling of the upper arm or in the armpit or just above the breast.

Treatment of Breast Cancer

The treatment of breast cancer is dependent on the stage of the cancer. It includes the early treatment:- removing the lump (lumpectomy)and lymph gland under the arm followed by radiotherapy. There is also the surgical removal of the breast (mastectomy). Drugs which are hormone blocking are also prescribed afterward.

There is also the late treatment. This is for cancers that have spread, and the treatment here is aimed at giving the patient a manageable quality of life with the disease kept under control rather than a cure

Patient who have achieved cure should be followed up for life to detect recurrences and observe the opposite breast.