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A Slice of range V o l u m e
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Brush up on breast cancer You’ve heard the statistics before: breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer. But do these facts mean anything to you? In this issue, read up on breast cancer basics and learn how to detect this disease early for better treatment outcomes. Don’t be breast cancer’s next victim.
The danger of cancer Cancer develops when your body’s cells multiply rapidly and uncontrollably. Breast cancer develops in breast tissue, either in the ducts or in the glands. During the early stages, breast cancer is limited to a small lump or tumor. However, if it’s not detected and removed, the tumor can grow and invade surrounding tissue, such as overlying skin or the chest wall. Not all lumps found in the breast are cancerous, so don’t panic at the first sign of a breast mass. Benign lumps are
Men can get breast cancer, too, but they account for less than one-half of 1% of all cases. easily removed and don’t pose a serious threat to health.
An alarming characteristic of malignant cells is they can spread to nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs. Breast cancer often spreads to the bones, liver, lungs and brain. When the cancer spreads to these locations, you will still be diagnosed with breast cancer because the malignant cells originated in the breast. When cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metas t a t i c c a n c e r, A Slice of Orange is a newsletter which is considdesigned to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on ered advanced uplifting your health. disease. Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Orange de Guzman, MD
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Who’s at risk? There’s no surefire way to predict if someone will develop breast cancer in the future. There are, however, some risk factors that make a person more likely to develop this cancer. If you have these risk factors, you should be extra vigilant in catching the disease early and, if the risk factor is modifiable (such as the lack of physical activity), try to change your lifestyle. Some of these risk factors are: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Age >50 years old Breast cancer in the family, especially in the mother, sister or daughter Previous breast cancer in one breast Certain gene mutations Giving birth to a first child at an older age First menstrual period before age 12 Menopause after age 55 Women who have never had children Hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin after menopause Being overweight or obese after menopause Lack of physical activity Drinking alcohol
It is important to know that many women who have breast cancer have no easily identifiable risk factors except for aging. Don’t be complacent about breast exams and mammograms just because you think you can’t get breast cancer.
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Inside the breast
Lobules Ducts
Lymph nodes
Lobe
Nipple
Lymph vessels
Areola Fat
To understand breast cancer, you must be familiar with breast anatomy. The breasts sit on the chest muscles over the ribs. Each breast is made of 15 to 20 lobes, which contain many smaller lobules. These lobules contain tiny glands that can produce milk. When milk is produced, it flows from the lobules through ducts to the nipple. The nipple is in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola. The lobules and ducts are surrounded by fat and fibrous material. Also inside the breasts are lymph vessels, which lead to lymph nodes. Lymph nodes act as filters or traps for bacteria, cancer cells or other foreign or harmful particles. Groups of lymph nodes are near the breast in the underarm, above the collarbone, in the chest behind the breastbone and all over the body.
Benign vs malignant Benign tumors
Malignant tumors
Rarely life-threatening
More serious; may be a threat to life
Easily removed and do not grow back
Grow back even if removed
Do not invade nearby structures
Invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
Do not spread to other parts of the body
Metastasize to other body parts, either through the bloodstream or lymph system
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Catch it before it spreads Breast cancer is very treatable if detected early – the importance of regular screening cannot be overemphasized. If you wait until the cancer has spread, it will be harder to eliminate the cancer cells from your body. The following are some of the screening tests for breast cancer.*
• • •
Breast self-examination – should be performed monthly a week after the menstrual period begins Clinical breast exam – done by a healthcare professional every year Mammogram – first one should be done at age 40; can show a lump before it can be felt
Your doctor will determine if a suspicious lump is cancerous by taking a sample
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(biopsy) and having it examined in the lab for malignant cells. He or she may request for additional tests to find more about the extent or nature of your cancer.
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Breast cancer symptoms
Treatment options There is no single recipe for treating breast cancer. Women with breast cancer have many treatment options, and doctors will often use a combination of these to achieve the best possible outcome. Surgery (eg, mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy (eg, tamoxifen) and biological therapy (eg, trastuzumab) are some of the choices. The treatment plan will depend on the stage of the disease (based on the size of the tumor or how much the cancer has spread). The long-term management of the disease involves monitoring for recurrence of the cancer and helping the patient return to her regular activities. Some women choose to undergo breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Thanks to the prevalence and heightened awareness of breast cancer, there are numerous ongoing studies aiming to find new ways of preventing, detecting, diagnosing and treating the disease, as well as improving the quality of life of patients. It is hoped that all these initiatives will contribute meaningfully to the global battle against breast cancer.
• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm • Nipple tenderness • A change in the size or shape of the breast • A nipple turned inward • Scaly, red, or swollen skin of the breast, areola or nipple • Breast skin with ridges or pitting, similar to the skin of an orange • Nipple discharge A lump that is soft, round and movable (imagine a small marble inside your breast) is likely to be benign. A hard, irregularly shaped lump that seems attached within the breast is more likely to be malignant. Even if a lump seems benign, it’s still best to let your doctor examine your breasts for an accurate diagnosis.
A slice of trivia MRM is a type of surgery for breast cancer, wherein the surgeon removes the whole breast and most or all of the lymph nodes under the arm but spares the chest muscles. What does MRM stand for? Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult.com and win a prize! From those with the correct answer, 40 people will be randomly chosen to win a gift from Wacoal. We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
Answer to last issue’s question:
Cryptorchidism is another term for which male condition? Hint: Men with a history of cryptorchidism need to have testicular exams more often.
Cryptorchidism generally refers to an undescended (or maldescended) testicle. It literally means hidden or obscure testis and is the most common birth defect of male genitalia. Men with a history of cryptorchidism are at high risk of developing testicular cancer. High-risk men should not fail to conduct monthly testicular selfexaminations.
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2009 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
*The January and February 2009 issues of A Slice of Orange feature the medical tests that can save your life.
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.