WOMEN HEALTH

Overview Breast Cancer

- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breast. It is one of the leading causes of death of women after lung cancer. Breast cancer is potent in men and women but became most common in women.

Awareness of breast cancer helped bring the advanced diagnosis and treatment. According to the records, the survival of breast cancer has increased and there is a decline in the death rate. The factors like earlier detection of diseases, new technology for treatment and awareness made it possible.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

As breast cancer is a common disease, it is important to know the symptoms. When your breast feels abnormal in shape or size, you can ignore it. You must go through a medical checkup which must be timely and earlier to avoid the severity. These are the symptoms of breast cancer-

l Lump in breast or thicken tissues that you can feel

l Breast size and shape changes

l Inverted or a sunken nipple

l Skin around breast or nipple starts peeling, flaking, scaling

l Rash around the breast or one of the nipple

l Pain in armpits and breast that persists even after the monthly cycle

l Swell in breast

l Lump or swelling under the arm

What Causes Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is caused when the cells in the breast begin to grow and multiply. In fact, these cancer-causing cells grow faster

compared to healthy cells which form like lumps. Cells are outgrown through the breast to lymph nodes or and in some cases to other body parts.

RISK FACTORS OF BREAST CANCER

Dense breast tissue is a risk as it becomes hard to detect the disease. The dense breast tissue makes it difficult for mammograms to read which may increase the risk of breast cancer. It includes many other risk factors of breast cancer including lifestyle, diet as well. The possible risk factors are listed-

AGE

Invasive breast cancer is more found in women above age 55. The abnormal changes in the cells are more likely to occur as people age. So, age is the most common risk factor of the disease.

GENETICS

If the older generations are diagnosed with breast cancer then it is carried to the younger generations. The well-known mutations that increase the risk of genetic breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2.

IF ALREADY BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSED

The people who were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in one breast are highly at risk of developing it in another breast or in different parts of the body.

HIGH ESTROGEN LEVELS

High estrogen levels are seen as a risk of breast cancer. Puberty before 12 or menopause that’s too late is the times when women have a higher level of estrogen. High estrogen that comes with obesity in women may also increase the possibility of breast cancer.

It is also observed that breastfeeding over a year can reduce estrogen levels and prevent breast cancer.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Overconsumption of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. The researchers say even moderate alcohol intake has been linked with a 30-50% risk of breast cancer.

HORMONE-RELATED TREATMENTS

Women who go through the hormone treatment of menopausal symptoms and signs are at risk of developing breast risk. This is because the treatment includes the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

PREGNANCY AT AN OLDER AGE

It is said that women who have their first child after 35 age are to be affected by breast cancer. Studies also found that women who become have a decreased risk of breast cancer.

Treatment of Breast Cancer

The available and effective treatments for breast cancer are a technology developed. The timely detection of breast cancer can be treated with advanced treatment. The medications and therapies are working

on saving the patients from further breast cancer as well.

SURGERY

The foremost treatment for breast cancer patients is surgery to eliminate the tumor. The operation termed lumpectomy eliminates only part cancer affected part of the breast. Another type of operation is mastectomy which removes the whole breast.

RADIATION THERAPY

The treatment uses the high energy of radiation to kills the cancer cells. It is the advanced treatment after surgery. If the surgery leaves behind the cancer cells then radiation treatment helps to remove those cells to prevent breast cancer for the second time. Radiation is given through a machine externally or the tiny seeds are placed inside the breast to give radiation.

CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy is the treatment that works when breast cancer patients take the drugs to kill cancer cells. Mostly, the drugs are given to the people who undergo the surgeries to kill the remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy is effective in killing cancer cells but it can also show side effects on healthy cells.

HORMONE THERAPY

Hormone therapy is when the hormones that cause breast cancer are reduced or prevented. Estrogen is one of the hormones that increase the risk of breast cancer. The types of this therapy restrict the ovary from making the hormones. It is probably stopped through medication or surgery.

TARGETED THERAPY

The medicines of this therapy trigger the body’s immune system which eventually destroys the cancer cells.

IMMUNOTHERAPY

This treatment focuses on the immune system to cure breast cancer. Certain drugs are approved to treat triple-negative breast cancer which spreads.