A guide on Breast Cancer

A GUIDE ON BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women after lung cancer leading to death in women.

Symptoms of breast cancer

The first most sign of breast cancer in women usually appears as a lump in the breast or an armpit or an area of thickened tissue in the breast.
Other common signs and symptoms include:

• a sunken or inverted nipple
• a rash around the nipples
• Flaking, peeling, or scaling of the skin on the nipple or breast
• pain in the breast or armpit that does not go with the monthly cycle
• redness of the skin of the breast
• discharge (possibly containing blood) from a nipple
• a change in the size and shape of the breast

However most lumps in the breast are not cancerous, hence it is suggested that a woman should visit a doctor for an examination if she notices a lump on the breast.

Stages of breast cancer

The stages of any cancer are defined by the oncologist based on the severity or to what extent cancer has spread in the body. Similarly, stages in Breast cancer are also defined based on the size of the tumor and the extent it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stages are explained below:

Stage 0:

At this stage, the cancerous cells are limited to within the ducts and have not spread surrounding tissues, this stage is known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Stage 1:

At this stage, the tumor becomes 2 centimeters (cm) in size. At this stage, the cancerous cells have not affected any lymph nodes.

Stage 2:

At this stage, the tumor is 2 cm across in size also; it has started to spread to surrounding lymph nodes, or the tumor can be 2–5 cm across in size but has not spread to the nearby nodes.

Stage 3:

At this stage, the tumor is up to 5 cm across in size, and it has spread to several lymph nodes or the tumor is larger than 5 cm also has spread to a few lymph nodes.

Stage 4:

At this stage, the cancer cells have spread to distant organs including the bones, liver, brain, or lungs.

RISK FACTORS

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known but a few risk factors make it more likely to occur. These are listed below:

1. Age:

The risk of breast cancer in women increases with increasing age. The chances of developing breast cancer at the age of 20 years are approx. 0.06% and it increases up to 3.84% by the age of 7o years.

2. Genetics:

If there is a family history of having breast cancer, then the chances of developing breast cancer increase. That’s why women are recommended to seek genetic screening who have a family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer.

3. Women with a history of breast lumps or breast cancer:

Those women who have had breast cancer previously, are at more risk to have it again than those who have no history of the disease.
In addition, having some types of noncancerous breast lump increases the chance of developing breast cancer later in life.

4. Dense breast tissue:

Women with dense breasts are likely to develop breast cancer so Oncologists at Oncoplus cancer care suggest all women seek a regular cancer screening.

5. Estrogen exposure:

Extended exposure to estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer.
For women who start their menstrual cycle earlier or entering menopause at a later than the average age, estrogen level is high in such women.

6. Body weight:

Women who are obese or overweight after menopause may also have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, possibly due to increased estrogen levels.

7. Alcohol consumption:

A higher rate of regular alcohol consumption is said to contribute to the development of breast cancer.

8. Radiation exposure:

Undergoing radiation treatment for different cancer may be a risk factor to develop breast cancer later in life.

9. Hormone treatments:

According to the studies, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Diagnosis of Breast cancer

Several diagnostic tests and procedures are done to rule out the accurate diagnosis:

Breast exam

The Oncologist checks the breasts for lumps and other symptoms.

Imaging tests

Mammogram: This is a type of X-ray that is done during an initial breast cancer screening. It produces images that help an expert detect any lumps or abnormalities in the breast.

Ultrasound: Sonography helps a doctor to differentiate between a solid mass and a fluid-filled cyst.

MRI: MRI is used as a screening tool for those at higher risk of breast. It combines different images of the breast to help a doctor identify cancer or other abnormalities in the breast.

Biopsy: In a biopsy, a sample of tissue from the breast is extracted and is sent to a laboratory for analysis.
This rules out whether the cells are cancerous. If cells are cancerous then a biopsy indicates the type of cancer.

Diagnosis also involves staging cancer to determine:

• the size of a tumor
• to what extent it has spread
• whether it is invasive or non-invasive

Book an appointment with the best cancer doctors in Delhi for Breast Cancer Treatment

Treatment options for breast cancer

Treatment depends on several factors, including:

• the type and stage of the cancer
• the person’s sensitivity to hormones
• the age
• the overall health of the individual

Important treatment options include:

1. Surgery
2. Radiation Therapy
3. Targeted drug therapy
4. Hormone therapy
5. Chemotherapy

Cancer Surgery

Surgical intervention depends on the type of cancer and individual preference. Types of surgery include:

Mastectomy: This procedure involves the removal of the lobules, ducts, fatty tissue, nipple, areola, and some skin. In some types of breast cancer, The OncoSurgeon removes the lymph nodes and muscle in the chest wall as well.

Lumpectomy: This involves removal of the tumor and a small healthy tissue around it.
This procedure can help stop the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. This type of procedure is considered a treatment option when the tumor is small and can be separated easily from its surrounding tissue.

Sentinel node biopsy: this biopsy is done when breast cancer reaches the sentinel lymph nodes, which are the first nodes to which cancer can spread, and then it can spread into other parts of the body through the lymphatic system.

Axillary lymph node dissection: If cancer cells are found in the sentinel nodes, then several lymph nodes in the armpit may be removed which can prevent cancer from spreading.

Reconstruction: As the name suggests, the surgeon reconstructs the breast to look more natural after mastectomy. The patient party and the surgeon decide this unanimously. This can definitely help the patient to cope with the negative psychological effects of breast removal.

The breast can be reconstructed at the same time as performing a mastectomy or later. A breast implant is placed in most cases to give natural look to the breast.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy involves targeting the tumor with controlled doses of radiation destroying the remaining cancer cells. The patient may undergo radiation therapy a month after surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells if there is a high risk of recurrence or spread.

Hormone blocking therapy

Hormone blocking therapy prevents hormone-sensitive breast cancers from recurring after treatment.
Hormone blocking therapy is considered as the only option for patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.

Book an appointment with the Best Cancer Specialist at Oncoplus Hospital.