Breast cancer is a deadly disease in which the cells present in the breast of a woman grows rapidly. It is the most diagnosed type of cancer among women across the world. Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast; it can either occur in one breast or both of them. It can begin in various parts of the breasts, such as lobules, ducts, connective tissues, etc. Usually, breast cancer tends to begin in the duct or the lobules part. They get spread outside the breasts through the lymph or blood vessels.
Breast cancer starts by taking a form of a tumor which can be felt as a lump or seen as an x-ray. If cancer tends to spread out from the breasts from the blood vessel and lymph nodes, it is said to be in a period of advanced stage. When it spreads to other parts of the body, it is known as metastasized breast cancer. However, the chances of survival in the case of breast cancer are very high. But it occurs only when the cancer is detected in its early stages, and efficient treatment is available. Thus, if you want to know more about breast cancer, its symptoms, causes, types, and treatment, then you need to follow this article.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
One of the important parts of breast health is to ensure that they look normal and you also feel normal. Getting regular screening for breast cancer is necessary for women, but mammograms cannot often detect breast cancer efficiently. Thus, you should be aware of the signs and breast cancer symptoms. Not only this, but also you should be aware of the normal look of breasts and their normal feel of them. If any changes are marked, then you should immediately consult the doctor. Thus, below is a curated list of the breast cancer symptoms that you need to be aware of:
- A lump or mass on the breast is the most common breast cancer symptom.
- Swelling of a part or all of the breast
- Dimpling on the breast skin, which looks like an orange peel
- Pain in the breast or nipple
- Nipple turning inward
- The nipple or breast skin becomes red, flaking, dry, and thickened
- Discharge from nipples other than breast milk
- Lymph nodes getting swollen near the collarbone or under the arm
- Change in shape and size of the breast
- Breast thickening or lump which feels different from the surrounding tissue
Breast Cancer Causes
Breast cancer usually occurs due to changes in lifestyle habits, hormonal changes as well as environmental factors. Certain factors that are associated with the increased risk of breast cancer are:
- Increasing age
- Family and personal history of breast cancer
- Radiation exposure
- Obesity
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking cigarette
- Hormonal therapy for post-menopausal
Also read: 5 Questions to Ask your Doctor about Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Types
Now above, we have discussed what breast cancer is, its symptoms, and its causes. Let us have a brief look at the various types of breast cancer. The most common types of breast cancer are as follows:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma- In this type of breast cancer, the cancer cells tend to begin in the duct and then grow outside the duct into other parts of the breast tissue. It may spread to other body parts.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma- This type of breast cancer tends to begin in the lobules and then spread to breast tissue that is close by.
- Inflammatory breast cancer- Inflammatory breast cancer is detected in the lobules or ducts, and it spreads to the other parts of the body faster than the other types of breast cancer.
However, apart from these types of breast, there are also other types of breast cancer, such as Paget's disease, angiosarcoma, and phyllodestumouretc but they are not common, and chances of them occurring are very rare.
Breast Cancer Treatment
The doctor determines the type of breast cancer through the breast cancer symptoms which your complaint to the doctor, and also by doing a mammogram test. Then after determining the type of breast cancer, the doctor might prescribe the following breast cancer treatment:
- Breast cancer surgery- The doctor might use this breast cancer treatment by doing breast surgery to remove the breast cancer, known as a lumpectomy. Doctors can also remove the limited number of lymph nodes where the cancer is concentrated the most. In the rarest cases, doctors might have to remove one breast or both breasts, depending on the severity of cancer.
- Radiation therapy- In this breast cancer treatment high powered beams of energy like proton and x-ray are used to kill the cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy- In this type of treatment for cancer cells, drugs are used to destroy the cancer cells. It is used in cases only when the chances of reoccurring cancer are more, and it has spread to other parts of the body.
However, apart from these, there are also other breast cancer treatments such as targeted therapy drugs, hormone therapy, and palliative therapy. But they are used in the rarest instances and type of breast cancer one has.
Conclusion
Above, we have discussed in brief about breast cancer, its symptoms, causes, types, and treatment. It shall provide you with comprehensive knowledge about breast cancer. As soon as you notice any changes in the breast or the symptoms discussed above, you should consult your doctor immediately. Breast cancer is a common disease that affects several women across the world. Early detection and diagnosis are the only way to cure it completely until it spreads to the other parts of the body.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. At what age should you get a mammogram?
Women above 40 years of age should start getting a mammogram for regular screening of breast cancer. It is the age at which breast cancer usually starts, and if it gets detected at this age, then you can get appropriate treatment.
2. Is a mammogram very painful?
Though a mammogram test is not very painful, one can feel certain discomfort. However, the discomfort varies from person to person. The discomfort that one feels usually arises due to compression on the breast.
3. Can mammograms detect cancer?
A mammogram is effective in detecting early breast cancer. Doctors can also prescribe regular mammogram screening to find breast cancer early.