Breast Cancer Management

Breast Cancer Management

 

Breast cancer is the most common disease that mostly affects women. The

 

different types of breast cancer includes DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), LCIS

 

(Lobular  Carcinoma In Situ), IDC (Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma or Invasive Ductal

 

Carcinoma), IFC (Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma or Invasive Lobular Carcinoma),

 

Mucinous Carcinoma, Medullary Carcinoma, Tubular Carcinoma, Inflammatory Breast

 

Cancer, Pagets Disease of the Nipple, and Phylloides Tumor. There are a lot of

 

misunderstandings regarding breast cancer. It is not a proven fact that only women with

 

family history is at risk. There are cases wherein women get breast cancer even if they

 

don’t have a family history of breast cancer. However if you have a parent, sister, or

 

daughter who has or had breast cancer, your risk of developing this disease is

 

significantly increased. Not only women are at risk but also men. Both men & women

 

should give themselves regular breast-exam and inform their respective doctor if there

 

are any changes observed. It is up to your doctor if you are recommended to have a

 

breast x-ray, mammogram, or ultrasound to confirm if you have the disease. This

 

procedure is also a common routine for those who are 35 years old and above although

 

anyone  below 35 can also develop breast cancer. Some undergo this procedure in

 

order to detect the disease at an early stage. Not all breast lumps are cancerous so it’s

 

best to undergo what your physician recommends. It is not true that underwire bra can

 

cause breast cancer, as well as deodorants and underarm antiperspirants. One should

 

not fear using a deodorant since it is not true that chemical leak on a wounded armpit

 

may cause cancer. Oral contraceptives could not cause cancer. So go on and use birth

 

control pills if you like. It does not matter if one has small or large breast. For those who

 

are scared of breastfeeding, don’t be. It helps decrease the possibility of breast cancer if

 

you breastfeed your baby. It’s beneficial to your baby and also to yourself. Most cases

 

of breast cancer originate in the cells that line the ducts. There are also times when

 

cancerous cells would develop in the lobules. Cancer may also develop from other

 

breast tissues. The extent of the disease is referred as staging. It is based on several

 

factors including tumor size, involvement of lymph nodes, if it is non-invasive or

 

invasive, if the cancer has spread outside the breast. Stage 0 is considered a non-

 

invasive breast cancer. There is no evidence that the cancer has spread.  Stage 1 is an

 

early invasive stage of breast cancer. There is no evidence that the cancer has spread

 

beyond the breast. Stage 2 is divided into 2 categories, 2A and 2B. Stage 2A is invasive

 

breast cancer. Stage 2B tumor has spread to underarm lymph nodes or it is larger than

 

5 centimeters but has not spread to the underarm lymph nodes. Stage 3 is considered a

 

locally advanced cancer. It is divided into 3 categories, namely 3A, 3b, and 3C. 3a

 

tumor is has spread into lymph nodes. 3b tumor includes lumps on the skin of the

 

breast. 3c has spread to lymph node areas above or below the clavicle, skin of the

 

breast, or chest wall. Stage 4 is distant metastatic cancer which has spread to other

 

organs of the body. Symptoms of breast cancer includes lump that can be felt  (even if it

 

is small), scaly or inverted nipples, pain in the nipple, discharge from nipple (be it clear

 

or bloody), swelling of the breast, mass or swelling in the armpit, and persistent

 

tenderness of the breast. It is better to undergo a medical check-up as soon as you

 

notice unusual changes in your body. Possible high risk and causes of breast cancer

 

include family members who suffer from the disease, women who did not give birth,

 

women who gave birth after 30 years old, being overweight or obese, women who

 

started their menstruation before 12 years old, women who were at menopausal stage

 

after 55 years old, lack of exercise, and too much intake of alcoholic drinks.

 

Treatment depends on what stage of breast cancer. The options include lumpectomy,

 

partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, stem cell

 

transplant, or clinical trial of new medications. Each one is different, so the survival rate

 

of breast cancer patients depends on the extent that the cancer has spread and the

 

type of treatment that was done.  The key to survive breast cancer is to make sure that

 

it is detected at an early stage before the disease could have the chance to spread.

 

 

Breastcancer.org. (2011). Stages of Breast Cancer. Available: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.jsp?gclid=CJOO94Kl7KkCFQEDHAodpA-E4Q. Last accessed 6th July 2011.

 

Lisa Fayed. (2010). Breast Cancer-Risk Factors. Available: http://cancer.about.com/od/breastcancer/a/riskfactors.htm. Last accessed 6th July 2011.

 

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (2011). Breast Cancer Myths. Available: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/About-Breast-Cancer/Myths.aspx. Last accessed 6th July 2011.

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