Women and Health: Breast Cancer
What is it?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. The American Cancer society estimated 203,500 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with Invasive breast cancer in 2003.
Invasive breast cancer: If the cancer spreads outside the lobules or ducts (tubes that carry milk to nipple) into nearby tissues or the bloodstream then it is invasive and harder to treat.
Noninvasive breast cancer: If cancer cells grow in the lining of the ducts but have not spread to the other tissue of the breast then it is noninvasive breast cancer.
About 100 percent of women diagnosed at this early stage can be cured.
Symptoms
*Most breast changes and lumps are not due to cancer, but if these symptoms occur contact your health care provider to be sure.
- Lump or thickening in or near breasts or underarm area
- Change in size or shape of breast
- Nipple discharge, tenderness, pain, or nipple inverted into breast
- Ridges, dimpling, pitting of breast skin
- Change in way skin around nipple feels such as warm, swollen, red, scaly.
Steps for Detecting Breast Cancer
- Clinical Breast Exam: This is an exam by a professional health care provider to check your breast for any changes or problems, usually during your regular check-up or gynecological exam. It is recommended that it be done every three years after one reaches the age of 20, and once a year after the age of 40.
- Mammogram: A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts that can find breast cancer that is too small to feel. Screening mammograms are for women who have no symptoms of breast cancer, whereas diagnostic mammograms are for women who have symptoms. Most women have a yearly mammogram starting at the age of 40, but if someone has a family history of breast cancer they should talk to their doctor about starting early.
- Monthly Breast Self-Exam: A breast self-exam, or BSE, is when you examine your own breasts on a regular basis. This way, you will be able to feel any changes. It is best to do a BSE right after your period. For specific information on how to conduct a BSE please visit www.komen.org
Treatment
If found early, your health care provider will have you undergo a series of tests to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
Depending on the stage of your tumor’s growth, your treatment options are as followed:
- Surgery: Removal of the tumor and oftentimes some lymph nodes. There are many kinds of surgery, depending on the cancer.
- Radiation Therapy: Use of x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumor.
- Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to kill cancer cells, either taken by mouth or through needle into a vein or muscle. The drugs go through the bloodstream, throughout the entire body.
- Hormone Therapy: If a tumor’s growth is affected by the hormones estrogen or progesterone, this therapy can block the way these hormones help the cancer grow. Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy drug given to patients with early stage of breast cancer and to those with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Studies have shown it is also effective in preventing a recurrence of cancer.
Quick Facts
- Abortion does not increase breast cancer risk
- Active smoking increases breast cancer risk
- No strong link between stress and breast cancer
- Antidepressants do not increase breast cancer risk
- Exercise may lower risk
- High levels of Animal Fat in one’s diet might increase breast cancer risks
For additional information on breast cancer:
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Article by: Hannah
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