What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women.  Most of the cases occur in women over the age of 50 but breast cancer can occur in younger women as well. If you notice any lump or change to the normal breast then you should see a doctor promptly. Breast cancer is conquerable if detected early.

Types:

Ductal Carcinoma- The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. This cancer begins in cells that line a breast duct. About 7 of every 10 women with breast cancer have ductal carcinoma

Lobular Carcinoma- The second most common type of breast cancer is lobular carcinoma. This cancer begins in a lobule of the breast. About 1 of every 10 women with breast cancer has lobular carcinoma

 Screening:

• Breast examination- Your doctor will check both of your breasts and lymph nodes in the armpit, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities
• Digital Mammogram– A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are commonly used to screen for breast cancer
• Breast Ultrasound– Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures deep within the body. Ultrasound may help distinguish between a solid mass and a fluid-filled cyst. An ultrasound is often performed as part of the examination of a new lump

If the doctor feels that further tests are needed, you may need a biopsy, from which our experts determine whether the cells are cancerous or not. The biopsy sample is also analyzed to determine the type of cells involved in the breast cancer, the aggressiveness (grade) of cancer, and whether the cancer cells have hormone receptors or other receptors that may influence your treatment options.

Apart from getting screened, please ensure regular breast self-examination and do lookout for signs such as:

• A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
• Bloody discharge from the nipple
• Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
• Inverted nipple
• Peeling, scaling or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
• If you find a lump or other changes in your breast even if a recent mammogram was normal, do make an appointment.

Risk Factors:

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, we recommend you to undergo genetic counseling and if required for testing, to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through your family.

Other risk factors for breast cancer include:

• Increasing age
• Radiation exposure
• Obesity
• Early-onset of menstruation
• Late-onset of menopause
• Undergoing postmenopausal hormone therapy
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption

Treatment:

The breast cancer treatment options are decided based on the type of breast cancer, its stage & grade, size, and whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones.

Women with breast cancer have many treatment options. Treatment options include:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy

You may receive more than one type of treatment. Most women undergo surgery for breast cancer and also receive additional treatment before or after surgery, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation

Surgical options for breast cancer:

• Breast Conversation surgery which may be referred to as breast-sparing surgery or wide local excision, the surgeon removes the tumor and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue with axillary nodes
• Removing the entire breast (mastectomy) – this surgery is done to remove all of the breast tissue and axillary nodes
• Removing both breasts- Some women with cancer in one breast may choose to have their other (healthy) breast removed (contralateral prophylactic mastectomy) if they have a very increased risk of cancer in the other breast because of a genetic predisposition or strong family history.

Some women undergo to have breast reconstruction surgery at the same time.

Dr. Shishir Shetty

(Surgical Oncologist)

Apollo Hospitals – Navi Mumbai