Understanding Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Each year, more than 80,000 women develop breast cancer in India. Cancer is more common with increasing age but can also occur in younger women. Any lump in the breast or armpit, changes in the breast skin or nipple discharge, can be breast cancer symptoms. On noticing any of these breast cancer symptoms, one should contact the doctor promptly. Breast cancer is curable, if detected early. Let us have a look at how we as individuals can care for ourselves and the women around us.
I can feel a lump in my breast. Does this mean I have breast cancer?
Most of us may have experienced this feeling and got anxious about breast cancer. Confirming it with a breast cancer specialist or doctor is recommended as breast cancer symptoms can be discrete for some and variable for many.
Common breast cancer symptoms include
:
- Swelling in the breast
- A lump or growth felt in some part of the breast on comparison with the other breast
- A significant change in the size, colour &/or shape of the breast
- Discharge from the nipples
- Pain in and around the nipples
- Changes in the skin around the nipples- redness, peeling of skin
Consult the best oncologist in Mumbai for breast cancer symptoms.
Getting a Mammogram done can lead to breast cancer
A mammogram is an important tool to diagnose breast cancer and other breast conditions. It is a myth that getting it done may lead to breast cancer.
Breast cancer causes
Breast cancer causes are easy to understand through the risk factors-modifiable & non-modifiable
- Modifiable risk factors
Modifiable implies that these factors can be prevented or taken care of. Let us discuss these in detail.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Being inactive for most hours of the day can prove detrimental for your body and has been implicated in the breast cancer causes.
- Obesity in older women: Overweight and obese women in the menopausal stage are prone to develop breast cancer.
- Hormonal factors: Oestrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, can promote the growth of breast cancer cells.
- Reproductive factors: Women who have never had children, or who had their first child after the age of 30, may have a higher risk of breast cancer. Researchers have found that the average age of women giving birth in Mumbai is 30 years and above. This increases the risk of breast cancer substantially. One should consult a breast cancer surgeon in Mumbai to rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
- Lifestyle factors: Factors such as a high-fat diet, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity may increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to certain chemicals and radiation may increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Non-modifiable risk factors
Non-modifiable factors are those where one cannot do anything to change or modify the risk factor. These include:
- Age: Breast cancer risk increases with age, and the majority of cases occur in women over the age of 50.
- Genetics: Inherited mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Family history: Women with a family history of breast cancer, particularly in a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter), have a higher risk of developing the disease. If you or your loved one are facing such situations, talk to a breast cancer surgeon in Mumbai at the earliest for a safer tomorrow.
How does your doctor confirm breast cancer?
Breast cancer diagnosis is done by a breast cancer surgeon specialising in breast conditions.
- Screening
Mammogram- A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the most commonly used method to screen for breast cancer.
- Clinical breast examination (CBE)
Your doctor will examine both of your breasts and for any lymph nodes in the armpit, and other abnormalities to confirm the cause of your breast cancer symptoms.
- 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.
*Self-breast examination
Apart from getting screened in mammogram or CBE, please ensure to do regular breast self-examination and do look out for breast cancer symptoms & signs such as:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Blood 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 with your doctor for a prompt evaluation.
Breast cancer treatment
The treatment of breast cancer is based on multimodality therapy and women with breast cancer have many treatment options.
- Surgery
Breast cancer surgeons surgically remove the cancerous breast tissue. This may involve some part of the breast, the entire breast along with the lymph nodes from the armpit to prevent the cancer from spreading to other areas of the body.
- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells and tissues. This is done to control the spread of cancer to surrounding normal tissues.
- Hormone therapy
Hormones are given to help stop the growth of cancer cells. These cancer cells become inactive in presence of certain hormones.
- Chemotherapy
Certain medicines are either injected or taken orally to kill the cancer cells and maintain a cancer-free state. This treatment can be started before or after surgery.
- Targeted therapy
Potent medicines are used to specifically target the proteins that make up a cancer cell. These proteins are important for the growth of cancer cells. Destroying these proteins can help stop the spread of cancer.
Consult the best oncologist in Mumbai at Apollo Hospitals.
In conclusion, regular breast cancer screening is important for all women with or without breast cancer symptoms and regardless of their risk factors. A breast cancer surgeon can help you clear all your doubts regarding breast cancer and help you with the best breast cancer treatment.