Tips about Breast Cancer And How Their Therapy

Tips about Breast Cancer And How Their Therapy

Breast Cancer

Unknown 11:05 AM 2

Millions of ladies are suffering from breast Cancer throughout the globe. This year, carcinoma is growing like

a pestilence and it's calculable that 45,000 patients can die of carcinoma. If you're feeling a lump in your breast solid, you ought to visit a specialist for consultation.

Symptoms of breast cancer:

Breast cancer within the early stages doesn't cause pain. Sadly, within the early stages once developing carcinoma, carcinoma symptoms don't seem to be visible. however the cancer was still growing, and that should be ascertained by each girl that wilder can cause tremendous changes, the symptoms of carcinoma embrace a lump or thickening in or close to the breast, a modification within the form or size of the breast, teat tenderness or teat discharge, breast, teat inversion into roughness or breast, the breast skin ridges seem red, swollen, heat and flaky. If it finds one of the higher than symptoms then ought to straight off visit a doctor if he persists with every symptom of carcinoma.
Specialists can diagnose carcinoma take a look at by one among the following:

Palpation
Ultrasound
Diagnostic procedure
Fine needle aspirations
Biopsy
Surgical diagnostic assay.

Breast cancer treatment:
1. Carcinoma treatment choices looking on the placement and size of the tumor in his chest.
2. Numerous strategies of treatment of carcinoma

Breast cancer treatment is native or general. Therapy and surgery is that the treatment of carcinoma. Native carcinoma treatment that's wont to destroy, take away or management the expansion of cancer cells. Secretion medical aid and therapy could be a general treatment. General treatment is targeted to regulate or destroy cancer cells throughout the body. Numerous kinds of carcinoma treatment is determined at an equivalent time or one when the opposite.

The operation is one among the treatment of carcinoma is that the commonest. Many sorts of surgical interventions are used. Surgical intervention to get rid of the breast is named excision. Surgery is finished to get rid of the cancer cells while not touching the dimensions of the breast is named breast protective surgery or breast-saving.
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy:

The carcinoma treatment specialist victimization high energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to prevent them from growing.

Chemotherapeutic carcinoma treatment:

The Specialist victimization differing types medicine of medicine of medication} or combination from totally different drugs to kill cancer cells or to prevent them from growing. Medication given in cycles; time of treatment followed by an extended recovery amount followed by another carcinoma treatment.
Hormone medical aid for carcinoma treatment:

It won’t to stop the expansion of cancer cells that affects the feminine hormones. Carcinoma treatment might embrace the utilization of medicine that modified the manner hormones work or surgery to get rid of the ovaries turn out feminine hormones.
Breast cancer treatment selections for advanced. Typically the choice is influenced by the stage of the illness Business Management Articles, the assessment of physicians and also the consent of the patient. Footage of carcinoma is found on numerous websites and medical books. Photos of carcinoma can facilitate to create the patients fathom their cancer stage and perhaps if there's a remedy. The Fund is run through a spread of programs like carcinoma walk for carcinoma to spread data among folks suffering from cancer and allegedly exposed and to produce economic and ethical support yet.

Tips How Their Therapy

The Breast Cancer  issues

There such  a large amount of  carcinoma patients area unit suffering with a big stress, they most likely pondering their future, family, cash and also the reason for carcinoma like genetic inequality or of us suffering carcinoma. Patient at arena stage two has chance to recovers however still stress continuous seasoned by makes it living on solely till year second.

To handling the strain should be done shortly presumably, each for the preventing and conjointly medical aid. Keep in mind different risk issue is ill at the age of early (age eleven years downwards). Carcinoma would be higher at ladies UN agency is experiencing menstruates at age eleven years downwardly is compared to experiencing menstruates at age of thirteen years. the opposite risk is somebody UN agency has due  menopauses, not married, not born, alcohol consumption, smoking, consumption of internal  steroid  hormone drug on a protracted term and different issue is descendant, if somebody has family shrunken breasts cancer, thus she has an equivalent risk. BRCA1 and BRCA2 is chromosomal mutation has tightly bearing with carcinoma risk, or ovary cancer or each for fifty - eighty five 100%. it's powerfully suggested to run attest like diagnostic procedure take a look at if there's member of family hit by carcinoma or member of different family.  when to start out diagnostic procedure take a look at

Women at the age of forty years recent upward have commonplace risk so that they ought to do diagnostic procedure take a look at. however ladies particularly with mutation BRCA1 and BRCA2 have primary risk so that they ought to do diagnostic procedure take a look at age twenty five years recent, or five year younger if their young friend having carcinoma history. Such this story, if her sister suffers cancer at age twenty six years recent, then her brother / sister may be having BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation genes, therefore their brother / sister it's recommended to starts diagnostic procedure take a look at age twenty one years.

The Fact regarding carcinoma medical aid

There was no methodology to cure or block the carcinoma. However healthy life and avoids stress is one among several thanks to forestall spreading of neoplastic cell and elongates hope of life. Variety of researches shows consumption several vegetable and vitamin C, avoids the strain, cigarette, and reduces your weight to the conventional weight. Food with inhibitor nutrient will forestall the cells that able to cause cancer. For instance, labors consume a minimum of five parts of fruits or vegetable per day will forestall them to induce cancer. the opposite analysis from David J. Hunter, MD., Director Harvard Center for Cancer hindrance in Boston; shows that unsaturated fat like olive will defend North American country from carcinoma, however the saturated fat like meat and butter will increase the chance.

There such a lot of ways that to measure with breast cancer free otherwise you can length your life even you’ve been diagnoses with carcinoma. Then analysis in 1998 that was revealed Journal of the National Cancer Institute; has ascertained the habit feeding from the breasts cancer patient and also the healthy girl, they found one thing fascinating, that girl have consume plenty of cut of meat was have four times risk more than whose not.  Then analysis in 1997 that was revealed the medical English journal; consumption soybean will contained the compound phytoestrogen can scale back the chance of breasts cancer.

My Breast Cancer Scare: Truths or Myths?

My Breast Cancer Scare: Truths or Myths?

Breast Cancer

Unknown 2:44 PM 1

Expert Author Shermain Jeremy

Every time I've changed Gynecologists, I filled out the dreaded medical history forms knowing the reaction my new doctor will have once she/he sees that both my grandmothers had breast cancer."Do you examine your breasts often?" "You need to be very careful", "Here put your arms up and let me see" poke poke poke...

Though I am glad for their concern I must admit that it is scary to think that you are considered high risk for breast cancer. In June of this year, I turned 30 and I can't begin to tell you all the weird changes that have been happening to my body. Some are way too weird and personal to mention, but about a month ago I did find a strange mass in my left breast. Now this is not really unusual for me since I normally have quite lumpy breasts, especially as that time of the month gets closer. So I figured it was just my natural lumps just feeling a little extra lumpy and I didn't pay it much mind. Three weeks later however it was still there and even more pronounced. So, to ward off any possibilities that it was my imagination playing tricks on me I asked my mother if she felt anything and she did. I quickly made the appointment to see my gynecologist.

I decided not to become rippled with fear about what the possibilities of an unknown mass in my breast could mean, but my panicky personality got the best of me and at times and I would picture myself losing all my hair which I had been spending so much time and money taking care of, the possibility of not being able to have kids, and worst of all losing my breast which I quickly passified by picturing myself with fake boobs. Vein and shallow!...yes I know. I reprimanded myself for thinking such thoughts and focused on God and life and thinking positive. It may be nothing.

The day of my much anticipated appointment came. As I waited in the examination room for my doctor, I lay on the bed in my robe opened to the front and busied myself with texting and bbm'ing to keep my mind of the negative. Thirty minutes later my doctor walked in with chart in-hand and stated, "What borough do you live in?" I said Queens. She said, "For How long?" Took me a while to think. I was unprepared for those questions. I was expecting something more around "How long have you had the lump?", "Who else in your family has had breast cancer?", "Seen any strange oozing?"

Seeing the confused look on my face, my gynecologist explained that the reason why she asked was because women who have lived in Queens and Long Island all or most of their lives are twice as likely to get breast cancer than women in any other borough in New York City. I was shocked! "I wasn't aware of that at all" I said and told her that I had only been living in Queens for the past 2 years and spent most of my life in the Caribbean. She then began her examination of both my breasts, starting with the right and then the left. She quickly felt the mass as well as another somewhere in the center of my left breast. She had me feel it also and yes! certainly there was something there. Not quite a lump or ball per se but definitely something. She asked me if I drink caffeine. I replied in the affirmative and told her that I had at least one cup a day give and take a few days here and there when I preferred tea. She told me that caffeine has been known to make the breasts lumpy. Again, I was shocked at that.

She also told me that taking 600 mg's of Vitamin E daily will also help prevent breast cancer. Another shocker! She also asked me if I wore wired bras. I told her "All the time" she then went on to say that I needed to get non-wired bras since the wired ones are known to put extra pressure on the glands of the breast and can lead to breast cancer also. Yet another shocker!

She never once mentioned or even brought up my grandparents, so I volunteered the information just in case she missed it. She then asked me at what age they were diagnosed. I wondered whether it mattered, point is they had it and that makes me high risk! I said one was diagnosed at 84 and another at around 60. She nonchalantly shrugged it off saying "OK they were both past menopausal age". I was like "ok", wondering if that now meant that I am no longer high risk. Talk about confused.

By the end of the examination she explained that though I am too young to have a mammogram because of the density of my breast, that she was scheduling one anyway along with a sonogram just to be on the safe side. My heart was beating as she wrote the referral, still nervous and overwhelmed from the confusing information I had just received as well as this pending mammogram which I had heard such horror stories about. Two days later I showed up for my "mamo" and "sono" and though the doctor said that the tests are never 100% percent accurate, I thank God that the results were negative and showed no abnormality.

Though I was relieved, I was still a bit confused and very concerned. Even if the less than perfect results are negative then why do I have a lump? could the test be wrong? and am I really at less of a risk for breast cancer because both my grandparents were diagnosed post menopausal? and do I really have to go buy an entire new collection of wireless bras and take 600 Mg's of Vitamin E? Clearly there were some mixed messages being sent here and we all know prevention is better than cure so it was time to get to the bottom of things. I therefore decided to do some research and here are some of my findings.

I don't know about you, but I always thought a lump in the breast was a sure and definitive sign of cancer. The September issue of Cosmopolitan however, featured a section on finding a lump in your breast and that breast cancer doesn't have to be the diagnosis. According to their source, Marisa Weiss, Breast oncologist and Founder of Breastcancer.org "boobs get lumpy all the time" and although breast cancer is uncommon in young women it is always good to be on the safe side and always check with your gynecologist. She pinpoints a few different types of lumps that can be found in the breast and what it could possibly mean. For instance, if it feels like a painless moveable sphere, it's probably a fribroadenoma which are firm growths common in women in their 20's and are perfectly harmless. If the lump(s) feel small and pebbly or knotty, it's most likely fibrocystic changes related to hormone changes in the body particularly around PMS. If the lump is spongy round or oval it could be a fluid-filled cyst formed when fluid is retained in the breast tissue and has to be drained by a procedure called needle aspiration. So for starters, we know that all lumps don't necessarily mean breast cancer especially if you're still in your child bearing years. Youth however, doesn't necessarily mean that you're not at risk for getting breast cancer either. The only way to be sure is to see your gynecologist.

The October issue of Shape Magazine really goes into dispelling some of the breast cancer myths out there with a great article called "What You Don't Know About Breast Cancer Can Hurt You" by Karyn Repinski. The first myth is: You can't get beast cancer if it doesn't run in your family. Like Sr. Weiss said, anyone can get breast cancer. The true determinants are age, hormones, biopsy history and breast density as well as other factors. According to Repinski, the real danger is in having a false sense of security so always check with your doctor to be on the safe side. The second myth is: Breast cancer always appears as a lump. The truth is signs of breast cancer can come in many ways. For example, a change in the size of your breast like a dimpled area or puckered appearance to the skin, an itchy scaly area, nipple discharge, swelling or redness of the breast or an inverted nipple. The third myth is: antiperspirants and under wire bras cause breast cancer. According to Repinski, the National Cancer Institute has done several studies that shows no correlation between breast cancer and deodorants or under wire bras. Phew! isn't that that's a relief?!

Though Respinski has cleared up a few of the smokey areas I am still confused about the family history theory as well as whether daily intake of vitamins such as Vitamin E lowers one's risk. So we know anyone can get breast cancer, but do persons with a family history of women being diagnosed in the pre or post menopausal stage make a difference in your chances of being diagnosed as well? To answer this question I took to the internet. According to Cancer.org "breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have the disease." If your mother, sister or daughter has been diagnosed, you are twice as likely to be at risk. If two of your close relatives have been diagnosed your risk is essentially tripled! Now interestingly enough, less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member(s) who was diagnosed which means that 85% of women who do get breast cancer actually have no family history of the disease. According to Breasthealthlink.com, a person with a familial history of breast cancer is one who has:

A relative who has had breast cancer in both breasts
A relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40
A relative who has had both breast cancer and ovarian cancer
A male relative who has or has had breast cancer

Familial factors that affect your risk are:

The number of relatives with breast cancer
The age at which their breast cancer is diagnosed.
The number of first degree relatives with breast cancer

The next step in this myth debunking research is determining whether an intake of 600 Mg's of Vitamin E will really help prevent breast cancer. In regards to diet and vitamin intake, The American Cancer Society suggests eating a healthy diet focused on plant sources such as fruits, vegetables and whole grain and limiting consumption of processed foods and red meats. According to Cancer.org however, studies on the effects of vitamin intake such as Vitamin E on breast cancer are conflicting and inconclusive. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that Vitamin E's antioxidant abilities help to destroy free radicals which can damage bodily cells and DNA. The UMMC Study shows that women diagnosed with breast cancer show low levels of vitamin E in the body. Based on this observation, researchers have felt that vitamin E intake would help prevent breast cancer. However, studies have not been able to prove that intake of vitamins does in fact reduce one's risk.

Though I am more at ease about the myths and truths about breast cancer, I realize that risk factors vary greatly and can range from gender, to age as well as family history, race and ethnicity. Though I didn't touch on this, your lifestyle is also a factor in your risk for breast cancer and includes: oral contraceptive use, hormone therapy, having children, breast feeding, alcohol use and even physical activity. In reality one can never really know definitively what are the causes of breast cancer or what our individual risks are. The important thing is to educate yourself about the disease so that you can look out for any possible warning signs. Know your body. If something feels strange or looks strange be sure to check with your doctor and always get a second, third or fourth opinion.

Based on the information I've learned I understand that I am at risk. Having two second degree relatives affected by the disease increases my awareness as well as my risk. My paternal grandmother was diagnosed in her early post menopausal 60's and succumbed to the disease because of her own lack of knowledge. My maternal grandmother on the other hand was a survivor and was diagnosed in her early 80's with both breast and ovarian cancer. My cousin was also diagnosed in her early 20's. I may not be able to prevent myself from getting breast cancer but I can surely help decrease my risk. Debunking the myths and finding the truths was the first step and puts a more realistic and controlled picture in my mind. Although my "sono" and "mamo" are normal I intend to go get a second opinion being that the lump in my breast is still very much there. I also intend to lower my risk by getting into a more strict exercise routine, as well as eating a more well balanced diet made up of at least 5 grams of servings or more of vegetables and fruits per day. I will not go out and buy a wardrobe of new bras, but I do intend to continue to take my vitamins daily, yes even the Vitamin E. I also plan to continue my routine at-home breast exams. If I were not doing that exam regularly I probably would never have discovered the lump and we all know prevention is better than cure.

Women (and men) need to be aware of this disease. The only way to increase your awareness is through knowledge. There are lots of information on the internet and in your local library and don't be afraid to ask your doctor all the relevant questions. Express your concerns and talk about your personal risk. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women, except for skin cancer. Almost a quarter of a million women will be diagnosed in 2011 alone and almost 40,000 will succumb to the disease. At this time, there are over 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone including my grandmother. Thanks to the stellar care she received at the Queens Hospital Breast Service and early detection, she was able to survive both breast and ovarian cancer. Strong family support was also a factor. Sometimes the families of breast cancer victims are forgotten and overlooked, but they also play a very important role in the care and support that they provide to family members. Caring for a family member diagnosed with breast cancer can be extremely stressful. This breast cancer month take the time to learn more about the disease and participate in the fight for the cure.

Shermain Jeremy: Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shermain_Jeremy/1071885

Breast Cancer - Should You Worry?

Breast Cancer - Should You Worry?

Breast Cancer

Unknown 2:01 PM Add

Breast cancer is one of the top cancers in women today. Most of us would know someone who has, or has had breast cancer, and with the ongoing media coverage of the condition, women are becoming increasingly

aware of the condition. National breast screening programmes, dedicated breast clinics, advances in modern treatment methods together with ongoing research, all play their part in the early detection and successful treatment.

What is Cancer?

Cells throughout the body are continually being lost and replaced, occuring in a state of balance. If, for some reason, the control mechanisms ensuring this balance become disrupted, a cell may start multiplying out of control - a tumour is then born.

Tumours are classified into whether they are benign or malignant. Benign tumours are those which, whilst growing in a uncontrolled manner, do not spread beyond the confines of their anatomical boundaries. Malignant tumours, on the other hand, are those which have the ability to invade structures and thereby enabling them to spread beyond their anatomical boundaries. They are also able to spread to distant parts of the body by invading the blood and lymphatic systems. The characteristic feature shared by all cancers is that this usual balance between cell loss and cell multiplication is disrupted.

What are the Risk Factors for developing Breast Cancer?

Some women with one, or even a few risk factors, never go on to develop breast cancer, whilst there are many women with breast cancer who have no apparent risk factors.

The Following are known risk factors:

• Having had cancer in one breast: this increases 3 to 4 fold, the risk of developing a new breast cancer, unrelated to the first, in the other breast, or in another part of the same breast.

• Getting older: the risk of breast cancer increases with age, the peak incidence occurring in the 55 to 59 age group. Whilst breast cancer predominantly affects older women, it can occur in women under 30 years of age.

• Family history of breast cancer: having a first degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer increases your risk of having breast cancer yourself.

• Predisposing breast conditions: history of certain breast conditions, such as atypical lobular or ductal hyperplasia, and lobar carcinoma in-situ, increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

• Genetics: carriers of alterations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Women suspected to have genetic risk for breast cancer should undergo genetic risk assessment by a specialist (ideally in a cancer genetics clinic). Women with this BRCA mutation have about a 5 - 10 times increased risk for developing breast cancer compared to women without this mutation. They also tend to present with breast cancer at a much earlier age.

• Being Overweight

• Alcohol intake

• Race: caucasian women have been found to be at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than their African-American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian counterparts.

• Presence of other cancers in the family: a positive family history of cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix or colon increases the risk of you developing breast cancer.

• Excessive exposure to radiation

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): long term use of combined oestrogen and progesterone increases the risk of breast cancer.

• Late childbirth: having your first child after the age of 35 or never having children increases your risk of breast cancer.

• Early menarche: if you had your first period before the age of 12 years, your risk is increased.

• Late menopause: if you reach menopause very late, this would also increase your risk of breast cancer.

What are the Symptoms?

Breast cancer, in its early stages, usually has no symptoms. As the tumour grows, some of the following symptoms may be noticed:

• Lump in the breast or underarm that does not change in size with your mensus. Lumps due to breast cancer are typically painless.
• Changes in the colour or skin of the breast, areola or nipple (e.g. puckering, dimpling or scaling)
• Change in the nipple, such as retraction (pulled in nipple), itching or burning sensation, or discharge from the nipple.
• A marble-like hardened area under the skin of the breast.
• Change in the size or shape of the breast

What Can Help Decrease the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer?

A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding over-consumption of alcohol, will help decrease the chances of developing breast cancer, along with a host of other diseases. Minimizing the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy to as short a time as possible will also minimize risk.

Having regular screening mammograms will not decrease the risk of developing breast cancer, but it enables the best chance of early detection, where treatment is generally more successful.

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Many women present to their doctors with breast symptoms which do not turn out to be due to cancer. Common benign conditions of the breast include fibroadenomas and fibrocystic disease of the breast. However, all new breast changes should be evaluated by a doctor.

Doctors generally make the diagnosis of breast cancer by employing what is commonly known as the "Triple Test". As its name suggests, there are three parts to it:

(i) Clinical Examination
(ii) Imaging of the Breast
(iii) Breast Biopsy

1. Clinical Examination

Breast examination by a doctor involves inspecting and palpation of all 4 quadrants (the breast is typically categorized into 4 parts) of both breasts, the area under the nipples, and under both arms to feel for lymph node enlargement.

2. Imaging of the Breast

Mammography is the commonest test used to detect breast cancer. In younger women who tend to have much denser breast tissue, mammograms may be difficult to read and doctors may request for other imaging methods instead.

Benign breast lumps are typically rounded with smooth edges. Cancers, by contrast, usually appear denser with an irregular edge. The surrounding tissue may also be distorted by invading cancer cells. Cancers may also be associated clusters of calcium flecks which show up on mammograms as bright white dots.

Ultrasound of the breast is a good way to focus on areas of the breast which are of particular concern, such as in a region where a lump is felt. It is also frequently done in younger women with denser breast tissue in whom mammograms may not be suitable.

MRIs are sometimes used to assist in the screening of women at high risk of breast cancer, obtaining more detailed assessment of an area of particular concern found on mammogram or ultrasound, as well as in the monitoring for recurrence after treatment.

3. Breast Biopsy

Fine-Needle Aspiration

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) involves collecting a small sample of breast tissue using a long, thin needle and a syringe. FNAs are done under local anaesthesia. Mammograms or ultrasounds are often used to help locate the area of concern. Cells aspirated are then sent to a pathology laboratory for staining and interpretation.

Core / Mammotome Biopsy

This is similar to the FNA, however, in this case a much larger needle is used to obtain a "worm" of breast tissue rather than just some cells as in that obtained by an FNA. The core biopsy is also done under local anaesthesia and it gives doctors more breast tissue to work on, increasing the accuracy of diagnosis.

Open Surgical Biopsy

This requires a cut in the skin, in order to remove a sample of the lump, or sometimes, the entire lump. This method, whilst being the most accurate method of differentiating benign from cancerous lesions, is a lot more invasive than the previously discussed methods.

Your breast surgeon will advise you on the most appropriate method for obtaining a biopsy sample for you.

Factors Which Affect Prognosis:

Several factors are know to affect the likelihood of successful treatment and the risk of recurrence.

These would include the following:

• The stage of the cancer (size of tumour, whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body)
• The type of breast cancer (eg. tubular, mucinous, papillary)
• Whether the tumour is hormone receptor (estrogen/progesterone receptors) positive or negative
• Histological grade
• Human epidermal growth factor type 2 receptor (HER2) gene amplification and/or overexpression
• Whether the tumour is a new one or a recurrence
• The age, menopausal status and general health of the woman

Treatment:

Surgery is considered to be the primary treatment of breast cancer and many patients with early breast cancer are cured by surgery alone. Surgery aims to completely remove the tumour, as well as to achieve clear resection margins, in order to reduce the risk of tumour recurrence. Several types of surgery are performed (eg. mastectomy, lumpectomy) but these will not be discussed in this article.

Adjuvant therapy is designed to treat micrometastatic disease (cancer cells which have escaped the breast and regional lymph nodes, and which have not yet had an established identifiable metastatic focus). It is given after primary therapy to increase the long-term disease-free survival.

Types of adjuvant therapy include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy with monoclonal antibodies.

Dr Ang C.D. has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine.

He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology.

Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients.

With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, a Web Directory of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore.

http://www.singaporedoc.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr_Ang_Corey_Damien/521161

What You Should Know About Breast Cancer

What You Should Know About Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

Unknown 1:52 PM Add

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death,

exceeded only by lung cancer in 1985. One woman in eight who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer at some time during her life.

At present there are over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer. About 41,000 women will die from the disease. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33. However, the rate of death from breast cancer is going down. This decline is probably the result of early detection and improved treatment.

Breast cancer is not just a woman's disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1600 men develop the disease yearly and about 400 may die from the disease.

Breast cancer risk is higher among those who have a mother, aunt, sister, or grandmother who had breast cancer before age 50. If only a mother or sister had breast cancer, your risk doubles. Having two first-degree relatives who were diagnosed increases your risk up to five times the average.

Although it is not known exactly what causes breast cancer; sometimes the culprit is a hereditary mutation in one of two genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes normally protect against the disease by producing proteins that guard against abnormal cell growth, but for women with the mutation, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer can increase up to 80 percent, compared with 13 percent among the general population. In effect, more than 25 percent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.

For women without a family history of breast cancer, the risks are harder to identify. It is known that the hormone estrogen feeds many breast cancers, and several factors - diet, excess weight, and alcohol consumption - can raise the body's estrogen levels.

Early Signs

Early signs of breast cancer include the following:

- A lump which is usually single, firm and most often painless is detected.

- An area of the skin on the breast or underarm is swollen and has an unusual appearance.

- Veins on the skin surface become more prominent on one breast.

- The affected breast nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has a discharge other than breast milk.

- A depression is found in an area of the breast surface.

Types and Stages of Breast Cancer

There are many different varieties of breast cancer. Some are fast-growing and unpredictable, while others develop more slowly and steady. Some are stimulated by estrogen levels in the body; some result from mutation in one of the two previously mentioned genes - BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS): Generally divided into comedo (blackhead), in which the cut surface of the tumor shows extrusion of dead and necrotic tumor cells similar to a blackhead, and non-comedo types. DCIS is early breast cancer that is confined to the inside of the ductal system. The distinction between comedo and non-comedo types is important, as comedocarcinoma in-situ generally behaves more aggressively and may show areas of micro-invasion through the ductal wall into surrounding tissue.

Infiltrating Ductal: This is the most common type of breast cancer, representing 78 percent of all malignancies. On mammography, these lesions can appear in two different shapes -- stellate (star- like) or well circumscribed (rounded). The stellate lesions generally have a poorer prognosis.

Medullary Carcinoma: This malignancy comprises 15 percent of breast cancers. These lesions are generally well circumscribed and may be difficult to distinguish from fibroadenoma by mammography or sonography. With this type of breast cancer, prognostic indicators estrogen and progesterone receptor are negative 90 percent of the time. Medullary carcinoma usually has a better prognosis than other types of breast cancer.

Infiltrating Lobular: Representing 15 percent of breast cancers, these lesions generally appear in the upper outer quadrant of the breast as a subtle thickening and are difficult to diagnose by mammography. Infiltrating lobular can involve both breasts (bilateral). Microscopically, these tumors exhibit a linear array of cells and grow around the ducts and lobules.

Tubular Carcinoma: This is described as orderly or well-differentiated carcinoma of the breast. These lesions make up about 2 percent of breast cancers. They have a favorable prognosis with nearly a 95 percent 10-year survival rate.

Mucinous Carcinoma: Represents 1-2 percent of carcinoma of the breast and has a favorable prognosis. These lesions are usually well circumscribed (rounded).

Inflammatory Breast Cancer: This is a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer that is usually evidenced by changes in the skin of the breast including redness (erythema), thickening of the skin and prominence of the hair follicles resembling an orange peel. The diagnosis is made by a skin biopsy, which reveals tumors in the lymphatic and vascular channels about 50 percent of the time.

Stages of Breast Cancer

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. It begins in the lining of the ducts. Another type, called lobular carcinoma, arises in the lobules. When cancer is found, the pathologist can tell what kind of cancer it is - whether it began in a duct (ductal) or a lobule (lobular) and whether it has invaded nearby tissues in the breast (invasive).

When cancer is found, special lab tests of the tissue are usually done to learn more about the cancer. For example, hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor tests can help determine whether hormones help the cancer to grow. If test results show that hormones do affect the growth of the cancer (a positive test result), the cancer is likely to respond to hormonal therapy. This therapy deprives the cancer cells of estrogen.

Other tests are sometimes done to help predict whether the cancer is likely to progress. For example, x-rays and other lab tests are done. Sometimes a sample of breast tissue is checked for a gene, known as the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2 gene) that is associated with a higher risk that the breast cancer will recur. Special exams of the bones, liver, or lungs are done because breast cancer may spread to these areas.

A woman's treatment options depend on a number of factors. These factors include her age and menopausal status; her general health; the size and location of the tumor and the stage of the cancer; the results of lab tests; and the size of her breast. Certain features of the tumor cells, such as whether they depend on hormones to grow are also considered.

In most cases, the most important factor is the stage of the disease. The stage is based on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread. The following are brief descriptions of the stages of breast cancer and the treatments most often used for each stage. Other treatments may sometimes be appropriate.

Stage 0

Stage 0 is sometimes called non-invasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule. These abnormal cells seldom become invasive cancer. However, they are an indicator of an increased risk of developing breast cancer in both breasts. The treatment for LCIS is a drug called tamoxifen, which can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A person who is affected may choose not to have treatment, but to monitor the situation by having regular checkups. And occasionally, the decision is made to have surgery to remove both breasts to try to prevent cancer from developing. In most cases, removal of underarm lymph nodes is not necessary.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a duct. DCIS is also called intraductal carcinoma. The abnormal cells have not spread beyond the duct to invade the surrounding breast tissue. However, women with DCIS are at an increased risk of getting invasive breast cancer. Some women with DCIS have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy. Alternatively, they may choose to have a mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction (plastic surgery) to rebuild the breast. Underarm lymph nodes are not usually removed. Also, women with DCIS may want to talk with their doctor about tamoxifen to reduce the risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

Stage I and II

Stage I and stage II are early stages of breast cancer in which the cancer has spread beyond the lobe or duct and invaded nearby tissue.

Stage I means that the tumor is about one inch across and cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast.

Stage II means one of the following:

The tumor in the breast is less than 1 inch across and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
The tumor is between 1 and 2 inches (with or without spread to the lymph nodes under the arm).
The tumor is larger than 2 inches but has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
The treatment options for early stage breast cancer are breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy to the breast, and mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction to rebuild the breast. These approaches are equally effective in treating early stage breast cancer. (Sometimes radiation therapy is also given after mastectomy.)

The choice of breast-sparing surgery or mastectomy depends mostly on the size and location of the tumor, the size of the breast, certain features of the cancer, and how the person feels about preserving the breast. With either approach, lymph nodes under the arm usually are removed.

Chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy after primary treatment with surgery or surgery and radiation therapy are recommended for stage I and most frequently with stage II breast cancer. This added treatment is called adjuvant therapy. Systemic therapy sometimes given to shrink the tumor before surgeries called neoadjuvant therapy. This is given to try to destroy any remaining cancer cells and prevent the cancer from recurring, or coming back, in the breast or elsewhere.

Stage III

Stage III is also called locally advanced cancer. In this stage, the tumor in the breast may exhibit the following:

More than 2 inches across and the cancer has spread to the underarm lymph nodes.
The cancer is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes.
The cancer is spreading to lymph nodes near the breastbone or to other tissues near the breast.

Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of locally advanced breast cancer. In this type of cancer, the breast looks red and swollen (or inflamed) because cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast.

Patients with stage III breast cancer usually have both local treatment to remove or destroy the cancer in the breast and systemic treatment to stop the disease from spreading. The local treatment may be surgery and/or radiation therapy to the breast and underarm. The systemic treatment may be chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. Systemic therapy may be given before local therapy to shrink the tumor or afterward to prevent the disease from recurring in the breast or elsewhere.

Stage IV

Stage IV is metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other parts of the body.

The treatments for stage IV breast cancer are chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy to destroy cancer cells and control the disease. Patients may have surgery or radiation therapy to control the cancer in the breast. Radiation may also be useful to control tumors in other parts of the body.

Recurrent Cancer

Recurrent cancer means the disease has returned in spite of the initial treatment. Even when a tumor in the breast seems to have been completely removed or destroyed, the disease sometimes returns because undetected cancer cells remained somewhere in the body after treatment.

Most recurrences appear within the first 2 or 3 years after treatment, but breast cancer can recur many years later.

Cancer that returns only in the area of the surgery is called a local recurrence. If the disease returns in another part of the body, the recurrence is called metastatic breast cancer. The patient may have one type of treatment or a combination of treatments for recurrent cancer.

For more information, see "Nine Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk" on this site.

Sources: National Cancer Institute; Centers for Disease Control

Syble James is a consultant and author with knowledge of the food, beverage, supplements, MLM, and health and fitness industry. She provides consultations to individual and organizations. She can be reached at Syble.James@AlphaHealthSource.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Syble_James/97116