Most common symptoms of breast cancer
Now these days breast cancer is A most common type of cancer in women. A painless lump or small tumor in breast is first sign of breast cancer. In many cases no significant symptom found in early stage of cancer.
Most common symptoms of breast cancer
- General pain in breast or around breast
- A lump in breast, changes in breast size (mostly dramatic increased size)
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- Pigmentation on nipple areola
- Skin redness, swelling in breast
- Liquid discharge from nipple other then milk
Diagnosis of breast cancer –
Early detection in early stage of cancer is mostly curable so these diagnosis methods are useful to diagnose breast cancer.
- Mammograms
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS-USA) Mammograms are the most reliable diagnostic tool to diagnose breast cancer early as tumors can be 0.5 mm 50 cms in size. Mammograms are x- rays with low x ray radiation expouser of mammary glands. Mammograms with early symptoms play an important role to diagnose breast cancer. Other tools to diagnosis are like ct- scanning, blood tests, biopsy, histopathological examination of tissues and ultrasound scans of the breast. A combination of symptoms and test results is useful for diagnosis of breast cancer
Types of breast cancer – there are these most types of breast cancer with or without metastasis.
1. non invasive breast cancer- ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma –these cancers mostly have no early symptoms
2. Invasive breast cancer – this is a metastatic* cancer.
* Metastasis- a cancer cell can isolate from tumor and transported with blood to other organs and can form a new tumor. This process is called metastasis.
Invasive breast cancers types are inflammatory breast cancer, carcinoma breast cancer, papillary carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancers.
Treatment of breast cancer
Many methods used to treat breast cancer. Important methods for treatment are
-SURGERY– surgery is a useful method to treatment of cancer. In treatment of breast cancer useful types of breast surgery are –
-Lumpectomy- in this operation the surgeon removes the tumor with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue/cells
-Sentinel node biopsy – if cancer spreads in lymph nodes then surgeon remove the infected lymph node.
-mastectomy- - in this operation surgeon removes all tissues of breast including lobules, ducts, skin, nipple and areola completely or partially. In most of cases complete breast removed. In most patients with breast cancer in one breast will never develop cancer in the other breast. In case of both breast cancer removal of both breasts done by doctor.
2. Radiation therapy/ radio therapy- in this operation breast is exposed with targeted high-energy beams of x rays or gamma rays or protons. These high-energy beams of rays lead to destroying cancer cells. Most of doctors used this method after surgery.
3. Chemotherapy – in this operation drugs in form of chemical injectables used to treat cancer. These drugs kill fast growing cancer cells and decrease rate of advancement in tumor .chemotherapy leads to many common side effects like anemia(low hemoglobin),hair loss , vomiting, headache, nausea, and menopause(early menstrual cycle stoppage ) , weight loss etc.
4.targated hormone therapy- several targeted therapy drugs like estrogen/progesterone receptors focus on a protein that some breast cancer cells overproduce called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (H.E.R.2). The protein helps breast cancer cells grow and survive very fast. By targeting cells that make high h.e.r.2 the drugs can damage cancer cells sparing healthy cells of breasts.
5. Immunotherapy – in this operation immunotherapy is used to fight cancer cells if breast cancers are not positive for targeted hormone therapy then this method is used for treatment.
In most of the cases of treatment done by combination therapy in which surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy combination are used to treat breast cancer .
In treatment WHAT questions to ask the doctor-
1 which type of breast cancer do I have?
2..in which stage my tumor is?
3. What treatment options are available for me?
4. What will cancer treatment cost?
5. how is my daily life effects by treatment?
Best 5 hospitals for breast cancer treatment in the USA
1. MD ENDERSON CANCER CENTER HOUSTON (UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS)
2. MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
3. JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE
4. MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER, NEW YORK
5. DANA FARBAR WOMENS CANCER CENTER BOSTON
AVERAGE COST OF TREATMENT *
- For women who diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. costs nearby usd $48000, on average, 6 months treatment after diagnosis.
- For stages I and II COSTS $60000-$95000
- For stage III $78000 -$135000
- For stage IV -$95000-$190000
*COST IS INDICATIVE AND MAY VARY
Ways to prevent breast cancer
- Avoid or low alcohol consumption
- Avoid smoking
- Low fast food intake
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Do check your weight and keep eyes on dramatic weight loss without efforts
- Be physically active
- Do exercise
- Play outdoor games
- Breastfeed your child
- Avoid birth control pills
- Avoid emergency contraceptive pills
- Limit intake of saturated fats
- Increase intake of antioxidant-rich food like olives, blueberries, grapes, and leafy green vegetables.
- Intake more water
- Have a nutritious and balanced diet
- Keep eyes on breast changes
- Have regular mammograms
- Be happy
Medicines for higher risk of breast cancer
For women's which have an increased risk of breast cancer. There are 3 breast cancer medicines available to lower of risk of breast cancer.
1-tamoxifen-for women who have not menopause
2-anastrozole- for the women's who have been through menopause
3-raloxifene- for women who have been through menopause