Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know About Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that affects the cells of the breast. It is one of the most common cancers among women and people assigned female at birth, but it can also affect men and people assigned male at birth. Breast cancer can have different symptoms, causes, and treatments depending on the type and stage of the disease.
Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm area that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue.
- A change in the size, shape, or appearance of the breast, such as dimpling, puckering, or swelling.
- A change in the skin of the breast, nipple, or areola, such as redness, scaling, peeling, flaking, or rash.
- A nipple that becomes inverted or pulls inward.
- A discharge from the nipple that is not breast milk, especially if it is bloody or clear.
- Pain or tenderness in the breast, nipple, or armpit.
Some people with breast cancer may not have any noticeable symptoms, or they may be mistaken for other conditions. Therefore, it is important to have regular breast exams and mammograms to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Causes Of Breast Cancer
The causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, but some factors may increase the risk of developing the disease. These include:
- Age: The risk of breast cancer increases with age, especially after 50.
- Family history: Having a close relative with breast cancer, such as a mother, sister, or daughter, may increase the risk, especially if they were diagnosed before 50.
- Genetic mutations: Certain inherited changes in genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Genetic testing can help identify people who have these mutations and may benefit from preventive measures.
- Hormonal factors: Exposure to oestrogen and progesterone, either naturally or through hormone therapy, can affect the growth of breast cells. Factors that increase the exposure to these hormones include early menstruation, late menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight or obese, being physically inactive, and eating an unhealthy diet may increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Environmental factors: Radiation exposure, certain chemicals, or pollutants may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Treatments Of Breast Cancer
Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type, stage, and characteristics of the tumour, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences. Some of the common treatment options include:
- Surgery: This involves removing the tumour and some of the surrounding healthy tissue, or sometimes the entire breast. Surgery may also include removing some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm to check for cancer spread.
- Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells or shrink tumours. Radiation therapy may be given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, or before surgery to shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove.
- Chemotherapy: This uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery or as the main treatment for advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
- Hormone therapy: This blocks the action or production of oestrogen and progesterone, which can stimulate the growth of hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy may be given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence or as the main treatment for advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
- Targeted therapy: This uses drugs that target specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Targeted therapy may be given alone or in combination with other treatments for certain types of breast cancer, such as HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer.
- Immunotherapy: This uses drugs that stimulate the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy may be given alone or in combination with other treatments for certain types of breast cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer.
Prevention Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer prevention involves taking steps to lower the risk of developing the disease or finding it early. Some of the preventive measures include:
- Avoiding or limiting the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
- Eating a balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and low in saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods.
- Getting regular breast exams and mammograms according to the recommended guidelines.
- Talking to a doctor about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy, oral contraceptives, and genetic testing.
- Consider preventive surgery or medication for people who have a high risk of breast cancer due to genetic mutations or family history.
Conclusion
Breast cancer is a serious and complex disease that affects millions of people around the world. However, with advances in research, diagnosis, and treatment, many people with breast cancer can survive and live a good quality of life. By being aware of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of breast cancer, and taking steps to prevent it or find it early, people can reduce their risk and improve their outcomes.
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