What is Breast Cancer?
Breast Cancer Types
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
- Lobular Carcinoma In Situ
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
A thickening or lump in the breast or underarm: This is the most common symptom.
Changes in size or shape: The breast or nipple may look different.
Nipple discharge: Any discharge other than breast milk, especially if it’s bloody or clear.
Inverted nipple: A nipple that turns inward.
Skin irritation or dimpling: The breast skin may look like an orange peel.
Redness or swelling of the breast: This can resemble an infection but might be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
Pain in the breast or nipple: Breast pain is usually not a symptom of breast cancer, but it’s important to check with a doctor if it’s persistent.
Causes of Breast Cancer
Age
The risk increases with age, generally after 50.
Genetics
Having a family history of breast cancer, particularly in close relatives, increases the risk. Certain gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can significantly elevate the risk.
Hormone exposure
Early menstruation, late menopause, and using hormone replacement therapy can increase exposure to hormones, raising the risk.
Childbearing and breastfeeding
Having children and breastfeeding can reduce the risk, but not completely.
Obesity
Being overweight can increase the risk.
Alcohol consumption
Drinking alcohol can slightly increase the risk.
Lifestyle factors
While not proven, factors like smoking and lack of physical activity might play a role.
The Stages of Breast Cancer
In case you are experiencing signs of breast cancer, Dr Suvadip Chakrabarti, our breast cancer doctor will be able to determine them along with the stage of the disease. The stages include:
- Stage 0: Early form of breast cancer, often detected through screening.
- Stage I: Small tumour, no lymph node involvement, no metastasis.
- Stage II: Larger tumour or spread to nearby lymph nodes, no metastasis.
- Stage III: Larger tumour, spread to multiple lymph nodes, or cancer has spread to nearby tissues.
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to the other parts of the body (metastasis).
Treatment for Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Treatment involves the following surgical treatment.
This involves removing the tumour and some healthy tissue while preserving the majority of the breast. It’s also known as lumpectomy or partial mastectomy.
Mastectomy:
This involves removing all breast tissue. There are different types of mastectomies, including simple, modified radical, and radical mastectomies.
This procedure is often performed during breast cancer surgery to check for cancer spread to the lymph nodes. It can involve removing a sentinel node (the first lymph node to receive drainage from the breast) or a group of lymph nodes.
How to Prevent Breast Cancer?
Watch your weight:
Keeping a healthy weight can lower your risk of breast cancer.
Stay active:
Regular physical activity benefits your health and may reduce breast cancer risk.
Nourish your body:
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can keep you healthy.
Limit alcohol:
Reducing the consumption of alcohol is associated with a lower breast cancer risk.
Don’t smoke:
Smoking increases the risk of several cancers, including breast cancer.
Other prevention tips include
Regular self-exams:
Familiarise yourself with your breasts and perform regular self-exams to detect any changes.
Mammograms:
Regular mammograms, especially for women over 40, can help detect breast cancer early when it’s most treatable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How can I reduce my risk of breast cancer?
2. At what age should you get a mammogram?
3. How important is regular exercise for prostate health?
4. What are the different types of breast cancer surgery?
- Lumpectomy: Removal of the tumour and some surrounding tissue.
- Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast.
- Modified radical mastectomy: Removal of the breast, underlying chest muscles, and some lymph nodes.