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Symptoms of breast cancer do not usually appear in the early stages of the disease. That's why prevention is important

Edited and resized image by Victoria Strukovskaya, is available on Unsplash

Symptoms of breast cancer do not usually appear in the early stages of the disease, so prevention is important. Understand and learn how to prevent:

breast cancer

Cancer arises when mutations occur in the genes that regulate cell growth. These mutations cause cells to multiply uncontrollably. In the case of breast cancer, cancer cells arise in the breast lobes. The lobules are the glands that produce milk, and the ducts are the pathways that carry milk from the glands to the nipple. Cancer can also occur in the fatty tissue or in the fibrous connective tissue of the breast.

Uncontrolled cancer cells often invade other healthy breast tissue and can travel to lymph nodes under the arms. Lymph nodes are a primary pathway that helps cancer cells move to other parts of the body.

In the early stages, breast cancer may have no symptoms. In many cases, a tumor may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be seen on a mammogram. If a tumor can be felt, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that didn't exist before. However, not all nodules are cancer.

Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some may be different. Symptoms of the most common breast cancers include:

• Breast nodule or tissue thickening different from surrounding tissue and newly developed;
• Breast pain;
• Red, pitted skin across the breast;
• Swelling in the breast;
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk;
• Bleeding nipple;
• Skin peeling on the nipple or chest;
• Sudden, inexplicable change in breast shape or size;
• Inverted nipple;
• Changes in the appearance of breast skin;
• Nodule or swelling under the arm.

If you have any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you have breast cancer. Chest pain or the appearance of a breast lump may be symptoms of a benign cyst. Still, if you encounter a breast lump or other symptoms, don't hesitate to seek medical help.

Types of breast cancer

There are several types of breast cancer, and they are divided into categories: "invasive" and "non-invasive" or in situ. While invasive cancer has spread from the mammary ducts or glands to other parts of the breast, non-invasive cancer has not spread from the original tissue.

These two categories are used to describe the most common types of breast cancer, which include:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ. Ductal carcinoma in situ it is a non-invasive condition. Cancer cells are confined to the breast ducts and have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue;
• lobular carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma in situ it is a cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of the breast. Cancer cells have not invaded the surrounding tissue;
• Invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It starts in the milk ducts and then invades the tissues near the breast. Once breast cancer spreads to tissue outside the milk ducts, it can start to spread to other organs and tissues nearby;
• Invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma first develops in the lobules of the breast and has invaded nearby tissue.

Other less common types of breast cancer include:

• Paget's disease of the nipple. This type of breast cancer starts in the ducts in the nipple, but as it grows, it starts to affect the skin and areola of the nipple;
• Phyllodes' tumor. This very rare type of breast cancer grows in the connective tissue of the breast. Although most are benign, some are cancerous;
• Angiosarcoma. It is a cancer that grows in the blood or lymph vessels of the breast.

The type of cancer you have determines your treatment options as well as its likely long-term outcome.

Inflammatory breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer. It makes up 1 to 5% of all breast cancer cases. In this condition, the cells block the lymph nodes near the breasts and the lymph vessels cannot drain properly. In inflammatory breast cancer, the breast is swollen, red and very hot. The cancerous breast may not have a lump, but it has small holes similar to an orange peel. This type of breast cancer can be very aggressive because it progresses quickly. For this reason, it is important to seek medical help immediately after these symptoms appear.

triple negative breast cancer

Tri-negative breast cancer is another type of rare disease, affecting only 10 to 20% of people with breast cancer. To be diagnosed as triple negative breast cancer, a tumor must have the following three characteristics:

• Estrogen receptors are missing. These are receptors on cells that bind to the hormone estrogen. If a tumor has estrogen receptors, the estrogen can stimulate the cancer to grow;
• It lacks progesterone receptors. These receptors are cells that bind to the hormone progesterone. If a tumor has progesterone receptors, progesterone is responsible for the cancer's growth;
• It has no additional HER2 proteins on its surface. HER2 is a protein that fuels breast cancer growth.

If a tumor meets these three criteria, it is labeled triple negative breast cancer. This type has a tendency to grow and spread more quickly than other types of breast cancer. Tri-negative breast cancer is difficult to treat because hormone therapy is not effective.

metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is another name for stage 4 breast cancer. It is breast cancer that spreads through the breast and other parts of the body such as bones, lungs or liver.

male breast cancer

Although in smaller amounts, men have breast tissue like women. Therefore, although it is rare, they can also have breast cancer, which is equally serious.

breast cancer pictures

The website healthline selected a gallery of breast cancer photos that you can check out. If you are concerned about a breast blemish or change, it may be helpful to take a look at these images.

Stages of breast cancer

Breast cancer can be divided into stages based on the size of the tumor or tumors and how far it has spread. Cancers that are large and/or have invaded nearby tissues or organs are at a higher stage than cancers that are small and/or still contained in the breast. To diagnose breast cancer, the doctor or doctor needs to know:

• Whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive
• how big is the tumor
• If lymph nodes are involved
• If the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs

breast cancer diagnosis

To determine whether your symptoms are caused by breast cancer or benign breast disease, your doctor will perform a complete physical in addition to a breast exam. They may also order one or more diagnostic tests to help understand what is causing your symptoms.

Tests that can help diagnose breast cancer include:

• Mammography. The most common way to see below the surface of the breast is with an imaging test called a mammogram. Many women ages 40 and older receive annual mammograms to check for breast cancer. If your doctor suspects you have a tumor or suspicious site, they will also order a mammogram. If an abnormal area is seen on your mammogram, your doctor may order additional tests;
• Ultrasound. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of the deep tissues of the breast. An ultrasound can help a doctor distinguish between a solid mass such as a tumor and a benign cyst.

He may also suggest tests such as MRI or breast biopsy.

breast biopsy

If your doctor suspects breast cancer, he or she may order a mammogram and an ultrasound. If both tests cannot tell your doctor if you have cancer, he or she may be able to do a test called a breast biopsy.

During this test, he will take a tissue sample from the suspected area to test it.

breast cancer treatment

The stage of the breast cancer, how far it has invaded (if any) and how big the tumor is all play an important role in determining what type of treatment you will need.

To start with, your doctor will diagnose the size, stage and degree of the cancer (how likely it is to grow and spread). After that, you can decide your treatment options. Surgery is the most common treatment. But many women have additional treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation or hormone therapy.

Surgery

Several types of surgery can be used to remove breast cancer, including:

• Lumpectomy. This procedure removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue, leaving the rest of the breast intact;
• Mastectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon removes an entire breast. In a double mastectomy, both breasts are removed;
• Sentinel node biopsy. This surgery removes some of the lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor. These lymph nodes will be tested. If they don't have cancer, you may not need additional surgery to remove more lymph nodes;
• Axillary lymph node dissection. If lymph nodes removed during a sentinel lymph node biopsy contain cancer cells, your doctor may remove other lymph nodes;
• Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Although breast cancer may be present in only one breast, some women choose to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This surgery removes the healthy breast to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer again.

radiation therapy

With radiation therapy, high-powered radiation beams are used to target and kill cancer cells. Most radiation treatments use external radiation. This technique uses a large machine on the outside of the body.

Advances in cancer treatment have also allowed doctors to radiate cancer from within the body. This type of radiation treatment is called brachytherapy. To perform brachytherapy, surgeons place radioactive seeds, or pellets, into the body, near the site of the tumor. The seeds stay there for a short period of time and work to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to destroy cancer cells. Some people can have chemotherapy on their own, but this type of treatment is often used along with other treatments, especially surgery.

In some cases, doctors prefer to give patients chemotherapy before surgery. The hope is that the treatment will shrink the tumor and the surgery won't have to be as invasive. Chemotherapy has many unwanted side effects; therefore, discuss your concerns with your doctor before starting treatment.

hormone therapy

If your type of breast cancer is sensitive to hormones, your doctor may start hormone therapy Estrogen and progesterone, two female hormones, can stimulate the growth of breast cancer tumors. Hormone therapy works by blocking the body's production of these hormones or blocking hormone receptors on cancer cells. This action can help to slow down and possibly stop the cancer's growth.

Medicines

Certain treatments are designed to target specific abnormalities or mutations in cancer cells. Taking a medication by your doctor can help to slow down the cancer's growth.

Breast Cancer Care

If you notice an unusual lump or spot on your breast or have other symptoms of breast cancer, make an appointment with your doctor. If the problem is cancer, remember that early treatment is key. Early-stage breast cancer can usually be treated and cured if found quickly enough. The longer the breast cancer grows, the more difficult it will be to treat.

If you've ever been diagnosed with breast cancer, remember that cancer treatments continue to improve, as do results. So stick to your treatment plan and stay optimistic.

• How to stay optimistic with seven tips

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

There are several risk factors that increase your chances of getting breast cancer a. However, having one of these does not mean that you will definitely develop the disease. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

• Age. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Most are found in women over 55;
• Drink alcohol. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol increases your risk;
• Dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue makes it difficult to read mammograms. It also increases the risk of breast cancer;
• Genre. White women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than white men, and black women are 70 times more likely to develop breast cancer than black men;
• Genes. Women who have mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are more likely to develop breast cancer. Other genetic mutations can also affect your risk;
• Early menstruation. If you had your first period before age 12, you have an increased risk of breast cancer;
• Having given birth at an old age. Women who do not have their first child until age 35 are at increased risk of breast cancer;
• Hormonal therapy. Women who have taken or are taking postmenopausal estrogen and progesterone medications to reduce their menopausal symptoms are at increased risk of breast cancer;
• Inherited risk. If a close female relative has had breast cancer, you are at increased risk of developing it. This includes your mother, grandmother, sister or daughter. If you don't have a family history of breast cancer, you can still develop breast cancer. In fact, most women who develop it have no family history of the disease;
• Onset of late menopause. Women who do not start menopause until age 55 are more likely to develop breast cancer;
• Not having gotten pregnant. Women who never became pregnant are more likely to develop breast cancer;
• Previous breast cancer. If you had breast cancer in one breast, there is an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast or in a different area of ​​the previously affected breast.

Breast Cancer Survival Rate

Breast cancer survival rates vary widely based on many factors. Two of the most important factors are the type of cancer you have and the stage of the cancer at the time you receive a diagnosis. Other factors that may play a role include your age, gender and race.

The good news is that breast cancer survival rates are improving. According to the ACS, in 1975, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer in women was 75.2%. But for women diagnosed between 2008 and 2014, it was 90.6%. Five-year survival rates for breast cancer differ depending on the stage at diagnosis, ranging from 99% for early-stage localized cancers to 27% for advanced and metastatic cancers.

breast cancer prevention

While there are risk factors you can't control, following a healthy lifestyle, getting regular checkups, and taking preventive measures recommended by your doctor can help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle can affect your risk of breast cancer. Obese women, for example, are at greater risk of developing it.Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising more can help you lose weight and lower your risk.

Drinking alcohol also increases your risk. One study found that even just one dose a day increases the risk of breast cancer. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about how much they recommend for you.

breast cancer screening

Having regular mammograms may not prevent breast cancer, but it can help reduce the chances that it will go undetected. ACS provides the following general recommendations for mammograms:

• Women ages 40 to 44: An annual mammogram is optional.
• Women 45 to 54 years old: An annual mammogram is recommended.
• Women 55 and over: A mammogram is recommended every 1 to 2 years, as long as you are doing well and expect to live another 10 years or more.

These are guidelines only. The specific recommendations for mammograms are different for each woman; therefore, talk to your doctor to see if you should have regular mammograms.

preventive treatment

Some women are at increased risk of breast cancer due to hereditary factors. If you find you have it, discuss with your doctor any preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. These steps may include a prophylactic mastectomy (surgical removal of a breast).

breast exam

In addition to mammograms, breast exams are another way to look for signs of breast cancer.

self-examination

Many women do a breast self-examination. It is best to take this test once a month, on the same day every month. The exam can help you become familiar with the look and feel of your breasts so that you are aware of any changes that occur.

However, keep in mind that the ACS considers these exams optional because current research has not shown a clear benefit from physical exams, performed at home or by a physician.

Hospital exam

The same guidelines for self-exams provided above are true for breast exams performed by your physician or other health care provider. They won't hurt you, and your doctor may do a breast exam during your annual visit.

If you have symptoms that concern you, it's a good idea to ask your doctor for a breast exam. During the exam, he will check your breasts for blemishes or abnormal signs of breast cancer. He may also check other parts of your body to see if the symptoms you are having might be related to another condition.

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