BREAST CANCER

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER?

Breast cancer symptoms vary from one individual to the next. The most prevalent signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:

• Change in size, shape or contour of the breast
• A lump or thick tissue in or near the breast or underneath persists through your menstrual cycle.
• A mass or lump that feels as small as a pea.
• Change in the look or feel of the skin on your breast or nipple, which may be dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed.
• A marble-like hardened area under the skin.
• Redness of the skin on your breast or nipple.
• A bloody discharge or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.
• A region that's vastly different from any other part on either breast.

Some people may not notice any signs and symptoms of breast cancer at all. This is why a routine mammogram is essential and recommended. The cause of breast cancer is unknown; however, there are several factors that could play a role in the occurrence of breast cancer. These may include:

• Gender – women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
• Age – 55 years or older increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Family history and genetics – If your parents, siblings, children or other close relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you are more likely to develop the disease at some point.
• Smoking and alcohol use – tobacco and alcohol use increases the risk of many different types of cancers, including breast cancer.
• Obesity – may increase the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer
• Radiation exposure
• Hormone replacement therapy – people who use hormone replacement therapy are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.

BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

There are several breast cancer treatment options available. The oncologist will determine which treatment option is suitable for you depending on factors such as the location and size of the tumour, lab test results, and whether or not the cancer has moved to other parts of the body. Treatment may include:

• Breast cancer surgery - involves the oncologist removing cancerous portions of the breast and normal healthy tissue that is surrounding the tumour. Surgery may be done partially through partial mastectomy (lumpectomy), which involves the removal of the tumour and a portion of the remaining healthy tissue around it. In some cases, the entire breast will be removed through a procedure called mastectomy.
• Chemotherapy – This is normally recommended before surgery to help shrink the It may also be administered after surgery to kill any residual cancer cells and also reduce the risk of recurrence.
• Radiation therapy – This is normally administered after a lumpectomy or mastectomy to kill cancer
• Hormone therapy – This involves lowering estrogen levels or stopping estrogen from attaching to breast cancer Hormone therapy may also be used to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
• Immunotherapy – This involves the use of the power of your immune system to locate and attack breast cancer This may be administered intravenously (via a vein in your arm or hand).
• Targeted drug therapy This involves drugs targeting specific cell characteristics that cause cancer. This is indicated when breast cancer has travelled to other parts of the body.