Understanding Breast Cancer

By
Oluwapelumi Ala
-

What is breast cancer?

It is a disease of the breast that occurs when healthy breast cells become abnormal, grow out of control, and form tumours. It can begin in the milk ducts or lobules of the breast. Iti can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. About 1 in 8 women have a lifetime risk of getting breast cancer. For men, the risk is 1 in 1000.

Normal structure of the breast

Breasts are made up of fatty tissue. They contain small chambers called lobules where breast milk is made. The milk travels through tiny channels called ducts to reach the nipples. Lymph nodes are located inside your breast and under your arms. They are connected by lymph vessels and they help your body fight disease.

The anatomy of the female breast Photo Credit: Terese Winslow

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

  • Lump(s) in the breast or armpit
  • Change in breast shape or size
  • Nipple changes (caved in/pulled out)
  • Nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
  • Redness of breast skin
  • Dimple of breast skin (appears like the orange fruit skin)

Risk factors for breast cancer

  • Older age
  • Dense breasts
  • Having breast cancer before
  • Parent or sibling with breast cancer
  • Inherited genetic mutations
  • Alcohol use
  • Overweight or obesity

Screening for breast cancer

This includes:

  • Self breast examination – You can check your own breast about the same time each month. Feel each breast and armpit and look for the signs of breast cancer previously highlighted.
  • Clinical breast examination by your doctor
  • Screening mammography
Positioning of the breast for mammography Photo Credit: Cleveland Clinic

Diagnosing breast cancer

  • Diagnostic mammography – This is employed when abnormalities are seen on a screening mammogram.
  • Breast ultrasound scan – This can identify if a suspicious lump is fluid-filled or solid. A fluid-filled lump is often benign and a cyst while a solid one may be cancerous or a fibrous growth.
  • Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – This shows more details than the mammogram.
  • Breast biopsy – This involves removal of a small amount of tissue from the breast. There are various types of biopsy. A specialist doctor called a pathologist will analyze the breast tissue sample by looking at it under the microscope and doing specific tests. Their report will inform the diagnosis of cancer. The result of this test helps the doctor to choose your treatment.

Stages of breast cancer

The factors that determine the stages of breast cancer include:

  • Size of the cancer
  • Location of the cancer
  • Spread to other areas in your body

The stages are 0 – IV.

Treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer treatment depends on the stage and type of the cancer. Treatment often involves various specialists including the surgeon, radiotherapist, pathologist and so on.

The main treatment options are:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormone therapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Combination treatments

What is metastatic breast cancer?

This is a type of cancer that has spread from the breast to other areas of the body. The most common areas are the liver, bones, lungs, and brain. Sadly, there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer and treatment is to prolong survival. Advanced treatment options have made it possible for people with metastatic breast cancer to live for up to 5 years and even more. Metastatic breast cancer treatment may include ongoing chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

A word from HealthFacts to you

It is frightening to learn you have breast cancer. However, the information available can help you to receive timely, individualized and effective treatment that can give you the best chance of being cured. Always ask your doctor questions.

Till next time, stay informed and stay healthy!

Suggested Reading: 6 Breast Cancer myths you need to trash

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

113 COMMENTS

  21. I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  26. hello!,I really like your writing so a lot! share we keep up a correspondence extra approximately your post on AOL? I need an expert in this house to unravel my problem. May be that is you! Taking a look ahead to see you.

  27. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!

  29. 💫 Wow, blog ini seperti roket meluncurkan ke alam semesta dari kemungkinan tak terbatas! 🎢 Konten yang menarik di sini adalah perjalanan rollercoaster yang mendebarkan bagi pikiran, memicu kagum setiap saat. 🌟 Baik itu gayahidup, blog ini adalah sumber wawasan yang menarik! #TerpukauPikiran Berangkat ke dalam petualangan mendebarkan ini dari penemuan dan biarkan pemikiran Anda terbang! 🚀 Jangan hanya mengeksplorasi, alami kegembiraan ini! 🌈 Pikiran Anda akan bersyukur untuk perjalanan menyenangkan ini melalui alam keajaiban yang menakjubkan! 🚀

  30. 🚀 Wow, blog ini seperti perjalanan kosmik meluncur ke galaksi dari kegembiraan! 🎢 Konten yang mengagumkan di sini adalah perjalanan rollercoaster yang mendebarkan bagi imajinasi, memicu ketertarikan setiap saat. 🎢 Baik itu gayahidup, blog ini adalah harta karun wawasan yang mendebarkan! #KemungkinanTanpaBatas Terjun ke dalam petualangan mendebarkan ini dari penemuan dan biarkan pikiran Anda berkelana! 🌈 Jangan hanya mengeksplorasi, alami kegembiraan ini! #BahanBakarPikiran 🚀 akan bersyukur untuk perjalanan menyenangkan ini melalui alam keajaiban yang penuh penemuan! 🚀

  32. I¦ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am satisfied to express that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much surely will make certain to do not put out of your mind this website and give it a look regularly.

  34. What i do not realize is in reality how you are now not really much more neatly-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You know thus considerably on the subject of this subject, produced me in my view imagine it from numerous numerous angles. Its like women and men aren’t involved until it is something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. Always handle it up!

  36. I am commenting to let you understand what a really good experience my daughter obtained reading through your web site. She figured out such a lot of pieces, which included how it is like to have an amazing teaching nature to get others effortlessly fully grasp some grueling matters. You undoubtedly did more than our own desires. I appreciate you for coming up with these good, trustworthy, revealing and as well as cool tips on this topic to Mary.

  38. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

  45. I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days..

  50. Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

  57. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

  62. I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.

  63. I simply couldn’t go away your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the standard information an individual provide in your guests? Is gonna be again ceaselessly to check up on new posts

  65. Hi! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to stop hackers?

  66. Nice weblog here! Also your site a lot up fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your associate hyperlink to your host? I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  68. Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  69. Heya are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you require any coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  73. certainly like your website but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will surely come back again.

  77. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What an ideal site.

  78. I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

  79. Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to resolve this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Appreciate it!

  80. I’ve been surfing on-line greater than 3 hours today, but I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It?¦s pretty price sufficient for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.

  88. I just couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts

  89. Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?

  90. Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

  91. What i don’t realize is if truth be told how you are no longer actually much more well-preferred than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You understand thus significantly in terms of this subject, made me personally believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested except it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!

  92. Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “But O the truth, the truth. The many eyes That look on it The diverse things they see.” by George Meredith.

  95. Whats up very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m glad to seek out numerous useful info right here within the submit, we want develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing.

  96. Somebody essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Magnificent process!

  99. What i don’t realize is actually how you are no longer actually a lot more smartly-favored than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably relating to this topic, made me personally imagine it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested until it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs great. Always maintain it up!

  105. I truly enjoy looking through on this internet site, it holds wonderful blog posts. “And all the winds go sighing, For sweet things dying.” by Christina Georgina Rossetti.

  106. What are Ageless Knees? Ageless Knees is a knee pain relieving program. Chris Ohocinski, a State-Licensed and Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer, came up with this program.

  107. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!

  108. This blog is definitely rather handy since I’m at the moment creating an internet floral website – although I am only starting out therefore it’s really fairly small, nothing like this site. Can link to a few of the posts here as they are quite. Thanks much. Zoey Olsen

  111. whoah this weblog is fantastic i like reading your articles. Stay up the great work! You recognize, many people are searching round for this information, you can aid them greatly.

LEAVE A REPLY