Breast Cancer – An Overview

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is affected to women mainly. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there area number of risk factors.

The risk factors are as below:

• Age: the chance of getting breast cancer rises as a woman gets older
• Genes: there are genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 that greatly increase the risk.
• Personal Factor: beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55

Other risks include over weight, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after the age of 35.

Symptoms of breast cancer may include lump in the breast, a change in the size or shape or discharge of nipple. Breast self exam and mammography can help find breast cancer at an early stage when it can be treatable. The treatment comprises of many stages.

Men can have breast cancer too, but the numbers of cases are small.

Types of Breast Cancer:

• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ DCIS
• Lobular Carcinoma In Situ LCIS
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Breast cancer isn’t always detected with the naked eye. Its early signs are often hidden with the breast. Changes in the breasts may not be the best results to find out the cause.

Mammograms

A mammogram is the gold standard for breast cancer screening and early detection.

Having a Mammogram:

Fix an appointment, along with get your medical reports.

The breast will be imaged twice.

Findings on a Mammogram:

• Cysts
• Calcifications
• Fibro adenomas
• Hematomas
• Tumors
• Implants

Getting inside the Problem: Pathology Tests

If a breast lump is suspicious, a sample of tissue or fluid must be taken and tested by a pathologist.

Fluid Tests

Ductal Lavage: Screening for pre-cancerous and cancerous breast cells.

Aspiration: During as aspiration fine needle is used to suction a sample of fluid fro lump, such as a cyst, to be screened.

Tissue Tests:

Breast Biopsy: A surgeon can remove a very small tissue sample fro the breast. The tissue has to go through a test for the examination of cancer. There are three types of breast biopsy:

• Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
• Core Needle Biopsy (CNB)
• Stereotactic biopsy

Hormone Status:

Breast cancers are divided into to main types: estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative. If you test positive for breast cancer, estrogen and progesterone biomarker test results appearing on your pathology report will help your physician to determine which disease you have.

Her2 Status:

Her2 Status (Human epidermal growth factor receptor2) protein can fuel the UN controlled growth of a breast cancer tumor.Herceptin is one method by which cancer can be cured with the help of chemotherapy.

Getting the overall Diagnosis

Breast Cancer Staging:

Once the test results are in, the caner will be ranked in stages.

Prevention of Breast Cancer:

Actions which reduce the chance of getting the disease

There is no guaranteed way to prevent it. But by educating our selves and taking control of some life styles can lower the risk.