Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is characterized by the growth of malignant tumors in the glandular tissue of the breast. Today, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever. More than two million women are breast cancer survivors. With early and rapid detection and appropriate treatment, the outlook for women with breast cancer can be positive.

No one knows why some women develop breast cancer and others do not. Although the disease can affect younger women, 75% of all breast cancers occur in women 50 years or more. Breast cancer symptoms are almost imperceptible when it first develops, but as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for. Other symptoms may include unexplained breast pain, abnormal discharge from the nipple, breast changes in texture, or changes in the skin or around the chest.

Breast cancer screening

To screen or not to screen - that is the dilemma. cancer diagnosis, initial or recurrence, is the period of most acute stress for a cancer patient. The women screening purpose for breast cancer is the detection of cancer in its first stage when surgery and medical treatment can be more effective in reducing mortality. There are three methods of breast cancer screening that are currently used: X-ray mammography, clinical breast examination and breast self-examination.

MRI is also more accurate in detecting cancer in women who carry the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer. A doctor can perform a fine needle aspiration, needle biopsy or core biopsy or surgical.

Mammography

A mammogram is a special x-ray of the breast, which can often detect cancers that are too small for a woman or her doctor to feel. Screening allows the detection of breast cancer at a very early stage, when cure is more likely. Results of several studies have convincingly shown that screening mammography reduces mortality by 30% of breast cancer in women aged 50 years. The American Cancer Society says women 40 to 49 should get a mammogram every one to two years. Screening with annual mammogram is recommended for women 50 years and older.

The risks associated with breast cancer screening mammography include the radiation exposure, false positives and over-diagnosis. The risk of breast cancer induced by radiation screening mammography is estimated at a minimum. The excess risk for radiation caused breast cancer is increased with an earlier age of women in the exhibition and increasing cumulative radiation dose. However, the benefits of mammography still far outweigh the risk of breast cancer induced by radiation.

Clinical breast exam (CBE)

During a clinical breast exam, the doctor checks your breasts and armpits for lumps or other changes that could be a sign of breast cancer. The effectiveness of CBE alone in breast cancer screening is uncertain. Results of several studies have convincingly demonstrated the effectiveness of the EBC when combined with mammography and breast cancer screening for women over 50 years. The American Cancer Society recommends that women should have EBC every three years from age 20-39 years. Annual EBC should be performed in women aged 40 and over.

There are now several epidemiologic studies indicate that survival is higher among women who self-breast examination and that cancers detected by self-examination tend to be smaller.

Treatment

Because breast cancer is found, it is staged. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

The choice of breast cancer treatment depends on the age and general health of a woman, as well as the type, stage and location of the tumor and whether the cancer has remained in the breast or spread of other parts of the body. Standard cancer treatments are generally designed to surgically remove the cancer; stop cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to survive and grow through hormone therapy; use high energy beams to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors by radiation and the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells by chemotherapy.

For women with breast cancer at an early stage, a common treatment available is a combined mastectomy with radiation therapy. Mastectomy is a surgery that preserves the breast of a woman. If breast cancer has spread locally - as other parts of the breast - treatment may involve a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Doctors first to shrink the tumor to chemotherapy, then remove with surgery. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body such as the lung or bone, chemotherapy and / or hormonal therapy can be used to destroy cancer cells and control the disease. Radiation therapy may also be useful for the control of tumors in other body parts.

Because 30% of breast cancer recurrence, the National Cancer Institute urges all women with breast cancer have chemotherapy or hormone therapy after surgery, although there is no evidence that the spread of cancer.
 
Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast cancer can not be completely avoided, but the risk of developing advanced disease can be greatly reduced by early detection.

Several drugs are available to treat or prevent breast cancer. Chemopreventive agents such as tamoxifen and raloxifene work to prevent breast cancer development by interrupting the process of initiation and promotion of the tumor. Administered orally may increase the risk of endometrial cancer and phase I may also worsen vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Tamoxifen may be less effective as a preventive agent in women with a strong family breast cancer.

Raloxifene

Raloxifene hydrochloride is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that blocks the action of estrogen in breast tissue and the endometrium. The incidence of invasive breast cancer positive for estrogen receptor was reduced by 76% in women treated with either dose of raloxifene at 40 months follow up. The side effects of raloxifene include an increased risk of thromboembolic disease, but not an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

In addition, recent studies indicate that the low incidence of breast cancer with multiple environmental factors, especially diet. Consume more fruits and vegetables, eat less red meat (perhaps substituting soy protein) and prevent cholesterol (olive oil not) may also help prevent breast cancer.

The exact mechanism is not known, but it is believed that physical activity reduces hormone levels, reduces insulin resistance and reduced weight gain, all the factors in breast cancer.