What is an Overview and Complete Introduction of Breast Cancer

You have breast cancer. The statements may still be echoing in your mind, but you are now expected to make treatment decisions. This is a lot of information to comprehend at once, and it may be daunting.

Take solace in the fact that, as a result of ongoing medical advancements, tumors are being found earlier through routine breast cancer screenings and are frequently diagnosed at the most treatable stages.

According to the ACS, the possibility of developing breast cancer in white women is 100 times more than in white men. And the possibility of breast cancer in black women is 70 times more than in Black males.

What is breast cancer?

Genes that control cell growth undergo mutations, which lead to cancer. The alterations allow cells to proliferate and replicate uncontrollably.

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that occurs in the cells of the breast. It typically develops in the lobules or ducts.

The milk-producing glands are lobules, and the milk-transporting ducts are ducts. Cancer within the breast can also develop in the fatty and fibrous connective tissue.

The untreated cancer cells frequently invade good breast tissue and can spread to lymph nodes beneath the arms. Once cancer enters the lymphatic system, it has accessibility to a pathway that allows it to spread to other organs.

Types of breast cancer

Multiple characteristics, including the tumor location, the degree to which it has grown, the existence of hormone receptors, and the aggressiveness of cancer, are considered when classifying breast cancers. The following are the two primary types:

1. Invasive breast cancer

This form has spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, and other organs via the bloodstream. Major types include invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), both of which have subcategories based on the features of the tumor.

2. Non-Invasive breast cancer

The subtype of breast cancer that hasn't spread to other areas of the body is known as localized breast cancer. The main types include lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

The following are the several kinds of breast cancer that are categorized according to the degree of their aggressiveness:

1. Triple-negative Breast Cancer

A subtype of aggressive breast cancer in which the tumor does not have any receptors on its surface for the hormone oestrogen and progesterone, in addition to extra HER2 proteins. These tumors develop rapidly and swiftly spread to other body areas at an even faster rate.

2. Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer does not result in the development of tumors but rather manifests itself as a reddening & swelling of the breast combined with an increased likelihood of rapid dissemination.

Breast cancers in males are infrequent. It has been discovered that males who inherit a mutant BRCA2 gene have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Both the risk factors and the symptoms that male experiences are comparable to those that women experience.

Other uncommon types of breast cancer involve Phyllodes tumor, angiosarcoma, and Paget's disease of the breast.

Types of Breast Cancer Treatments

The planning o treatment is based on a number of variables. This includes the location of the tumor, the size of the tumor, the patient's menstrual cycles, the nature of the cancer, the patient's age, and the patient's overall state of health. Surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy are the primary treatment methods that are performed.

Surgery

Following are surgical procedures by which breast cancer can be removed:

Laparoscopic Surgery: The tumor and some of the tissue surrounding it are removed during Laparoscopic Surgery, while the remaining breast remains unharmed.

Mastectomy: During this procedure, the entire breast will be removed by a surgeon. Both breasts are removed surgically in a double mastectomy procedure.

Sentinel node biopsy: During this procedure, a number of the lymph nodes that are draining drainage from the tumor are removed. These lymph nodes will be examined further. In the event that they do not have cancer, patients may not require further surgery to have further lymph nodes removed.

Axillary lymph node dissection: If lymph nodes extracted during a sentinel lymph node biopsy have cancer cells, your physician may remove more lymph nodes.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: Even if it is evident only in one breast, some patients prefer to undergo a preventative mastectomy on the opposite breast. This procedure eliminates the healthy breast to reduce the patient's risk of acquiring breast cancer again.

Radiotherapy or Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy X-rays or any other forms of radiation to kill or inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Radiation can be administered externally or internally by implanting the radiation source within or adjacent to the tumor (brachytherapy or internal radiation therapy).

Systemic therapy

Systemic therapies include:

Chemotherapy employs powerful medications that are orally delivered or infused into the muscles or veins to kill or prevent the expansion of cancer cells.

Hormone therapy is a successful treatment for hormone-positive breast cancers, i.e., tumors whose proliferation depends on hormones. Hormone-positive breast tumors predominate-hormone therapy functions by either reducing hormone levels or preventing their effects. Triple-negative cancer does not respond to hormone therapy since it is hormone-negative.

Immunotherapy is a procedure in which the body's own immune cells are taken, reprogrammed to combat cancer cells, and reintroduced into the body.

Targeted therapy uses precision medicine. It targets the cancer-specific genes, proteins, or cellular environment that contribute to the growth and survival of tumors. This treatment accurately targets the tumor while minimizing collateral damage to healthy cells.

Conclusion

Early detection is essential in preventing breast cancer's spread, treatment, and recurrence. Early detection facilitates effective treatment, greater survival, and enhanced quality of life. If you find any cancer symptoms, immediately contact the best oncologist.

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Created on Dec 21st 2022 00:24. Viewed 117 times.

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