About
This is the type of cancer that begins with the abnormal growth of cells in the breast tissue. It is the second most common type of cancer. Although the maximum number of patients are Women, but anyone can get Breast Cancer since everyone is born with some breast tissue. Fortunately, breast cancer survival rates are increasing nowadays. The widespread awareness and advanced technology have played a major role.
Symptoms
Signs & Symptoms of Breast Cancer include:
A thickened area of skin or lump that feels different from the surrounding tissue.
An inward-turned or flattened nipple.
Change in the colour of Breast skin. In Fair people, the skin may look pink or red & in people with brown or black skin, the skin on the chest may look red or purple.
Change in size, shape or appearance of the breast.
Peeling, flaking, crusting or scaling of the skin of the breast.
Causes
- Genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2)
- Family history of breast cancer
- Hormonal factors (long-term estrogen/progesterone exposure)
- Increasing age
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Radiation exposure
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Poor diet
- Alcohol consumption
- Reproductive factors
Diagnosis
Apart from the physical changes that one should observe timely, there are certain tests to diagnose breast cancer. Some of them are :
- Clinical breast exam
- Mammogram
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Biopsy
- Blood tests
- Genetic testing
Treatment
- Surgery: Removing cancerous tissue (lumpectomy, mastectomy)
- Radiation therapy: Using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells
- Hormone therapy: Blocking hormones that fuel certain cancers
- Targeted therapy: Drugs targeting specific characteristics of cancer cells
- Immunotherapy: boosting the immune system to fight cancer
