Cancer occurs when unwanted changes called mutations take place in genes that regulate cell growth. The changes let the cells divide and duplicate in an uncontrolled manner.
Breast cancer develops in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast area. Lobules are the breast glands that produce milk, and ducts are the pathways that circulate the milk from the glands to the nipple. Cancer can also occur in the fatty tissue within your breast.
In many cases, though the tumor may be small, an abnormality can still be seen on a mammogram. If a tumor can be felt, the first sign is a new lump in the breast that can be visualized. All lumps cannot be considered as Cancer.
Many of these below symptoms are similar, but some can be different. Symptoms for the common breast cancers include:
If you have any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. For example – a pain in your breast or a breast lump can be caused due to a benign cyst.
In case, if you feel a lump in your breast or have other symptoms, you should see your Breast Cancer Specialist for further examination and testing.
Many types of breast cancer are differentiated into two main categories: “invasive” and “noninvasive,”. While invasive cancer has spread from the breast ducts or glands to other parts of the breast, noninvasive cancer does not spread from the original tissue.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition. With DCIS, the cancer cells are confined to the ducts in your breast and have not reached the surrounding breast tissue.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of your breast.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the common type of breast cancer that begins in your breast’s milk ducts and then spreads to the nearby tissue in the breast.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) first develops in your breast’s lobules and then spreads to the nearby tissue.
This type of breast cancer begins in the ducts of the nipple, but as it grows, it affects the skin and areola of the nipple.
This very rare type of breast tumor grows in the connective tissue of the breast. Most of these tumors are benign, but some are cancerous.
This is a type of cancer that grows on the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the breast.
The type of cancer you are diagnosed with determines your treatment options, as well as your likely long-term outcome.
Breast cancer can be divided into stages based on how large the tumors are and how far it has spread. Cancers that are large and have invaded nearby tissues or organs are at a higher stage than cancers that are still small in the breast. To stage breast cancer, a Breast Cancer Specialist must know:
Breast cancer has five main stages: stages 0 to 5.
To determine if your symptoms are caused by breast cancer or a benign breast condition, your Breast Cancer Specialist will do a thorough physical exam in addition to a breast exam. Your doctor may also request one or more diagnostic tests to understand what is causing these related symptoms.
The most common way to see below the surface of your breast is with an imaging test called a mammogram. Many women that are aged 40 or older get annual mammograms to check for breast cancer. If your doctor suspects you may have a tumor or any suspicious spot, they will request a mammogram to be done.
A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create the screening of the tissues deep in your breast. An ultrasound can easily help your doctor distinguish between a tumor and a benign cyst. Your Oncologist may also suggest an MRI.
If your doctor suspects breast cancer, he will surely suggest both a mammogram and an ultrasound. If both of these tests cannot tell your specialist about having cancer, then he may do a test called a breast biopsy. During this test, your specialist will remove a tissue sample from the suspicious area to have it tested. Different types of breast biopsies can be performed.
Your doctor will send the tissue sample to a laboratory for further check-up. If the sample tests confirm positively for cancer, the lab can test it further to tell your doctor what type of cancer you have.
Your breast cancer’s stage, how far it has invaded, and how big the tumor has grown will determine what kind of treatment you will need.
After that, you can discuss and start with your treatment options. Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. Many women have additional treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.
If you detect an unusual lump or spot in your breast or have any other symptoms of breast cancer, make an appointment to see your Breast Disease Specialist
Always keep in mind that early treatment is the key to getting rid of any further possibility of breast cancer. Early-stage breast cancer can be relatively treated and cured if found quickly enough.
If you have already received a breast cancer diagnosis, cancer treatments continue to improve along with the outcomes. So follow your treatment plan religiously and try to stay positive.
Several risk factors increase your chances of getting breast cancer. Certain risk factors cannot be avoided, such as family history. But you can change other risk factors, such as smoking. Risk factors for breast cancer include:
While there are risk factors that cannot be controlled, following a healthy lifestyle, getting regular screenings, and adopting preventive measures can help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. It would also be advisable to stay connected with your Breast Disease Specialist.
At Amandeep Hospital, we have brought together India’s best doctors, so you do not have to search for the best healthcare services anywhere else. You can count on the highest standards of treatment quality and innovation based on our track record of treating complicated cases and delivering superior clinical results.
The doctors and the staff at Amandeep Group of Hospitals are led by the aim to save each precious life with their dedicated service.
Amandeep Hospital’s unique and precise approach to diagnosing, treating, and monitoring cancer makes a huge difference in patients’ lives. The surgery and oncology department shows commitment, expertise, and immense dedication towards the early detection and treatment of cancer patients.
May 6, 2024
