Breast Cancer
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
The first sign of breast cancer is
usually a lump or a spot seen on a mammogram. Like all
cancers, the disease is the result of unrestrained
multiplication of cells. Normal cells divide in a planned
way, creating more cells only when needed. Cancerous cells
grow and divide without control or order, often making excess
tissue that becomes a tumor. Cancer cells may grow into
nearby healthy tissue, or they may break away from the tumor
and travel through the blood stream or lymphatic system to
other parts of the body. For this reason, breast cancer often
spreads into the lymph nodes in the armpit, chest, and
collarbone area.
Causes
There is no known cause, but certain
factors increase the odds of the disease. A woman is more
susceptible if:
-
She is more than 45 years old and
has not gone through menopause.
-
She did not become pregnant before
age 30.
-
Her mother, sister, or daughter had
breast cancer, especially before menopause and especially
in both breasts.
Signs/Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms during the
early stages of breast cancer; only a mammogram can detect
it. Later, however, you may notice:
-
Swelling or a lump in the
breast
-
An achy or uncomfortable
breast
-
One breast that looks different from
the other
-
Breast skin that is dimpled or
pitted like an orange peel
-
A nipple that looks as though it had
been pushed in
-
Bleeding from the
nipple
In advanced breast cancer you may also
experience:
-
Swollen lymph nodes under your
arm
-
Bone or back pain
-
Difficulty breathing
If the cancer has spread to other parts
of the body, you may have other problems as
well.
Care
To find out what stage the cancer is in,
your doctor will measure the lump, check to see if the cancer
has spread, and perform tests such as another mammogram, a
biopsy, and body scans. The results of the tests will help
you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan.
There are many different ways to treat
cancer. Often doctors use two or more types of treatment
together. Treatments may be given in a clinic, doctor's
office, or hospital. The major options
include:
-
Chemotherapy: Often called "chemo," this type of
therapy uses drugs to kill new tumor cells or shrink
lymph nodes that contain cancer cells. Once the tumor is
smaller, you may have surgery to remove the rest of the
cancer. Some forms of cancer can be completely cured with
drugs alone.
Many different chemo medicines are
available. They may be taken as a pill, as a shot, or in
an IV. You will probably need frequent blood tests to
determine how your body is doing and how much chemo you
need. The drugs can produce many side effects, and may
leave you susceptible to infection for a
while.
-
Hormone Therapy: Natural hormones such as estrogen
sometimes promote the growth of cancer cells. Special
drugs are available to block the estrogen and slow the
cancerous growth. In most cases, you can take this
medicine by mouth. In some cases, it may also be
necessary to surgically remove sources of estrogen such
as the ovaries or adrenal glands.
-
Radiation: X-rays or gamma rays can kill cancer
and help prevent it from spreading. They can also be
effective in reducing pain, controlling bleeding, and
shrinking cancerous tumors. Doctors also use this type of
therapy on cancerous lymph nodes. Radiation and
chemotherapy are often used together. Radiation is also
used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have
been missed.
-
Bone Marrow Transplant: In this form of therapy,
diseased or damaged bone marrow is replaced with healthy
marrow, usually from a donor. (Your own marrow may be
used if it can be collected while your cancer is in
remission.) The transplant is given in the hospital
through an IV. Although the treatment can cure cancer, it
may lead to other very serious health problems, including
severe infections. You may have to stay in the hospital
for a month after the procedure.
-
Surgery: Depending on the stage of your breast
cancer, you may need surgery to remove the lump, a part
of the breast, or the entire breast. You may also need to
have some lymph nodes taken out to help prevent the
cancer from spreading to other parts of your
body.
Risks
Left untreated, cancer eventually will
spread. Almost all forms of cancer therapy have unpleasant
side effects, and may fail to halt the spread. However,
treatment---especially when performed early enough---usually
improves your chances .
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