What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that begins in breast tissue. It usually appears as a tumor. There are three types of breast tumors.
- Benign (non-cancerous). Most tumors that develop in breast tissue are benign.
- In place. These tumors are cancerous. Cancer is confined to the breast duct or lobules. This type of breast cancer can almost always be cured with treatment.
- invade. This is the most serious type of breast cancer. That’s when the cancerous tumor has spread to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women (after skin cancer). The good news is that the death rate from breast cancer has decreased over the past few years. This is probably because many tumors were detected early. This is when treatment can help the most. Regular mammograms can help detect breast cancer early.
Breast cancer symptoms
Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- A lump in the breast
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimples or wrinkles of the breast skin
- The nipple turns inward towards the breast
- Scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola (dark skin around the nipple
- Discharge from nipple
What causes breast cancer?
The exact cause of breast cancer is not known. Several risk factors seem to increase your chances of getting the disease. About 10% of breast cancer cases are estimated to be hereditary (in families). In many of these cases, you inherit a mutated (changing from normal) gene from your parents. This mutated gene makes a person more likely to get breast cancer.
Everyone has two genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Normally, these genes help stop cancerous tumors from growing. But sometimes, a person inherits the mutated form of BRCA1 or BRCA2 from their family. This person’s risk of breast cancer increases. Mutations in these genes have also been linked to ovarian cancer.
Other mutated genes can make a person more susceptible to breast cancer. Scientists know about some of these genes. They are working to identify others.
Breast cancer in 2 or more first-degree relatives is a sign that the mutated form of BRCA1 or BRCA2 may run in your family. First-degree relatives include your parents, siblings, and children. Another indication is that a first-degree relative had breast cancer before age 50.
Do all people with a family member with breast cancer have these mutated genes?
The chance of inheriting breast cancer is not high. This is true even if someone in your family has the disease. Many people with breast cancer do not carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Anyone who has a first-degree relative with breast cancer has a higher risk of developing the disease. But most people don’t get this hereditary type of breast cancer.
Talk to your doctor about your family history. They will want to know your relationship with any family members with breast cancer. Your doctor will also want to know how old your loved one was when they were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Should I get tested to see if I carry the breast cancer gene?
Your doctor can help you decide if gene testing is helpful for you. They can also discuss the test’s pros and cons. Talking to a genetic counselor can also be helpful.
Think about how you would feel if the test results showed a higher risk of breast cancer. Some people want to know if they have one of the mutated genes. Learning instead of wondering helps them cope with their breast cancer risk. It allows them and their doctors to monitor more closely for early signs of cancer. But others would rather not know they have the abnormal gene. They felt that it would be too hard to deal with. Talk to your doctor about your feelings.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
If you notice a lump or other change in your breast, immediately see your doctor. They will do a physical exam. They will ask you about your health history and your family history of breast cancer. They will carefully palpate your chest and under your arms to look for lumps.
If they find something unusual, the doctor may order a mammogram. A mammogram is a special X-ray of your breast. Your breasts will be pressed between the two plates. This spreads your breast so that a better X-ray image can be taken. The whole process usually takes about 20 minutes.
If a mammogram shows something, your doctor may order more tests. Including:
- Supersonic – high-energy sound waves bounce off organs and tissues to create images
- Magnetic resonance imaging– uses magnets, radio waves, and computers to create detailed images
- Bloody work – blood samples are checked for signs of disease
- Biopsy – cells or tissue are removed from the breast and examined under a microscope. This helps find cancer cells
There are different types of biopsies to look for breast cancer. Including:
- Cut – an entire mass of tissue is removed
- Canal – part of the tumor or a tissue sample is removed
- Core – a wide needle removes tissue
- Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) – a thin needle that removes tissue or fluid
If cancer cells are found in the biopsy, the doctor will do more tests. This will help them figure out how quickly the cancer may be growing, how likely it is to spread, and how specific treatments may work.
Can breast cancer be prevented or avoided?
There are things you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Lifestyle changes have been shown to reduce risk, even in high-risk women. These changes include:
- no smoking
- Limit alcohol
- Eat a healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Breastfeed your baby if possible
- Limit hormone therapy
- Minimize radiation exposure during screening tests if not medically necessary
You can’t always avoid breast cancer, but you can catch it early. This increases your chances of a complete, quick recovery. There is no evidence that breast self-exams can help prevent breast cancer. The best way to detect it early is to have regular mammograms.
Mammograms are the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. It can detect an abnormal area for up to 2 years before it becomes large enough to sense. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends that all women age 50 and older have a mammogram every two years. If you have risk factors for breast cancer, your doctor may want you to have mammograms more often. They may also want you to start having them at a young age.
A mammogram can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t take long. New technology is being developed that can improve the experience. You may find that scheduling your mammogram right after your period relieves discomfort. Your breasts may be less tender at this point.
Doing these things gives you the best chance of detecting cancer as early as possible. Detecting breast cancer early makes treatment much easier and more effective.
Breast cancer treatment
There are many treatment options for breast cancer. Your doctor may recommend more than one type of treatment. What is best for one person may not be your best treatment. Your doctor will make a decision based on several things, including:
- Your general health
- Cancer stage
- Whether the tumor has hormone receptors
- Size of the tumor
- If you have gone through menopause
Available treatments include:
- Tumor removal The tumor and a small amount of tissue around it are removed during surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer.
- Mastectomy If the cancer has spread to the breast, all breast tissue is removed. This is called a mastectomy. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, the entire breast and most lymph nodes will be removed. This is called a modified radical mastectomy.
- Radiotherapy High-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. It can be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
- Hormone therapy Lab tests can show that your breast cancer cells have hormone receptors. If that’s the case, hormone therapy could stop cancer cells from using the natural hormones they need to grow.
- Valence Strong drugs are used to kill cancer cells. They are given through an IV (directly into a vein) or in pill form. Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects. These include weakness, fatigue and hair loss.
- Targeted therapy Lab tests may show that your breast cancer cells have too much of a protein called HER2. If they do, you can get targeted therapies. They block the action of the additional HER2 protein and stop growth. They can be given intravenously or as a pill.
Living with breast cancer
Many cases of breast cancer can be cured with treatment. How well you do after treatment depends on many things. This includes how early the cancer is diagnosed. If left untreated, breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body, including internal organs. This can cause serious health problems or death. It is very important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Living with cancer during treatment can be stressful. Treatments can have different side effects on your body. Take good care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and try to maintain your energy by staying active.
Many women choose to do nothing and take pride in their bodies after a mastectomy. Some women may choose to have breast reconstruction. This is surgery to reconstruct the shape of the breast. If you don’t want further surgery, you have other options. Some women default to a breast implant, a breast replacement device. They can also wear padding inside their bras.
Even after your cancer is gone, you still have a high risk of the cancer coming back in your body. You will need regular follow-up care and check-ups for many years after treatment.