Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common disease among cancers. According to medical statistics, 10% of women worldwide, especially women living in European countries, are infected with this disease. In most cases, cancer is observed in people over 45 years of age. In developed countries, this disease has declined slightly due to the invention of modern tests in the detection of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment measures. Even so, the treatment of the disease is difficult because the tumor has different cells and their growth rates are different. The development of the disease is slow, without symptoms for a long time, and in some cases the disease can develop rapidly. Effective treatment of breast cancer can only be achieved at its early detection.

Causes of breast cancer

Although there are a variety of causes for cancer, hereditary predisposition and hormonal changes play a major role, especially the high risk of tumor formation as a result of exposure to estrogenic hormones. Risk factors for tumor formation:

• Presence of a history of cancer among relatives;

• Early onset of menstruation (before age 12) or late onset of menopause (after age 55). These are explained by the activity of the estrogen hormone;

• Tumors that occur in other organs in the body;

• Various genetic factors;

• The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in women who have not given birth and in women whose first pregnancy is late (after age 35);

• Radiation exposure, e.g., light therapy, repeated X-ray examinations, residents and workers in environmentally unfavorable areas;

• Low activity lifestyle;

• Harmful habits: drinking alcohol and smoking;

• Uncontrolled hormonal contraceptive use, long-term hormonal therapy;

The risk factors listed above do not directly cause the tumor, but simply increase the susceptibility to cancer. In addition, not all tall and obese women are diagnosed with cancer. Of course, not one, but several factors play a role in the origin of breast cancer.

Types and symptoms of breast cancer

In medical practice, several types of breast cancer are distinguished:

Knotted appearance - A round or irregularly shaped, painless product appears on the breast. When this product is held with the hands, it is known that it swells under the skin and the skin changes. In the later stages of the disease, skin lesions, breast deformities, axillary and subclavian lymph nodes become enlarged.

Tumor-infiltrate type - This type of breast cancer is more common in young women. The tumor occupies the entire breast and becomes painful on palpation. The skin in this area becomes like an orange peel, with swelling around the nipples. The axillary lymph nodes are enlarged.

Mastitis is cancer - occurs in women of any age, more common in younger women. As a result of the disease, the breast swells and increases in size, body temperature and local temperature rise. A dense solid product forms in the breast.

Saramassimon (roja) form - Such a tumor is characterized by inflammation of the spleen. Redness and irregularities in the breast, hardening of the gland is observed. No nodules are detected on palpation.

Pansirnaya form - The growth of tumor cells is spread throughout the skin of the breast and the subcutaneous fat layer. The disease can also involve the second breast. The peculiarity of this type of cancer is that it reduces the size of the breast, its skin becomes denser and the mobility of the gland is limited.

Pedjet cancer - the least common type of cancer, accounting for 5% of all cancers. Wounds in the breast, skin deformities, the appearance of nodules around the nipples, accompanied by itching. Gives metastases in the late stages.

Like other cancers, breast cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage because the disease starts without symptoms. Any symptoms, such as chest pain, swelling, discomfort, enlarged nipples, pathological fluid leaking from the nipples, and the like, should be examined immediately by a physician.

A special table is used to determine the degree of disease: the letter T - the number of primary tumors, the letter M - the number of metastases to other organs, the letter N - the number of locally affected lymph nodes.

Poor-quality tumors can be located in different areas of the breast: in the skin linings, around the areola and nipples, in the upper and lower inner square, or in the upper and lower inner square, in the underarm area.

Methods of early detection of breast cancer

Early diagnosis of breast cancer includes a self-examination and a mammogram. After the age of 40, a mammogram should be performed once a year.

It is better to conduct an independent examination of the breast every month, on days 5-7 of the menstrual cycle. On examination, attention should be paid to the symmetry of the breasts, the condition of the skin lining and nipples, the size of the breasts. Palpation can be performed lying down or sitting. Each breast should be palpated alternately, from the nipples to the end of the body. Any stiffness and condensed product in the breast is the basis for suspicion of the disease. Attention should also be paid to the lymph nodes in the axillary area. If any suspected product is detected, it is necessary to immediately consult a specialist.

The exact diagnosis is made after the following tests:

• Mammologist examination;

• Mammography;

• Ductography;

• UTT (UZI);

• Emerging product biopsy;

• Laboratory analysis of any pathological fluid from the nipple;

• Blood testing for hormones and oncomarkers;

Additional verification methods:

• Chest radiography;

• Computed tomography;

• Bone examination;

• Ultrasound examination of the abdomen.

Treatment of breast cancer

Treatment of breast cancer in modern medicine includes surgery, chemotherapy and light therapy, hormonal and immunotherapy. Treatment in this disease is individual for each woman and consists of a set of several methods.

Surgical treatment of breast cancer

The main treatment of the disease is surgery. Modern surgical procedures are aimed at maintaining the breast and its parts as healthy as possible. After surgery, chemotherapy and light therapy are usually prescribed.

There are several types of surgeries performed by an oncologist:

• Radical cutting - "Nursimon" incision of the breast with subcutaneous fat and lymph nodes;

• Radical mastectomy - Complete removal of the breast along with the lymph nodes. In modern medicine, this practice is rarely used;

• Quadranectomy - removal of the formed tumor with the surrounding tissue in a radius of up to 5 cm. This method is effective in the early stages of the disease;

• Lampectomy - minor operative intervention, removal of the tumor itself and only the lymph node.

Light therapy in breast cancer

In cancer, light therapy can be performed before surgery, during surgery, after surgery, and independently.

Preoperative light therapy is designed to maximize the loss of tumor cells, making surgery easier.

Postoperative light therapy is performed to prevent recurrence of the tumor.

The goal of radiation therapy during surgery is to maintain a healthy breast as much as possible.

If there are contraindications to surgery, radiation therapy is carried out independently. In addition to remote radiation therapy, it can be performed internally, ie in the tumor itself. In addition, light therapy is also performed on the lymph nodes.

In the medical treatment of the disease is carried out cytostatic drugs - to stop the growth and destruction of tumor cells. Due to the large number of side effects of these drugs, drug treatment is prescribed only under strict guidelines.

Hormonal therapy in breast cancer

Given that breast cancer develops under the influence of estrogen hormones, hormonal drugs are also recommended in its treatment. The effectiveness of this method is known only if the tumor cells are sensitive to hormones. Hormonal treatment includes removal of the ovaries and prescribing hormonal drugs. They are strictly prescribed by the doctor individually. When developing a treatment plan, the doctor takes into account the size of the tumor, local and distant metastases, the results of laboratory and instrumental examinations, the general condition of the patient.

An important aspect in the treatment of breast cancer is the restoration of the psychological and sociological condition of the patient. When the breasts are removed, plastic surgery is performed to restore them cosmetically.

Disease prognosis

To date, breast cancer is the best studied disease among all cancers. It can be detected early and treated effectively. Individual prognosis is determined by tumor size, location, stage of development, and other criteria. A positive result can be achieved in a tumor that is more sensitive to hormones, because in this case the tumor persists for a long time in the pre-cancerous state.

The prognosis of cancer is also determined by its metastasis. Studies show that when the number of breast cancer metastases is more than 4 lymph nodes, the effectiveness of treatment is low. The effectiveness of treatment in local metastases is more positive than in hematogenous metastases. The most dangerous is that the metastases spread to distant organs. In addition, the rate of oncomarkers also plays an important role, as an increase in its amount increases the risk of metastases and recurrences.

Information on viability

The survival rate in breast cancer is 55%. If adequate treatment measures are not taken, this figure is 10%. Many factors affect the level of survival. If viability is determined by tumor levels, it is 95% at baseline levels of the tumor. In the second stage, when the tumor appears up to 5 cm, the viability of tumor cells in metastases to one or two lymph nodes is 55-80%.

In third- and fourth-stage cancer, the survival rate is 50-10%. But even so, timely detection of the disease, its treatment, simultaneous conduct of surgical and chemotherapy, strict adherence to doctor's recommendations and a healthy lifestyle can help to overcome this disease to some extent.

You can learn more about Breast Cancer in the video below of the show “Understand Yourself”.