Breast cancer

Introduction

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in women and those who were born female. Tumors develop when malignant cells proliferate in the breast. Approximately 80% of breast cancer cases are invasive, which means the tumor can spread to other regions of the body. Breast cancer mainly affects women over the age of 50, although it can also affect younger women and those with AFAB. Breast cancer can develop in men as well as people who are designated male at birth (AMAB).

Breast cancer types

Cancer kinds and subtypes are determined by healthcare experts to adapt treatment to be as successful as possible while causing the fewest number of negative effects. The most common kinds of breast cancer are:

• Invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC)
• Lobular breast cancer
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Less common breast cancer types include:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
• Paget’s disease of the breast

Breast cancer subtypes

Healthcare providers classify breast cancer subtypes by receptor cell status. Receptors are protein molecules in or on cells’ surfaces. They can attract or attach to certain substances in your blood, including hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone help cancerous cells grow. Finding out if cancerous cells have estrogen or progesterone receptors helps healthcare providers plan breast cancer treatment.

Symptoms

The illness may have a wide range of effects on your breasts. Certain breast cancer symptoms are easily identified. Some parts of your breast may appear to be drastically different from the others. There may not be visible symptoms of breast cancer. However, when this happens, the following symptoms may appear:

• A variation in the size, shape, or contour of your breast.
• A mass or lump that may feel like a small pea.
• A lump or thickening in or near your breast or underarm that remains throughout your menstrual cycle.
• Changes in the appearance or texture of the skin on your breast or nipple. Your skin could appear dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed. It may appear red, purple, or darker than the rest of your breast.
• A hardened area under your skin that resembles marbles.
• Your nipple discharges blood-stained or clear fluid.

Causes

Breast cancer occurs when breast cells transform into malignant cells that proliferate and replicate to form tumors. They are unsure what causes the metamorphosis. However, evidence suggests that various risk factors may increase your chances of developing breast cancer. These include age, gender, family history, genetics, smoking, consuming alcoholic beverages, obesity, radiation exposure, and hormone replacement therapy.

Diagnosis

To detect breast cancer, healthcare providers may do physical examinations or request mammograms. However, they utilize the following procedures to diagnose the disease: breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, breast biopsy, immunohistochemistry test to screen for hormone receptors, and genetic tests to discover mutations that cause breast cancer.

Management and Treatment

Although surgery is the primary treatment for breast cancer, healthcare professionals may employ additional treatments. Breast cancer operations include mastectomy, lumpectomy, and breast reconstruction. Providers may combine surgery with one or more of the following treatments: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy.

Side effects

The most common adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy include exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting. Targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy all have comparable adverse effects, including gastrointestinal difficulties such as constipation and diarrhoea. People respond differently to breast cancer therapies. If you are having treatment, ask your healthcare professional about how it will affect you, including your daily life. Ask your doctor about palliative care. Palliative care helps manage breast cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, allowing you to be as comfortable as possible during your treatment.

Prevention

You may be unable to prevent breast cancer. However, you can reduce your chances of developing it. Regular self-exams and mammograms are also important for early identification of breast cancer, which is easier to treat.

Conclusion

Breast cancer is a multifaceted illness with a wide range of manifestations, risk factors, signs, and therapies. Improving outcomes is dependent on early detection by routine testing, such as mammography, and awareness of potential signs. Patients, healthcare professionals, and support networks all play critical roles in helping persons affected by this disease overcome the challenges of diagnosis and treatment to discover hope and resilience.