Breast Cancer

 

     -   A lump, thickening, swelling in your breast or armpit

     -   An unexplained change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast such as skin change

     -   Inverted nipple

     -   A discharge from either of your nipples other than breast milk

     -   A rash on or around your nipple

 

 

1.Age, getting older increases the risk of breast cancer as breast cancer is mostly found in women aged over 50 years old.

2.Family history of breast cancer, if any of the member of your family have had breast cancer, you will have more chance of developing breast cancer.

3.Weight, there is an increased risk of breast cancer among people who are overweight.

4.Diet, consuming meals high in fat increase the risk of breast cancer, eat plenty of vegetables and fruit that are healthy and help controlling the weight.

 

 

Multiple tests are used to diagnose breast cancer. The doctor will take a health history and perform an exam of the breast to feel for lumps, other changes or abnormalities. Screening by mammogram for detailed examination of the breast is also done using a low-dose x-ray system. Mammogram is usually performed together with breast ultrasound to look the inside of your breasts. Ultrasound breast assists the doctor to determine whether a breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst. If a lump or a mass is found, the doctor will do the biopsy which is the procedure to remove a sample of tissue from the suspicious area for laboratory testing. The purpose of biopsy is to identify whether it is the breast cancer.

 

 

There are many options for the treatment of breast cancer which depends on the kind of breast cancer and the stage of breast cancer. After the definitive diagnosis, surgery can be done to cut out the tumor and tissues around it, referred to a lumpectomy or breast-conserving surgery. On the other hand, a mastectomy is performed to certain patients to remove the whole breast if necessary. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy is usually chosen after the surgery. Chemotherapy uses drug to shrink or kill the cancer cells which can be in the form of pill or intravenous chemo that the drug is given into a vein while radiotherapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells. Other treatments of breast cancer involve hormone or targeted therapies. The most appropriate treatment will be planned by doctor, and patients with breast cancer frequently receive a combination of treatment for the better outcome.