Jul 17

A fully comprehensive guide to breast cancer

Posted in Advice, Medical Science, New, News by Miss Kornelija Dedelaite

When breast cells get mutations and start to proliferate and multiply, breast cancer develops. A breast bulge, discolouration, texture changes, or other symptoms may be noticed first.

What is breast cancer?

Genes that control cell growth can undergo modifications known as mutations, which can result in cancer. The alterations allow the cells to proliferate and divide uncontrollably.

Cancer that starts in the breast cells is called breast cancer. Most often, the cancer starts in the breast’s ducts or lobules.

The glands that create milk are called lobules, and the passageways that carry the milk from the glands to the nipple are called ducts. Additionally, the fatty or fibrous connective tissue in your breast may develop cancer.

Unchecked cancer cells can spread to the lymph nodes under the arms and frequently infiltrate healthy breast tissue. The cancer has a route to spread to other areas of the body once it penetrates the lymph nodes.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer may not show any signs in its early stages. Oftentimes, an anomaly on a mammography can reveal a tumour that is too small to be felt.

A newly discovered breast lump that did not previously exist is typically the initial indication whether a tumour is detectable. But not every lump is malignant.

Many symptoms might be caused by any kind of breast cancer. While many of these symptoms are interchangeable, some may not be. Among the most typical breast cancer symptoms are:

a breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different from surrounding tissue and is new
breast pain
red or discoloured, pitted skin on the breast
swelling in all or part of your breast
a nipple discharge other than breast milk
bloody discharge from your nipple
peeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on your nipple or breast
a sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of your breast
inverted nipple
changes to the appearance of the skin on your breasts
a lump or swelling under your arm

It’s not always the case that having any of these symptoms indicates you have breast cancer. For example, a benign cyst may be the cause of breast soreness or a breast bump.

Nevertheless, get in touch with your doctor for additional examination and testing if you discover a lump in your breast or experience other symptoms.

Male breast cancer

Men also have breast tissue, albeit they generally have less of it. Although it’s far less common, men can still get breast cancer.

Breast cancer is 70 times less likely in Black men than in Black women, according to the American Cancer Society. Compared to white women, it affects white men 100 times less frequently.

All things considered; male breast cancer is as bit as dangerous as female breast cancer. The symptoms are the same as well. If you’re a man, monitor your breast tissue according to the same guidelines as women and notify your doctor of any changes or new lumps.

Breast cancer survival rate

Survival rates for breast cancer vary greatly depending on numerous factors.

The type of cancer you have and its stage at the time of diagnosis are two of the most crucial variables. Other elements that could be relevant are:

your age
your gender
your race
the growth rate of the cancer

According to research published in 2021, persons of colour who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a greater death rate than white people. Healthcare disparities could be one of the causes of this.

The good news is that survival rates for breast cancer are rising.

In women, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer was 75.2% in 1975, according to the American Cancer Society. However, it was 90.6 percent for women diagnosed between 2008 and 2014.

The stage at diagnosis affects the 5-year survival rates for breast cancer. For localised early-stage malignancies, they range from 99 percent to 27 percent; for advanced metastatic cancers, they are even lower.

Diagnosis of breast cancer

In addition to a breast exam, your doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination to ascertain whether your symptoms are related to breast cancer or a benign breast ailment. In order to determine the cause of your symptoms, they could also ask for one or more diagnostic tests.

The following tests can assist your doctor in diagnosing breast cancer:

Mammography: A mammogram is the most popular imaging test used to view beneath the surface of the breast. A lot of women over 40 undergo yearly mammograms to screen for breast cancer. Your doctor will also ask for a mammogram if they think you could have a tumour or other questionable area. Your doctor might ask for more testing if your mammography shows an abnormal area

Ultrasound: Using sound waves, a breast ultrasound can produce an image of the tissues located deep within your breast. Your doctor can differentiate between a benign cyst and a solid mass, such as a tumour, with the use of an ultrasound.

How common is breast cancer?

According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases (2017-2019). There are around 11,500 breast cancer deaths in the UK every year, that’s 32 every day. Breast cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for 7% of all cancer deaths.

Risk factors for breast cancer

Your chances of developing breast cancer are increased by a number of risk factors. Having any of these, though, does not guarantee that you will get the illness.

Certain risk factors, including family history, are unavoidable. Other risk factors, like smoking, are modifiable. Among the risk factors for breast cancer are:

Age: As you become older, your chance of breast cancer rises. Women over the age of 55 are most commonly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
Drinking alcohol: Alcohol use disorders put you at greater danger.
Dense breast tissue: Readability of mammograms is hampered by dense breast tissue. It also raises the possibility of breast cancer.
Gender: The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that Black women are 70 times more likely than Black men to develop breast cancer, and White women are 100 times more likely than White men to do so.
Genes: Breast cancer is more common in those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations than in those without them. Your risk may also be affected by other gene mutations.
Early menstruation: You are more likely to develop breast cancer if you got your first period before turning twelve.
Giving birth while more mature: Breast cancer risk increases in those who have their first child beyond the age of 35.
Hormone treatment: Breast cancer risk is increased in those who have taken or are now taking postmenopausal oestrogen and progesterone medicines to help alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Risk inherited: You are more likely to get breast cancer if you have a close female relative who has had the disease. Your mother, grandmother, sister, or daughter are all included in this. It is still possible to get breast cancer even if there is no family history of the disease. Actually, the majority of those who get it don’t have any family history of the condition.
Menopause begins late: Individuals who enter menopause after the age of 55 are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
Having never given birth: Breast cancer is more common in people who have never become pregnant or carried a pregnancy to term.
Prior breast cancer: You run a higher chance of getting breast cancer if you had breast cancer previously.

Breast cancer prevention

Although there are some risk factors beyond your control, you may reduce your chance of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, receiving frequent screenings, and implementing any preventative steps your doctor suggests.

Lifestyle

A person’s lifestyle can have an impact on their risk of breast cancer.

For example, obesity raises the risk of breast cancer in certain individuals. You can reduce your risk and lose weight by sticking to a nutrient-dense diet and exercising as much as you can.

The American Association for Cancer Research states that abusing alcohol also raises your risk. This can include binge drinking or consuming more than two drinks in a day.

If you consume alcohol, find out how much your doctor advises you to consume.

Screening for breast cancer

While routine mammograms may not be able to prevent breast cancer, they can lessen the likelihood that it will go undiagnosed.

Early detection of breast cancer can offer more effective treatment, ensuring you have the best chance of regaining your health. When you turn forty years old, it is highly suggested that you get fully comprehensive health assessment which should include a mammogram or ultrasound to look at your breast. This exam is available at Echelon Health as a component of the Platinum Assessment.

At Echelon Health we understand that everyone wants to live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, a lot of us will not recognise that something is wrong until symptoms become noticeable.

However, thanks to the new technology in MRI, CT and Ultrasound preventive health assessments are carried out with precision never seen before. They can detect and discover many diseases at their earliest stage.

Many diseases are highly preventable in a lot of cases if caught early enough; Echelon Health screens for and detects up to 92% and 95% of diseases that lead to premature death among men and women respectively.

Preventive Health Assessments are important even if you are symptom-free. At Echelon Health we offer many packages, including our fully comprehensive Platinum Assessment in which the following tests are performed: