Trivia on BREAST CANCER - res.sastasundar.com · Triia BREAST CANCER 4 BREAST CANCER FACTS Breast cancer is 100 times more frequent in women in comparison to men. Prognosis is the

Trivia onBREAST CANCER

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WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

BREAST CANCER FACTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CAUSES / ETIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

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HIGH – RISK GROUP

STAGING / CLASSIFICATION

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DIAGNOSIS

PREVENTION

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TREATMENT

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Trivia on www.sastasundar.comBREAST CANCER

3 WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

As the name suggests, it is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands. In technical terms it is a carcinoma of the breast which is either ductal or lobular. It is a breast malignancy which is more prominent in females than males and is the second most frequent cause of cancer death.

The etiology is complex as there are different risk factors involved. Risk of breast cancer is higher in women above the age of 50 with an early detection and change in lifestyle, it can be controlled.

BREAST CANCER

Cancerous Tumor

Benign Lump


4 BREAST CANCER FACTS

Breast cancer is 100 times more frequent in women in comparison to men.

Prognosis is the same in both.

Most common cancer in women - the incidence rate among females is twice as much as that of colorectal cancer and cervical cancer and approximately three times that of lung cancer.

Globally, the incidence of breast cancer is the highest among American women.

About 16% of women between the age of 40-60 years have breast-related problems. Of these 40% complain of breast lumps.

In women over 40 years, these breast lumps may carry a risk of breast cancer.

However, the majority of these breast- related complaints may be due to benign breast disease.

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5 CAUSES / ETIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER

RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

2 Effected Relatives

Obesity

Young Menarche

HRT > 5 years

1st child conceived at 30 yrs age

1 year post HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

5 years post HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Alcohol

RELATIVE RISK


6 CAUSES / ETIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER

Personal and family history of breast cancerLate parityEarly age menstruation & late menopauseBreast Density & ObesityExposure to radiationAlcohol & Tobacco usageOral contraceptive & oestrogen pillsHormone replacement therapy (HRT)History of benign breast diseaseChemicals & Gene mutationsSeveral other environmental and lifestyle factors

Breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be the final outcome of a legion of environmental and hereditary factors. However, the exact cause is not known. It is suspected that more than one factor is involved. The risk of breast cancer also increases, as a woman gets older.

BREAST CANCER »

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Hereditary BreastCancer ~ 5-10%

Familial BreastCancer ~ 15-20%

Sporadic BreastCancer ~ 70%


7 SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

A lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breastor underarm area.

Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast.

Change in the size or shape of the breast.

Dimpling or puckering of the skin.

An itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple.

Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast.

Nipple discharge that starts suddenly.

New pain in one spot that won’t go away.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

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Lump - may not be seen,but might be felt

Change in skincolor or texture

Skin dimpling

Clear or bloody fluide leaks out of the nipple

Change in how nipple looks, like pulling in of the nipple


8 HIGH RISK GROUP

Breast cancer patients are divided into several groups based on their conditions. The following are the several risks of this ailment:

A. Highest Risk (RR>4)

B. Intermediate Risk (RR 2.1>4.0)

C. Increased Risk (RR 1.1>2.0)Elderly menopausal female patients

Two first degree relatives with breast cancer at an early age

History of cancer in one of the breasts

Nodular densities seen in a mammogram that occupy 75% of breast volume

One first degree relative with breast cancer

Atypical hyperplasia on breast biopsy

High dose radiation to chest

Urban resident

First pregnancy after the age of 30

Menarche at age < 12 years / Menopause at age > 53 years

Obesity

Nulliparous

Use of hormonal contraceptives (HRT)

Use of alcohol

History of primary endometrial, ovarian and colon cancer

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9 STAGING / CLASSIFICATION

In today’s date the TNM (Tumor, Nodes, Metastases) Classification is recognized and accepted worldwide which takes into consideration the tumour itself, the involvement of the lymph nodes and the metastasis to other body parts. The prognosis and treatment which suits best to the patient is closely connected to the stage of the tumour.

STAGE - 0

Cancerous cells are in their original location within the breast tissue.

STAGE - I

Tumour less than 2cm in diameter with noenlargement beyond the breast.


10 STAGING / CLASSIFICATION

STAGE - II

Tumour within 2-5cm in size without spreading to the lymph nodes of axilla, or else tumour less than 2cm spread beyond to the axillary lymph nodes.

STAGE - III

Tumour smaller than 5cm disseminated to axillary lymph nodes which are attached to each other or to other structures.

STAGE - IV

Tumour of any size which spreads to other organsbeyond the region of the breast and chest wall such as liver, lungs or bone.


11 DIAGNOSIS

Clinical Breast Examination - A self breast examination can be done or else a thorough clinical exam which can reveal any lump if formed.

Mammograms - A low radiation X-Ray therapy used to detect breast cancer prior to the appearance of symptoms.

Ultrasonography - Reveals if the lump is fluid filled cyst(not cancer) or a solid mass(might or might not be cancer).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Defines the size & extent of cancer within the breast tissue.

Digital Mammography - Similar to standard mammography but advantageous of digital storage of images& enhancement by brightness & contrast modification.

Biopsy - Done to collect a tissue sample to be examined under the microscope.

Fine Needle Aspiration - Fluid and/or cells removed from a breast lump using a thin needle.

Needle Biopsy - Tissue removal using a needle from a suspicious area on a mammogram which can’t be felt.

Stereotactic Needle Biopsy - uses a mammogram directed technique to map the exact location of the breast lump.

Surgical Biopsy - Cutting out a sample or all of a lump of a suspicious area.

The identification of this disease can be done by examining the symptoms in the following ways -

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12 PREVENTION

May how appalling this disease be, there are certain preventive measures proposed to keep breast cancer at bay.

BREAST EXAMINATIONSelf breast examination helps to detect breast cancer early. It leads you to see a doctor.

HEALTH CHECK-UP

An annual Health Check up every year by a medical professional for women above 40 years and every three years for women between 20-39 years to enable early detection.

AVOID ALCOHOL

Avoid alcohol. Drink in moderation. If it is not possible then one should quit consuming alcohol.


13 PREVENTION

REGULAR EXERCISE

Exercise everyday for a minimum of 30 minutes.

SAY NO TO OBESITY

Control weight gain as obesity is a high risk factor for breast cancer.

RISK FACTOR

Reduce the intake of HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) drugs as they increase the risk of breast cancer.

HIGH RISK GROUP

For those in the high risk group, preventive medications (oestrogen blocking) & preventive mastectomy are sensible options.


14 TREATMENT

Women in whom the triple diagnosis suggests benign disease are closely monitored (physicalexamination every 3 to 6 months for at least a year) to ensure that the breast mass is stable.

Women in whom the diagnosis suggest malignancy are referred for treatment.

Women in whom any one of the triple tests suggests malignancy need to undergo excisional biopsy.

There are 3 trails that can be followed after the triple diagnosis -

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The choice of treatment depends on factors like the extent to which the cancer has spread, characteristics of the cancer & physical condition of the patient.

The two common options are surgery and therapy.

The main mode of treatment for breast cancer, especially so when the tumour is localized is surgery. It must be noted that even through breast cancer is of the breast, the cancer can spread to other body parts which is why breast cancer’s treatment almost always involves surgery.


15 TREATMENT

Segmental Mastectomy

Lumpectomy

Breast Conserving Surgery

The different types of surgery are –

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A surgery is often followed up by other treatments to be mentioned below which depends on the risk status of the patient’s cancer – high or low risk. Factors like, the patient’s age, type and size of cancer, metastasis of the disease decides the risk status of the patient.

Axilliary Lymph Node Dissection

Radical Mastectomy

Total Mastectomy

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16 TREATMENT

Chemotherapy

Interstitial Laser Therapy

Radiotherapy

Hormonal Therapy

Immune Therapy

Biological Therapy• External Radiation

• Implant Radiation

Other treatment possibilities : The three main kinds of systematic treatments for the whole body are –

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Other treatment possibilities include Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Hormone Therapy and Immune Therapy.

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Trivia on BREAST CANCER - res.sastasundar.com · Triia BREAST CANCER 4 BREAST CANCER FACTS Breast cancer is 100 times more frequent in women in comparison to men. Prognosis is the