Is Breast Cancer Serious
Breast cancer is a serious disease. Although some types of breast cancer are curable especially in the early stages treatment can be long and difficult. Some breast cancers are less curable, especially once they spread to other body parts. About 20 percent of breast cancer patients die of the disease.
Also Check: How Many People Are Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Per Year
Breast Cancer Is A Disease In Which Malignant Cells Form In The Tissues Of The Breast
The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.
Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless, watery fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels carry lymph between lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that filter lymph and store white blood cells that help fightinfection and disease. Groups of lymph nodes are found near the breast in theaxilla , above thecollarbone, and in the chest.
See the following PDQ summaries for more information about breast cancer:
Answering Your Questions About Breast Cancer
Today is the perfect day to check your breasts because you cant afford to waste a single precious one when it comes to fighting this beast, she wrote in her caption. Every day counts. Lather up in the shower and give your boobies a good feel! If anythings not right, go straight to the doctor and dont let a pandemic stop you.
In her post, she also gave a shoutout to all the people trying to improve breast cancer survival rates.
I also have so much respect and admiration for the hero health workers on the frontline, the donors who dig deep, and the researchers turning that survival dial up a notch every day, she wrote. My story is no different to so many others, but if I can help raise hope, awareness and funds then I will continue to use my voice and advocate wherever I can. Sharing my story as an ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation @nbcfaus is both an honour and an obligation for me.
You May Like: What Is The Rarest Form Of Breast Cancer
Always Inform The Scheduler And Mammogram Technologist
If you have implants, say so. Tell the scheduler when you make an appointment for your mammogram. Make sure the staff has experience screening women with implants. And give the mammogram tech a heads up before your imaging procedure begins.
The technologist needs to know two things, Dr. Baker says. One is how to position her. There are extra steps involved in screening a woman with implants . The other is how much compression to use.
According to the Radiological Society of North America , an experienced technologist will know how to carefully compress the breasts of women with implants without risking rupture.
Tests Are Used To Screen For Different Types Of Cancer When A Person Does Not Have Symptoms
Scientists study screening tests to find those with the fewest harms and most benefits. Cancer screening trials also are meant to show whether early detection helps a person live longer or decreases a persons chance of dying from the disease. For some types of cancer, the chance of recovery is better if the disease is found and treated at an early stage.
Don’t Miss: What Medications Are Used For Breast Cancer
Data Paints A More Complete Picture
The U-M study analyzed data from the National Cancer Institutes known as Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, or SEER. The analysis was unique in including not only patients who had a diagnosis of IBC based on pathology reports, but also those with clinical symptoms consistent with IBC bringing the number of patients included in the study to nearly 30,000.
The team included two epidemiologists from the U-M School of Public Health: Yaoxuan Xia and Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D., chair of the department of biostatistics and a member of the Rogel Cancer Center.
We found that in these additional patients, the incidence rates by race were consistent with previously reported trends. This gave us confidence that our method was uncovering additional cases that had gone underreported in the past or were possibly misclassified in previous analyses, says study senior author Sofia Merajver, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk and Evaluation Program at the Rogel Cancer Center. So therefore we believe our study is able to offer the most comprehensive assessment of incidence and survival rates of IBC to date.
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed
Magnetic resonance imaging may be used to diagnose breast cancer.
Doctors often use additional tests to find or diagnose breast cancer. They may refer women to a breast specialist or a surgeon. This does not mean that she has cancer or that she needs surgery. These doctors are experts in diagnosing breast problems.
- Breast ultrasound. A machine that uses sound waves to make detailed pictures, called sonograms, of areas inside the breast.
- Diagnostic mammogram. If you have a problem in your breast, such as lumps, or if an area of the breast looks abnormal on a screening mammogram, doctors may have you get a diagnostic mammogram. This is a more detailed X-ray of the breast.
- Magnetic resonance imaging . A kind of body scan that uses a magnet linked to a computer. The MRI scan will make detailed pictures of areas inside the breast.
- Biopsy. This is a test that removes tissue or fluid from the breast to be looked at under a microscope and do more testing. There are different kinds of biopsies .
Also Check: How Quickly Does Triple Negative Breast Cancer Grow
How Is Paget Disease Of The Breast Diagnosed
A nipple biopsy allows doctors to correctly diagnose Paget disease of the breast. There are several types of nipple biopsy, including the procedures described below.
- Surface biopsy: A glass slide or other tool is used to gently scrape cells from the surface of the skin.
- Shave biopsy: A razor-like tool is used to remove the top layer of skin.
- Punch biopsy: A circular cutting tool, called a punch, is used to remove a disk-shaped piece of tissue.
- Wedge biopsy: A scalpel is used to remove a small wedge of tissue.
In some cases, doctors may remove the entire nipple . A pathologist then examines the cells or tissue under a microscope to look for Paget cells.
Most people who have Paget disease of the breast also have one or more tumors inside the same breast. In addition to ordering a nipple biopsy, the doctor should perform a clinical breast exam to check for lumps or other breast changes. As many as 50 percent of people who have Paget disease of the breast have a breast lump that can be felt in a clinical breast exam. The doctor may order additional diagnostic tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound exam, or a magnetic resonance imaging scan to look for possible tumors .
What To Do If You Find A Lump
Dont panic if you think you feel a lump in your breast. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time, and most breast lumps turn out to be benign . There are a number of possible causes of non-cancerous breast lumps, including normal hormonal changes, a benign breast condition, or an injury.
Dont hesitate to call your doctor if youve noticed a lump or other breast change that is new and worrisome. This is especially true for changes that last more than one full menstrual cycle or seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way. If you menstruate, you may want to wait until after your period to see if the lump or other breast change disappears on its own before calling your doctor. The best healthcare provider to call would be one who knows you and has done a breast exam on you before for example, your gynecologist, primary care doctor, or a nurse practitioner who works with your gynecologist or primary care doctor.
Make sure you get answers. Its important that your doctor gives you an explanation of the cause of the lump or other breast change and, if necessary, a plan for monitoring it or treating it. If youre not comfortable with the advice of the first doctor you see, dont hesitate to get a second opinion.
Recommended Reading: What Stage Is Grade 3 Breast Cancer
Check Your Breasts Every Month
Breast cancer;is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with approximately 1.7 million new cases diagnosed every year . It is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in women.
Did you know? Breast cancer risk doubles each decade until menopause, after which the increase slows. However, breast cancer is more common after menopause.
In saying this, its so important to check your breasts every month no matter what age you are. While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you feel a lump, self-breast examinations help you to familiarize yourself with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes. Changes can be many things including appearance and the way things feel.
Hows A Breast Exam Done
During a breast exam, your doctor will check your breasts for any possible signs of breast cancer or other breast problems. Theyll also talk with you about your risks for breast cancer and what you can do to help prevent it.
You’ll take off any clothing that covers your breasts. You may get a gown or sheet to cover yourself with before the exam starts.;Your doctor or nurse will look at both of your breasts to see the shape, size, and texture of your skin. Theyll feel your breasts with the tips of their fingers to check if there are any lumps or if something else doesnt feel normal. Theyll start with one breast and then do the other, including both nipples, and also check your armpits.
Recommended Reading: What To Wear During Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer
Importance Of Early Detection
Prompt detection of breast cancer is important to find breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stage. This may be before the person has any noticeable symptoms, so regular screening may be the most important tool for this early detection.
One notes that breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer among women worldwide. Screening can help reduce this risk.
Research from 2016 notes that standard procedures for breast cancer screening can lead to a roughly in deaths from breast cancer.
The also notes that increasing screening practices for eligible people could:
- increase life expectancy
Benefits Of An Organized Cancer Screening Program
- Inviting people to participate in screening
- Reminding screening participants when it is time for their next screening test
- Telling participants their screening test results
- Advising participants to follow up after an abnormal test result
- Tracking participants throughout screening and diagnosis processes
- Helping participants coordinate the next steps in their screening process if needed
- Measuring program quality and performance
Read Also: What Is Stage 3a Breast Cancer
Knowing Youre Not Alone
During a cancer battle, its important to know that you are not alone. Theres a community out there for you to be vulnerable with, if youd like, and its worth it to at least try to connect with some people as you battle the disease.
Every time I shared the scariest moments of my journey from being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer with an eight week old baby, having the bazooka of all chemo, discovering I have the BRCA 2 gene variant and needing to have my breasts, fallopian tubes and ovaries removed, to going through menopause on national TV I felt a tidal wave of love and connection, Camilla Franks wrote in her most recent post. The outpouring of emotion from other warriors on their own battlefields all sharing the same fight was overwhelming.
Franks has been very open about sharing the details of her cancer journey and shes definitely not the only one to build a support system in that way.
Kate Hervey is another cancer warrior who has touched many people by sharing her story. A young college girl, she was shocked to be diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that tends to form near large joints in young adults, after seeing her doctor for tenderness and lumps in one of her legs.
Hervey, a nursing student at Michigan State, had to handle her cancer battle during the COVID-19 pandemic and scale back on her social activities as a high-risk patient. Thats when she turned to TikTok as a creative outlet, and inspired thousands.
Symptoms Of Angiosarcoma Of The Breast
Another rare form of breast cancer, angiosarcoma forms inside the lymph and blood vessels. Only a biopsy may definitively diagnose this type of cancer. Angiosarcoma can cause changes to the skin of your breast, such as the development of purple-colored nodules that resemble a bruise. These nodules, if bumped or scratched, may bleed. Over time, these discolored areas may expand, making your skin appear swollen in that area. You may or may not have breast lumps with angiosarcoma. If you also have lymphedema, which is swelling caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid, angiosarcoma may occur in the affected arm. Cancer treatment sometimes damages the lymph vessels, which may lead to lymphedema.
Read Also: What Does An Ultrasound Show For Breast Cancer
It Can Be Scary To Find A Change That Doesnt Feel Or Look Normal But Its Important To Get Any Concerning Signs Checked Out By Your Gp Even If Youve Had A Mammogram Recently
Most breast changes arent caused by cancer but check with your doctor to be sure. If youve had a breast change checked out by your GP and they arent concerned but it continues to grow or change, its important to go back and have it checked again or seek a second opinion.
If youre not sure about talking to your GP, tell someone you trust, like a girlfriend or your mum. They can support you to see your GP. BCFNZ also has nurses available, who can give you free advice. Get in touch at 0800 226 8773
What Are The Symptoms Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms may include:
;; ;Breast swelling, which one breast is suddenly larger than the other;; ;Breast that feels warm to touch and may look infected;; ;Itching or shooting pain;; ;A dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel ;;; Ridges or thickening of the skin;; ;Flattened or discolored nipple;; ;Swelling in underarm or only on one side of neck;; ;Might feel lump, however lumps are not common in IBC
Recommended Reading: Can Asbestos Cause Breast Cancer
How To Check For Breast Cancer
It’s important that every woman knows how to do a breast self-examination , as it can help in early detection of breast cancer, such as lumps, nipple changes, and more.;
Being familiar with what is normal for you will make it easier to recognize any new developments. Furthermore, knowing what’s not normal for anyone can help prompt you to bring such issues to your doctor’s attention, should you notice them during your BSE.
Breast Cancer Is The Second Leading Cause Of Death From Cancer In American Women
Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer.
Breast cancer is more likely to occur as a woman ages. It occurs more often in White women than in Black women, but Black women die from breast cancer more often than White women.
Breast cancer rarely occurs in men. Because men with breast cancer usually have a lump that can be felt, screening tests are not likely to be helpful.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Screening Test For Breast Cancer
How Should I Check My Breasts
Take the time to get to know how your breasts normally look and feel through normal regular activities .
You dont need to use a special technique, but ensure you look at and feel your breasts regularly. Make sure this includes all parts of your breast, your armpit and up to your collarbone.
For women of all ages, it is recommended that you be breast aware. Breast awareness is being familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts, so that you can identify any unusual changes .
What Are The Warning Signs Of Breast Cancer
While different people have different symptoms of breast cancerand some dont have any at allwarning signs of breast cancer include new lumps in the breast and armpit, swelling of the breast, redness or pain in the nipple region, or change in the breast size.;
Remember that some of these symptoms are associated with other conditions that arent cancer.;
Recommended Reading: What Percentage Of Breast Cancer Is Triple Negative
Who Is Most At Risk Of Breast Cancer
While breast cancer can affect men and women, it is largely women over the age of 50 who are most susceptible to breast cancer.
In the UK, 1 in 7 women will experience breast cancer in their lifetime and 400 men are diagnosed every year.
Other factors which can increase your likelihood are:
- Age the risk increases as you get older
- Family history of breast cancer
- Previous diagnosis of breast cancer
- Previous non-cancerous breast lump
- Being tall, overweight or obese
- Drinking alcohol
More than three-quarters of people survive breast cancer for a decade or more after their diagnosis, however 11,400 people die of breast cancer in the UK every year.
Thats 31 people every day.