What is Breast Cancer

How to Recognize Signs of Breast Cancer

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Breast cancer is where cancer cells form in the breast tissue. Other than skin cancer, women get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer. Not only can women develop breast cancer, men can too. With the help of this article, you can learn the signs of breast cancer, the risk factors, and how to prevent it.

Steps

1. Perform a self-breast examination. By doing this daily, you can detect the signs of cancer early and hopefully be able to get help as soon as possible.
2. Check for the common symptoms of breast cancer. As you're examining yourself, check for these signs of breast cancer:
   • Look for changes in how the breast or nipple feels. There may be some tenderness on your nipples or you might feel a lump or a thickening on your breast or around the underarm area.
   • Look for changes on how the breast or nipple looks. Sometimes the skin on your breast and nipple might be swollen, red, or have a rough feeling to it. There could be changes in the size and shape of your breast or a nipple might have turned inward.
   • Be aware of nipple discharge.
3. Be cautious of other minor signs. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a really uncommon type of breast cancer and can be very hard to detect, even by a mammogram. Here are the signs of IBC:
   • A breast that's larger than the other.
   • Skin on the breast that's red or pink.
   • Swelling on the breast.
   • A rash either on the entire breast or in small patches on the breast.
   • The skin on the breast has an "orange" like texture. (Bumpy, rough.)
   • Skin that is hot to the touch.
   • Itchiness or pain on the breast.
   • Nipple discharge.
   • Thickened areas or ridges on the breast.
   • Nipples that are inverted or flat.
   • Swollen lymph nodes near the armpit or on the neck.
4. If you notice any signs, see a doctor right away. Even if you have your doubts, it still doesn't hurt to check and make sure.

Tips

• Have an early detection plan. A detection plan should help you detect breast cancer early:
  • Have monthly breast self-exams beginning at the age of 20.
  • Have a doctor give you a breast exam every 3 years between the ages of 20-39.
  • Get a breast exam by a doctor every year after you are 39.
  • Start having mammograms after you are 40 and get one every 2 years when you are between 40-49 and have them yearly after you are 49.
• Eat healthily and exercise daily. Research shows that a good diet and exercise can help prevent cancer.

Treatments for breast cancer include

• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Cancer drugs e.g. Tamoxifen

Surgery Lumpectomy - Removal of the lump Mastectomy - Removal of the breast. There are several types of mastectomy

• Partial mastectomy - Removal of part of the breast.
• Quadrentectomy - Removal of one quarter of the breast
• Skin sparing mastectomy - This involves removing the areola, nipple and the inner breast tissue but not the outer breast.
• Simple/Total mastectomy - Removal of the breast sometimes with some of the underarm lymph nodes.
• Modified radical mastectomy - Removal of the breast, some of the underarm lymph nodes, occasionally the minor chest muscle.
• Radical mastectomy (Halstead) - Removal of the breast, all underarm

lymph nodes, fat and both minor and major chest muscles.

• Extended/Supraradical mastectomy - Removal of the breast, all underarm

lymph nodes, fat, both minor and major chest muscles, internal mammary nodes and may include excision of the underlying pleura(lung lining) and ribs, sometimes half of the sternum (breastbone) is removed. Reconstruction can be done as a separate procedure or done together with the mastectomy. Reconstruction is done by: Implants/Tissue expanders. TRAM flap - Skin taken from the abdomen to make a new breast. Using the side of your back (the latissimus dorsi muscle) Skin grafts if you have had the more radical mastectomies such as the Halstead radical or the extended/Super radical mastectomy.

Warnings

• Remember to have a doctor check you if you even think that you notice anything out of the ordinary, it is very important!
• Risk factors for breast cancer:
  • Diets high in saturated fats.
  • Obesity.
  • If you have a history of breast cancer in your family.
  • If you are over 65.
  • If you had a late menopause.
  • If you've never had children.
  • If you gave birth to your first child at an older age.
  • If you're taking hormones.

- smoking and drinking, because of the harmful chemicals.