Directly you hear the word ‘breast cancer’, the picture of a female patient is conjured up. Only the women are prone to this malady. Though rare, males can also contract this type of cancer. Cancer that starts in tissues of the breast in males and females is commonly known as breast cancer which is the second most common cancer type in the world.
Initial symptom of breast cancer is the sensation of a growth or swelling in the locality of breast or underarm. Other symptoms may be a change in size and shape of the breast, nipple inversion, skin irritation or dimpling, swelling of the full breast or part of it, and a discharge from the nipple. It is advantageous to be in the know about these symptoms so that you can detect cancer in advance.
the best action to take as soon as you see initial signs of breast cancer, visit a physician. The physician will check your breast for any suspicious growth or lump. Harmless growth feel differently from harmful cancer-causing lumps. Any doubts with regard to his examination will be sorted out with the help of tests such as MRI scan, mammography test, ultrasound scan or a biopsy. If you are diagnosed with the disease, he may order more lab tests to help him further study it and plan the breast cancer treatment options available to you.
There are several treatment methods as regards breast cancer. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy are such treatments. Out of these, surgery and radiation are local therapies. The rest is known as systemic treatments. The former removes or destroys the cancer in the breast whilst the latter enters the blood stream and controls or destroys the cancer.
Breast cancer is related to various risk factors. The risk factor is high if you are a woman as the breast cells are always exposed to hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. The risks also increase with age. If someone in your family has had breast cancer, you are more at risk than those who do not have a significant family history.
In the world today, breast cancer is said to be the 5th most widespread cause of cancer-related deaths. This goes to show the gravity of this disease. Anyway, it is consolation enough to learn that vast amounts of funds are expended on research to discover the causes and plan out therapy methods of this cancer disease.
