What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

There are several common signs and some different ones that are seen when breast cancer develops.

Signs and symptoms of cancer include:

  • Lump in the breasts

  • Change in the size/shape/appearance of the breast

  • Change/new dimple in the skin of the breast

  • recently inverted nipple

  • Flaking/flaking skin around the nipple (areola)

  • Redness over the skin of the breast

The cause of cancer development is still unknown, however, when cancer affects the breast, it results in abnormal development of breast tissue cells. Cells affected by breast cancer begin to multiply faster and uncontrollably and then begin to form lumps (tumor growths). Cancer is also known to spread (metastasize) to other surrounding tissues and organs, including lymph nodes.

Breast cancer is seen primarily starting in the cells of the milk-producing duct tissue (also known as invasive ductal carcinoma) or it can start in the lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) as well as elsewhere in the breast.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

It is successfully treated when diagnosed earlier and treated accordingly. Here are some of the best and most common diagnostic tests to detect breast cancer:

Breast exam – This is a physical exam of the breasts that allows the doctor to check the breast tissue for lumps. The doctor will check the breasts and underarm lymph nodes for abnormalities.

Mammography – This is an X-ray imaging test for the breasts. These are very helpful in seeing any abnormal growth in the breast tissue.

ultrasound – The ultrasound test uses high-frequency sound waves to produce details of the internal structure within the breast. This test will effectively highlight any type of abnormal lump or mass in the breast.

Biopsy- The surgeon will use a minimally invasive surgical method to remove a small piece of suspected cancerous tissue from inside the breast. This sample of breast tissue is then sent to a pathology laboratory for detailed analysis.

breast MRI – Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced diagnostic imaging test. It uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a highly detailed cross-sectional image of breast tissue. Contrast dye is often injected before the breast MRI to help highlight any abnormalities in the breast tissue.

These tests help in the diagnosis of cancer. If breast cancer is found in a person, the doctor will recommend one of these tests to determine the stage of the breast cancer:

  • Blood test – A CBC (complete blood count) test is most helpful in determining the stage of breast cancer.
  • advanced mammography
  • breast MRI
  • Breast CT Scan (Computerized Tomography)
  • Breast positron emission tomography (PET) scan

The staging process helps the doctor determine the degree of growth of the breast cancer and this, in turn, helps determine the most appropriate breast cancer treatment for the particular case.

How is breast cancer treated?

There are several different methods for treating cancer. The type of treatment mainly depends on several factors such as the stage of the cancer, its size, the degree of involvement along with the age of the patient, the general health level, etc., which the doctor will consider.

These are the various types of cancer treatments:

Surgery

Surgical removal of breast cancer is one of the most common and effective treatment methods. In this, there are subtypes of surgical processes that are performed, including:

  • Lumpectomy- It is a selective oncological surgery treatment for smaller breast tumors. The surgeon will use a wide local excision method to remove the cancerous tissue, as well as a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue to prevent the cancer from coming back.
  • Mastectomy- This is one of the main surgeries for cancer. It involves removing all of the mammary gland tissue, including the lobules, fatty tissue, milk ducts, nipple, areola, and a portion of the skin.
  • Sentinel node biopsy – This surgical treatment of the mammary gland is helpful in determining if the cancer has spread to the surrounding lymph nodes. The surgeon will remove some of the lymph nodes closest to the breast to look for cancer cells or tumor drainage.
  • Axillary Lymph Node Dissection – If the surgeon finds cancer cells in the sentinel lymph nodes, additional lymph nodes near the armpit may also need to be surgically removed.
  • Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy – This surgery involves the complete removal of both breast tissue, even if the cancer is found to be in one breast. This is done to prevent the risk of the cancer recurring in the affected breast and the cancer spreading to other healthy breast tissue.

radiotherapy

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a method of breast cancer treatment that involves the use of high-energy x-rays (or protons) to attack and destroy cancer cells in breast tissue. Radiation therapy may be performed as an external procedure, or the surgeon may use a minimally invasive surgical method to insert a small radioactive device into the breast (brachytherapy) to gain closer access and deliver an effective radiation dose to cancer cells in the tissue. mammary.

This is often used in combination with surgical treatment of breast cancer if surgery cannot remove all of the cancerous tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer involves the use of a combination of drugs specially designed to kill cancer cells in the breast. This method of treatment is also used before treating a large breast tumor. The drugs are effective in shrinking the size of the large cancerous growth in the breast which can then be safely removed by surgical methods.