Cancer is a difficult disease to fight and there are thousands of people who fight many variations of cancer. Whether one is diagnosed with a common and easily treatable disease like early stage skin cancer, or a very rare disease like mesothelioma, there are many who win their battle against cancer. There are many things that people use to fight cancer, one of these being exercise. Exercise does not treat cancer, but it does help people who have cancer and it gives a person an increased chance of getting better during and after the time they have faced cancer.
For patients going through any kind of treatments, exercise can have an exceptional effect. Research has shown that exercising can help reduce the symptoms that patients feel the cancer treatments. It does this by increasing ones energy and decreasing the negative symptoms of the treatments, and the patient will create a sort of normal lifestyle while going through a difficult time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that adults should take part in moderate exercise for thirty minutes a day, five or more days a week. For Cancer patients, it may be difficult to take part in moderate exercise often. For this reason, patients who are able should take up light to moderate exercises as often as possible. Every person is at their own level of exercise and should not overly push him or herself. Exercises like walking and bike rides are good for increasing blood flow and helping the patient become more active. This also helps them have more energy and allows them to do more physically, which further increases their chances of survival and their quality of life when in remission. Yoga is another wonderful exercise. Yoga and other flexibility exercises can help patients build strength, correct their posture, develop muscles, and improve their breathing.
Though exercise is good for patients with cancer, it may be difficult for patients who are receiving treatments to take part. These patients are more apt to be sick from the various difficult cancer treatments. When a patient is receiving treatments, they should still try to exercise when their body allows them, but they should not force themselves to do so. Before beginning any exercise routine, cancer patients should consult their doctor to make sure their body is able to handle it, and it is not too weak. If the doctor tells the patient to go ahead with an exercise routine, they should do so at the same time every day, so their body can properly adjust to this being a normal routine.
By: David Haas
Cancer remission is said to be a positive response to cancer treatments. Furthermore, it opens up an arena of positivity for the victims of cancer as well as their families. Yes, it is true. Remission indicates hope to the individuals involved. However, many people ultimately believe that the term “remission” means “cured,” but this is far from the truth. It is only a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the term.
The presence of cancer in the family can be a difficult and life-changing event. Challenging decisions, difficult adjustments or even depression is usually present. Many families have been greatly affected by this disease.
Cancer treatments can be very expensive and demanding. Painful chemotherapy sessions consume most of the victims’ strength as well as savings. It also affects the daily lives of the patient’s family. In other words, when a cancer-stricken individual is in remission, it is a great relief to the patient as well as his/her family. But for how long will this last? The answer is still a mystery because no one really knows how long the remission process will last.
As medically defined, remission indicates favorable response to a treatment regimen, but it is not defined as a complete cure to a certain disease such as cancer.
There are two types of remission. These include partial and complete remission.
Partial remission refers to a significant decrease of cancer cells present in the body, although there are few clues of the disease present in the body.
In cases of breast cancer, tumors such as lymphoma manifest as a solid lumps of the lymphoid cells and metastasize into cancer cells. Shrinkage of tumor sizes, reduced growth and absence of spread are observed during partial remission. In addition, the physical symptoms experienced by the victim such as weight loss, pain and weakness are greatly reduced.
On the other hand, complete remission refers to the absence or disappearance of the cancer cells in the body. Traces of cancer are no longer evident. At some point, lab results may also show negative vestige of such a pathological condition. Moreover, physical manifestations of this condition will cease to exist.
Most cancer victims find signs of cancer remission as a great relief which leads them to the misunderstanding that they are completely cured. Such misconceptions lead them to stop their medication and treatment regimen or even cease continuing medical consultation.
In some cases, clients may experience absence from signs and symptoms of the disease for many years. However, it does not mean the cancer is cured because even in remission some cancer cells that are still in the body may become active again. Therefore, it will result into reoccurrence of the disease.
For this reason, doctors only use the term remission rather than cured because there is no guarantee that when signs of cancer remission flaunts, cancer victims are totally free of the disease.
Therefore, it is really important to correct people’s misconception of the term remission so that they will not gain false hopes.
This article is a guest post written by Haliyma, a freelance blogger and writer based in New York. Haliyma enjoys writing informative articles about diseases including their symptoms and treatments, such as an article about cancer fighting foods.
Categories:
Cancer Tags:
Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Tumors, Breast Tumors, Cancer Cells, Cancer Remission, Cancer Treatments, Chemotherapy, Depression, Lumps, Lymphoma, Misinterpretation, Treatment Regimen
One of the most heartbreaking situations for parents is watching their child struggle with cancer.
A International childhood cancer survey (compiled in 1995) found that the most common childhood cancers are leukaemia, tumors of the brain and spinal cord, lymphoma, neuroblastoma ( cancer of the nerve tissue), gonadal and germ cell tumors (cancer of the sex organs), kidney tumors, soft tissue sarcomas and retinoblastomas ( cancer of the retina).
As with adult cancers, early detection and correct diagnosis are the best ways to improve a child’s chances of cure and survival. “Cancer cells are very clever,” says Dr Amy Goleta-Dy, an oncologist at ST luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines. “They can develop resistance to all the drugs being given, so getting it right the first time is important.”
The causes of childhood cancers are still largely unknown, but a small percentage are related to congenital conditions, eg, Down syndrome, specific chromosomal or genetic mutations and exposure to radiation. Scientists also suspect environmental toxins, such as pesticides and chemicals.
Conventional cures
Current treatments for childhood cancers depend on the type of cancer, its size, location, extent of spread and the child’s overall health.
There’s the 3 common treatments as shown below:
Chemotherapy
Uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are given through a vein (intravenous), by mouth or into the spinal fluid (intrathecal). Common side-effects include fatigue, infection, vomiting and loss of appetite.
Surgery
Which is almost of no use in treating leukaemia or lymphoma, is done on solid tumors. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor or cancerous growth.
Radiation
Uses high-energy roys or particles to kill cancer cells. The most common is external beam radiation therapy from a machine outside the body. Side -effects include mild skin reactions, diarrhoea and fatigue.
New treatments
Proton therapy
a new and specialized kind of radiation therapy, uses a machine that is aimed at the tumor. A proton (component of an atom) is designed that is specific to the cancer. This treatment is best for brain tumors because the beam can be directed at the tumor without affecting normal brain tissue. It requires special equipment and facilities.
Stem cell transplant
The latest treatment for acute lymphocytic leukaemia, which comprises 70% of leukaemias in children, classifies patients’ risk based on various tests, according to Dr Allan Racho, a haematologist at St Luke’s Medical Center. Good-risk patients get less intensive chemotherapy, while high-risk patients get more intensive chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant. Transplants may involve bone marrow from a compatible sibling or cord blood from a compatible donor. Patients who receive this treatment are prone to infection, bleeding, anaemia or hair loss.
Aerosol chemotherapy
It is still in its early trials. Conceptualised by Dr Eugenie Kleinerman of MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas), this treatment can be done at home. It adminsters chemotherapy directly to lung tumors and has the advantage of being able to deliver higher concentrations of the drug compared to IV therapy. Liquid medicine in small machines generates a mist that the child breathes for about 5-15 minutes. Dr Dy says children and parents prefer this chemotherapy method. It is safe, but its effectiveness is still in question.
Post-treatment
Treatment can save child’s life, but may also damage the young organs. Almost 2/3 of child cancer survivors report at least one chronic health problem, eg, a second cancer. kidney disease, endocrine abnormalities or cardiovascular disease. The risk of developing a problem related to cancer treatment increases over time. Child cancer survivors need long-term follow-up and tremendous support from family and loved ones.
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Generals Tags:
Brain, Cancer Cells, Cancerous Growth, Childhood Cancer, Correct Diagnosis, Down Syndrome, External Beam Radiation, Loss Of Appetite, Lymphoma, Lymphoma Cancer, Nerve Tissue, Oncologist, Radiation Therapy, Spinal Cord, Tumors, Type Of Cancer
Do you know that dietary supplements may not be safe or effective in breast cancer patients? Why? Because most supplements contain a huge amount of antioxidants, which can work against anti-cancer drugs and render them ineffective against cancer cells.
A 2008 review of clinical trials concluded that the use of supplements, which contain antioxidants, during chemotherapy and radiation therapy should be discouraged because of the possibility of tumor protection and reduced survival.
In addition, here are two supplements that may be harmful to breast cancer patients:
Arginine
In high dosage, arginine – an amino acid produced in your body – may increase immune cell activity in breast cancer patients. On the contrary, one study demonstrated that ariginine may stimulate breast tumor growth in vivo. More research is needed to examine this mechanism.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is a viscous substance secreted by worker bees to feed queen bees and their larvee. It is commonly consumed as a health food. Royal jelly exhibits oestrogenic activity, and has been shown to increase the number of a particular human breast cancer cell that was reversed by tamoxifen. However, royal jelly has been shown to inhibit the growth promoting effects of the environment oestrogen bisphenol-A in similar human breast cancer cells. Because of the oestrogenic effects, women with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer should avoid products containing royal jelly.
On the other hand, there are also supplements that may lower your risk of breast cancer:
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is part of the vitamin B-complex family and consists of cyanocobalamin and related substances. It is essential for normal nerve function, DNA synthesis, hematopoiesis, fatty acid metabolism and amino acid synthesis in the cell. Clinical studies show that an increased intake of vitamin B12, together with folate and vitamin B6, may lower the risk of breast cancer. However, another study found that the same combination of folate and vitamins B6 and B12 has no significant effect on the overall risk of total invasive cancer or breast cancer.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D refers to various types of fat-soluble nutritional vitamins discovered normally in plants, fish and dairy products. The 2 types utilized in humans are ergocalciferol (D2) and the stronger cholecalciferol (D3). Sunlight can increase the synthesis of D3 inside the skin. Vitamin D is essential for bone enhancement. A deficiency could cause rickets (soft bones) compared to other bone problems. One study found out that calcium and vitamin D supplement fails to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer, nevertheless yet another study showed a compact lowering in the risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women. As opposed, vitamin D from sunlight direct exposure and from dietary intake could have protective impact against breast cancer. This correlates with findings in several breast cancer survivors who had been vitamin D deficient.
Always check with your doctor before you start on supplements. There are also credible websites that you can refer to for more information, eg, MedlinePlus: Drugs, Herbs and Supplement (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html).
Kylie Minogue, born to an Irish father and a Welsh mother, began her career as a child actress, but found her true calling as a singer. With the release of a series of highly acclaimed music videos, the Australian has become a household name the world over.
But behind the success and the glamor is a woman of great courage and resolve. Kylie may have won legions of fans with her music, but nothing has won her more admiration and respect than her courage and dignity in the face of great adversity.
In may 2005, Kylie was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. The news came as a shock as her doctor had initially assured her that she was fine. In an interview later, Kylie said, “You must follow our intuition and if you have any doubt, go back again”.
The second diagnosis, confirming breast cancer, occurred on the eve of one of the biggest singing tours of her career. Kylie was lucky it was early-stage breast cancer; it was confined to the breast and perhaps to the local nodes, and had not spread to other parts of the body.
With the cancellation of her singing tour and confronted by a deadly disease, Kylie slipped into depression, fearing she would never be ‘normal’ again. But despite this double whammy, she resolved to fight the depression and then her cancer.
“I had to prove i had what it takes into continue what i had done in the past.” With renewed courage and fortitude, Kylie underwent breast surgery and chemotherapy.
The battle against cancer was difficult. Kylie confessed that she was frequently weeping and begging her oncologist to get her off the treatment. The side-effects of the cancer drugs produced intense nausea and headaches, and she also went through the same hair-loss ordeal as other chemo patients (she changed her hairstyle to a short, chic look).
Thanks to her oncologist’s admonitions, she continued her treatment. And, finally, a glimpse of hope – the 6-month treatment for her breast cancer was declared a ‘success’. However, Kylie had to continue daily radiotherapy for another six months to prevent the tumors from recurring.
Fast-forward to September 2010. Despite the worst aspects of the treatment out of the way, the life-saving medication that Kylie takes continues to have side-effects. Although looking forward to being able to stop taking the medication this year, Kylie said going off the drug may make her feel insecure as she has relied o it for long time.
How did Kylie get through her treatment ordeal? She attributes this to hr work and her fans. Her profession and limelight career gave her hope. “I don’t know how other people manage, but as i went through the treatment, I tried to concentrate on the future. You lie there and you think, ‘When this is over…’.”
Within a year, she was on tour again and had released a couple of albums.
Last year, she was voted by 1,000 online participants as the most inspirational breast cancer celebrity in an event organized by the British-based mastectomy-wear specialist Amoena. The company’s spokewoman, Rhoda White, said in a statement: “Kylie inspired many women to be more direct about their own fears, encouraging them to believe they would get through their ordeal”.
Kylie’s incorrigible optimism not only helped her make a rapid recovery. but has also inspired the many women who have had to undergo a mastectomy.
She now looks forward to many more years of doing what she loves best – making music. She said in a magazine’s interview that “I’ll be the one in the old people’s home doing high-kicks in the corner. There is an inherent part of me that says, ‘This is what i do, this is who I am.’ I just can’t stop – it’s difficult to subdue a performer’s intinct”.
There are really many various diseases that keep on invading the whole universe and continue on affecting people’s health. Cancer is one of the few diseases that are really alarming every individual, especially that cancer diseases has been found out to contribute a lot to the deaths of many people in over the world yearly. Since cancer cannot be easily detected unless cancer cells have already invaded your whole system, the signs and symptoms may not be that obvious. In this event, people affected are still unaware that even they are then carrying the disease. This article will tackle about the lung cancer and symptoms.
Lung cancer is the condition in where there is an uncontrolled cell growth or tumor formation in the tissues of the lungs. The growth may lead to metastasis, and eventually spread and affect the different parts of the body, and may also cause different skin disease. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related deaths in both men and women, and accounts for the 1.3 million deaths yearly. Can you imagine that? Lung cancer and symptoms that are most common manifested are the following; a. weight loss, b. shortness of breath, c. chest pain and d. coughing or coughing up blood.
Lung cancer and symptoms are known to be a cause of carcinogens, ionizing radiation, cigarette smoking, and viral infections. However, asbestos is also considered to play a great factor in its existence. Asbestos can cause a variety of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and lung cancer. Asbestos accounts for two to three percent of lung cancer death amongst male individuals. This can also cause mesothelioma or the so- called cancer of the pleura. The toxic compound of this radiations and asbestos makes it possible for the occurrence of lung cancer when you breathe and the blood transport these toxic compounds to the different organs of your body.
If you reside with a smoker, you have also a high risk and it is most likely that the disease may occur to you. Furthermore, the diagnosis of the disease may include chest radiograph and bronchoscopy or CT guided biopsy. The chest radiograph is the first step in diagnosing the disease. This test may reveal atelectasis, pneumonia or pleural effusion which may be a sign of lung cancer.
Blood stained sputum is also manifested if the person was used to be a heavy smoker before. In bronchoscopy or CT guided biopsy, they will remove a certain tissue type in your lungs and have it examined under a microscope to determine if it is really a cancerous form of tissue. Once the physician has already confirmed that you have the disease, certain and various treatment regimen may be conducted on you. Such treatments may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy and others.
Moreover, the prevention of lung cancer and symptoms are easy unless you have a self- discipline. Smoking cessation should always come first especially that tobacco smoking may cause a lot to this. Prevent your chances of being a passive smoker and/or avoid other people from inhaling your tobacco smokes. Cover your mouth when you are coughing especially when you are in public places. And most specially, eat a lot of nutritious fruits and vegetables which will aid in improving your immune system to fight against diseases like lung cancer and symptoms.
Between 2003 and 2005, nearly 12,000 new cases of breast cancer were reported to the National Cancer Registry, making it the most common cancer among Malaysian women above age 20.
Early detection and treatment improves the likelihood of cure as well as quality of life. Once a diagnosis of breast cancer is made, the treatment options will be discussed with you and your family.
Preparation
The best treatment should take into account you physical, emotional, psychological and rehabilitation needs. A team of healthcare staff, including a surgeon, oncologist, radiotherapist, pathologist, radiologist, plastic surgeon and counsellor, is usually involved in treating you. Treatment is divided into:
1) Local Treatment – by surgery and/or radiotherapy, to control the disease in your breast and lymph nodes.
2) Systematic treatment, by chemotherapy and hormone therapy, to control the cancer cells which may have spread to other parts of your body.
The type of treatment also depends on the cancer stage. Stages 0, 1 and 2 are considered early breast cancer and the primary treatment is surgical. Stages 3 and 4 are late breast cancer. In Stage 3, surgery is either done with or without chemotherapy. Stage 4 cancer is advanced and cure is less likely, thus treatment is systemic, ie, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. The ulcerating breast cancer is then surgically removed.
Local treatment
Currently, the options for local treatment of breast cancer are:
Modified radical mastectomy – The breast is removed with all the lymph nodes under the armpit, but the underlying muscles are left behind and breast reconstruction is done. Radiotherapy to the chest wall is not required if the tumor is small, lymph nodes are not involved and the margins of the tumor are clear.
Breast conservation surgery – The tumor is removed with margin of normal tissue, along with the lymph nodes under the armpit. The breast is treated with radiotherapy. Only suitable for small tumors – less than 4 cm – this surgery is appealing to women because they usually don’t lose their breast.
In US, all lymph nodes under the armpit are usually removed because most women present with stage 2 breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy – the removal and examination of the first lymph node to which cancer is likely to spread from the primary tumor – is either not available in most centres or costly.
After breast surgery, you may experience tightness in the skin of the breast area, and your arm and shoulder muscles may be stiff. Exercising is important to regain movement and strength. You may also have numbness and tingling in the chest, underarm, shoulder and arm. Thes feeling usually go away within a few weeks or months.
Removing the lymph nodes may also give rise to swelling of the arm (lymphoedema). It is also easier for infection to occur in the arm. Therefore, you need to avoid injuries to the arm and hand on the treated side.
Systemic treatment
Systemic treatment is required to eliminate micro-metastases, which are cancer cells that spread from the breast through the bloodstream to other organs, eg, the lungs, liver and bones.
Months or years after treatment, cancers can be reactivated and grow to become obvious metastases in these organs. Tumor size, lymph node involvement and survival are all related.
Chemotherapy – (treatment with anti-cancer drugs) kills cancerous cells, but it affects normal cells as well. If administered after local treatment in early breast cancer (Stages 1 and 2 ), it is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. If administered in Stage 3 cancer – to shrink the tumor before local treatment – it i known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. If administered in stage 4 breast cancer – where local treatment is only for palliation ( t reduce the severity of the cancer) – it is called primary chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy consists of a combination of drugs injected through a vein, usually at 3-weekly intervals, for duration of 4-8 cycles, depending on the drug type.
Common side-effects of chemotherapy are nausea, vomiting, loss of hair, and a drop in the red and white cell count and platelets.
Hormone therapy
After surgery, tissues are sent to the lab to check whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. Hormones secreted by the endocrine glands can affect the growth of breast cancer. The cell in the tumor can be hormone receptor positive, ie, they contain hormone receptors, or negative.
Tamoxifen, an anti-oestrogen drug in th form of tablets, has little side-effects, although it may cause weight gain, hot flushes and irregular periods in younger women.
In recent years, a new group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, including exemestane, anastrozole and letrozole, has been used in post-menopausal women instead of tamoxifen. It is found to be slightly more effective in preventing the cancer from recurring.
In pre-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer, removal of the ovaries may be carried out to decrease the oestrogen levels in the blood.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a new form of treatment whereby a special drug is developed against a specific target in the breast cancer. The first targeted drug in breast cancer was developed against the HER2 proto-oncogene, which is found to be over-expressed in 20-30% of breast cancers.
This new drug, a monocional antibody against HER2 receptor, is called trastuzumab. Another anti-HER2 drug which has been shown to be effective in HER2+ breast cancer is lapatinib.
Categories:
Breast Cancer Tags:
Armpit, Breast Cancer, Breast Reconstruction, Cancer Cells, Cancer Stage, Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer, Hormonal Therapy, Lymph Nodes, Mastectomy, Stage 4 Cancer, Treatment Of Breast Cancer
In many ways, your life will be very similar to the one you had previously, but in other ways, it will be very different. As a survivor of breast cancer, the body has been through an enormous assault – with surgery, multiple cycles of chemotherapy and, perhaps, radiation. Thus, a proper recovery plan, which pays attention to psychological and physical healing, is necessary.
Physical changes
Pay attention to the physical side-effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, the common ones being fatigue ad low energy that may last for months. Muscle stiffness, joint pain, general aches and pains are inevitably accompanied by a fear that they signal a recurrence of the cancer.
Even specific and relatively minor aches and pains directly related to treatment (eg. transient shooting pains in the breast, arm and hand, chronic chest tightness or pain after breast reconstruction) may be viewed with anxiety.
Women who undergo breast surgery or radiotherapy may develop lymphoedema months or years later. This condition is a persistent swelling of the am or breast due to fluid build-up.Unfortunately, there is no known cure, but it can be managed with appropriate care.
Some hormone therapies for breast cancer (eg. fulvestrant and letrozole) and pain medications (eg. ibuprofen and naproxen) can cause back pain, which ranges from a dull ache to a sudden sharp pain when you lift something. It is important to keep your core and back muscles strong. Do not stay in bed all day, as this makes the back feel worse.
Numbness is another side-effect of certain breast cancer treatments (ie, surgery, chemotherapy, fulvestrant, bevacizumab and lapatinib). Protect the numb areas (eg, wear thick socks ad shoes if the feet are numb and use pot holders when cooking if the hands are numb).
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to help the body recover after cancer treatment and helps keep your spirits up. Studies have also shown that exercise improves the immune system and increases energy levels. Active participation in moderate exercise at least five times a week can reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Regular upper body and arm stretches in the first few months will help reduce arm or shoulder stiffness, while gentle exercises can help prevent and manage lymphoedema. Stretching the back muscles will also help ease back pain and stiffness. However, before starting an exercise programme, it is important to get advice from a health professional. Start slowly, and build your strength and stamina gradually.
Prosthetic bras
Mastectomy bras look slightly different from normal bras because they include pockets for breast prostheses and, thus, cover more of the breast than regular bras.
However, if you had a lumpectomy and don’t require full breast prosthesis, you may want a small breast form for symmetry. There are also moulded cup bras that are pre-shaped and easily filled out.
A soft camisole can be worn during the post-surgical period, with pockets to hold drainage tubing and bottles.
There is also an array of self-adhering nipples and nipple covers for women in various stages of breast reconstruction.
For women who like to swim, there are now two-piece, one-piece and skirted suits; tankinis (bathing suits that combine tank tops with bikini bottoms); detachable skirts; sarongs; and more athletic suits that fit higher at the top and provide more support.
Interpersonal relationships
The impact of breast cancer on relationships should not be underestimated. It is likely that some relationships will be lost due to the stress, while others are strengthened. A common complaint among survivors is the apparent belief of those around them is that once the last treatment is over, the battle is over.
Family and friends may expect an immediate return to full family and work responsibilities, and not appreciate the lingering fatigue you have. It is important as a survivor to alert friends and family about the natural history and uncertainties of breast cancer as this will help them be more appreciative of the stuggle you face.
A friend discovered a lump in one of her breasts when she was doing her monthly breast self-examination (BSE). Her doctor confirmed the existence of a lump by performing an ultrasound examination, followed by a mammogram.
A piece of the lump was then extracted via a needle biopsy and sent to the lab for testing. Thankfully, the lump turned out to be non-cancerous. Since the discovery, my friend has been consistently checking her breasts for lumps and going for annual check-ups.
The story above illustrates the need for BSE every month or more often to familiarize yourself with your breasts and the normal changes that take place every month, so you will quickly notice if any lumps form. However, do check with your doctor if your technique is correct.
Preliminary test
Imaging and biopsy
Upon detecting a lump during BSE, you should visit your gynecologist, who will take your medical history before doing a physical examination. Your doctor will examine your breasts and feel for any enlarged lymph nodes under your arms and at the base of your neck. After the examination, you may need some tests.
Imaging tests, such as breast ultrasound scans and mammograms, are usually done. Breast ultrasound is painless and takes just a few minutes. Ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the body. It is usually used for women under 35 whose breasts are too dense or solid to give a clear picture with mammograms. It is also used to see if a breast ump is solid or if it contains fluid. A fluid-filled lump is called a cyst.
A mammogram, on the other hand, is an X-ray of the breasts and is used in women above 35. A mammography is useful for finding early changes in the breast, when it may be difficult to feel a lump.
A mammography can be painful because the breasts are put between two metal plates and a little pressure is applied. But most women describe this as mild-to-moderate discomfort. It only lasts a few minutes and is not harmful to the breasts.
Next, a breast biopsy may be performed. During a biopsy, a small sample of cells or tissue from your breast is taken by your doctor and sent to the lab. At the lab, a pathologist examines the sample under a microscope to see if it contains areas of cancer. There are different ways of taking these biopsies, including needle aspiration, needle biopsy and excision biopsy.
A needle aspiration – also known as fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), is done in the outpatient clinic. The doctor uses a fine needle and syringe to take a sample of cells from the breast lump. This test might also be used to drain fluid from a non-cancerous cyst.
Needle biopsy – is also called ‘core biopsy’ and uses a slightly bigger needle than the one used for aspiration. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area and allows the doctor to take biopsy – a core of tissue from the lump. This type of biopsy is useful because the pathologist can see the cells in place within the piece of breast tissue that has been removed, so it is possible to differentiate between a non-invasive and invasive from the breast cancer.
Excision biopsy - is also called a surgical biopsy. A minor operation is done to remove the whole lump under general anesthetic. The lump is sent to the lab for examination.
When breast cancer is diagnosed
If the tests confirm breast cancer, your doctor may want to do further tests to check the cancer size and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. These tests will confirm what stage the cancer has reached and will help your doctor determine which treatment is best.
The staging system normally used in breast cancer is called TNM, which stands for tumor, node and metastasis. Thus, TNM staging takes into account the size of the tumor, whether the lymph nodes are affected and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).
The T stages are numbered 1-4 and describe the size of the tumor. The N stages are numbered 0-3 and describe which lymph nodes are affected, if any. The M stages are M0 (no sign of cancer spread) and M1 (cancer has spread to another part of the body apart from the lymph modes under the arm).
Your doctor will these three stages together to give you your overall stage. For example, you may see a tumour described as T2 N0 M0. This would be a single tumour 2-5 cm across, with no evidence of spread to any lymph nodes and no evidence of spread beyond the breast.
A cancer, or tumor, is a group of cells that has lost its ability to ‘die’. The process of programmed cell death – also known as apoptosis – is what keeps cell growth in check. When a cell mutates and loses its ability to die, it will keep replicating without end. The result is a mass of tissue we call a cancerous tumor. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women – in US and the rest of the world. Locally, it is also the top cause of cancer deaths among women.
The many causes
Although the causes of most cancers may be similar, it is important to list them out and to understand why these factors contribute to the disease.
Genetics
Also known as ‘family history’, the risk is increased if one has an immediate family member with breast cancer. Women who have mothers, sister or daughters who develop breast cancer before the age of 50 should get themselves checked.
Age
Our genetic blueprint gathers damage and errors as we age due to the constant replication that takes place. These errors build up and if it happens in the wrong place, it results in a cell that doesn’t die. This is the genesis of a tumour.
Early menstruation (before age 12) or late menopause (after age 55).
Such women are exposed to the effects of oestrogen and progesterone for a longer period compared to the average woman.
Being woman
This might sound silly, but men do get breast cancer as well. Having said that, women are still about 100 times more likely to get breast cancer.
Dense breast tissue
Dense breasts have more gland tissue, which increases the risk of a women developing breast cancer. This trait also makes it harder for doctors to spot irregularities when a mammogram is performed.
Race
Different races have different cancer profiles and risks. In US, white woman are most likely to develop breast cancer, followed by black women. Their lifetime risks are 1-in-6 , 1-in-17 and 1-in-28, respectively.
Alcohol
Drink away, but don’t say you’ve not been forewarned – alcohol has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, women who 2-5 glasses of alcoholic drinks a day have 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer than those who do not drink.
Obesity
Although the medical fraternity may seem biased against fat people, the facts are irrefutable. Not only are they more likely to get a hear attack, develop diabetes and not fit into a bikini, obese and overweight women run a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Not breastfeeding
The benefits of breast feeding are not only protective for the infant, but for the mother, too. The protection could possibly be because a woman does not have menses when she breastfeeds – the regulatory hormones prevent a woman from going into the reproductive cycle again when providing nutrition for her child.
The list goes on. Suffice to say. if you meet one or a few of the criteria above, the best thing to prevent breast cancer is to visit your doctor/ gynaecologist regularly.
