Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women ages 55 – 64. The disease may also appear in men, but it is significantly less common: Male breast cancer makes up less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases, in accordance with NCI.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

In first stages, breast cancer normally has no symptoms. When the tumor progresses, you can note the following symptoms:

Inflammation in the armpit

A flattening or indentation on the breast

Pain or discomfort in the breast

A lump in the breast

Physical Changes

Any change in the contour, surface or temperature of the breast, reddish colored, pitted surface like the skin of an orange is sign of advanced breast cancer

Abnormal discharge

Abnormal discharge from the nipple that can be clear, soft or of a different color, normally a result of benign conditions but perhaps due to cancer

Change in the nipple

A change in the nipple, like an indrawn or dimpled look, itchiness or burning feeling, or ulceration, scaling of the nipple is sign of Paget’s disease

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer starts in the tissues of the breast.

There are two major types of breast cancer:

• Ductal carcinoma starts in the ducts that transfer milk from the breast to the nipple.
• Lobular carcinoma starts in the parts of the breast, known as lobules, which make milk.
• In unusual case s, breast cancer may start in other parts of the breast.

Causes of Breast Cancer

 

The actual cause of breast cancer is unidentified and there are actually no fixed causes for breast cancer.

A few of the causes that have been collectively linked to breast cancer are:

• Age
• Late childbearing
• Inheritance
• Very early menstruation or menopause
• Radioactivity
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Exposure to dangerous chemicals

Diagnosing Breast Cancer

Women are often diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine breast cancer testing, or after finding particular signs or symptoms and seeing their doctor about them.

If a woman notices any of the breast cancer signs or symptoms explained above, she should talk with her doctor right away.

Which Treatments are used for Breast Cancer?

There are a number of ways to manage breast cancer, determined by its type and stage.

Local treatments: Some treatments are known as local therapies, which means they cure the tumor without having an effect on the rest of the body. Types of local therapy used in breast cancer are:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy

Systemic Treatments: Breast cancer may also be treated using drugs, which are often given orally or directly into the bloodstream. These are known as systemic therapies since they can get to cancer cells everywhere in the body. Depending on the type of breast cancer, a number of different drugs can be used, such as:

• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy

Many women can get more than one type of treatment for their cancer.

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