Breast Cancer: An Introduction to What It Is and How to Spot It Out

Overview

For a woman, it is natural to worry about her physical health, be it regarding any part of her body. In the same manner, when it comes to breast cancer, as per the reports till now, women are more alert and worried about its consequences. Because breast cancer is the second most common problem among women, the month of October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness month, with the sole goal of informing and educating people about the diseases associated with breast cancer, how to prevent them from occurring, how to cure them, and a variety of other topics.

On the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, today in this blog post presented by New Concept Clinic, the Best Obstetrician Gynaecologist Clinic in Dubai, we will impart information on what exactly breast cancer is all about and what measures you can take to spot and prevent it.

What Is Breast Cancer ?

Breast cancer is cancer that originates from the tissues of the breast present in the ducts and glands that make milk. The most common sign of breast cancer to spot is a new mass or lump in the breast tissue, along with several other changes and linked symptoms.

Types of Breast Cancer

Depending on the classifications of the conditions, breast cancer is of different types that include

Invasive: One of the most common types of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells lining the breast’s milk ducts, covering the surroundings of breast tissue.
Non-invasive: This type of breast cancer is based on the cells that are present in the ducts only.
Early located: Locally advanced or early breast cancer is when the tumor has not spread beyond the breast or axillary lymph nodes.

Stages of breast cancer

Once you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it is now time for your healthcare professional to check and determine the stage of the cancer. Generally, the stage of the cancer is determined by the size of the tumor and other symptoms. The common staging of breast cancer includes:

Stage 0: Also known as ductal carcinoma in situ, stage 0 of breast cancer includes cancerous cells that are only limited to the inside of the milk duct and do not spread to the surrounding tissues.
Stage 1: Stage 1 of breast cancer is divided into two parts, namely, Stage 1A, which indicates the cancer is 2 cm or smaller and does not spread out of the breast, Stage 1B of breast cancer states that no cancer is seen in the breast but a few cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes.
Stage 2: There are two cases of breast cancer in stage 2: the tumor is 2 cm and has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and the tumor is 2-5 cm but has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage 3: The tumor in stage 3 of breast cancer is divided into two cases: first, the tumor is up to 5 cm and has spread to several nearby lymph nodes, and second, the tumor is larger than 5 cm and has spread to a few lymph nodes.
Stage 4: A secondary stage of cancer that has spread to distant organs such as the bones, liver, lymph nodes, and others.

Breast cancer-related risk factors and symptoms

The risk of having breast cancer depends on different factors, which include:

Age: The risk of getting breast cancer increases as age increases. As per Dr. Elsa, a Gynaecology Surgeon in Dubai, the chances of developing breasts at an early age is 0.06%, and by the age of 50 and above, the figure goes to around 4.0%.
Genes: Specific genetic mutations are another major risk factor for developing breast cancer. People with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations are always at the highest risk of contracting breast cancer.
History: Any medical history of a person with breast cancer can increase the risk of developing breast cancer again. In the same manner, any family history of breast cancer can also result in a higher risk of developing it.
Radiation exposure: For people who are undergoing or have gone through radiation exposure near the chest or breast area, the chances of developing cancer multiply.
Dense breast: Those with dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue and are more likely to experience the formation of breast cancer.
Body weight: Being overweight or obese is the cause of many unwanted health conditions, including the one for breast cancer as well. If you are overweight, the chances of developing breast cancer increase.

When it comes to identifying the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, it is important for everyone to know about the possible ones. The most common symptoms are:

Swelling
Change in the size of the breast
Change in the shape of the breast
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple discharge
Swollen lymph nodes
Skin irritation
Dimpled skin

Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

The diagnosis of breast cancer is done by a healthcare professional. If you are someone experiencing the signs of the condition, you can Schedule an Appointment at the Best Obstetrician Gynaecologist Clinic in Dubai offering the top-most obstetrics and gynaecological services.

The process of diagnosis includes several tests, including:

Mammogram
Breast ultrasound
Breast MRI
Breast Biopsy
Other imaging tests

For the treatment process of breast cancer, there are treatment options:

Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Mastectomy therapy
Targeted therapy

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