Breast Cancer For Beginners
Breast Cancer for Beginners
by: Mansi Gupta
Due to our society's on-going socio-economic changes, there has been brought forth, an increased number of working women, and hence, delayed
childbearing, and there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has
risen so has it raised the modality of treatments and survival success rates. Also, scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proven that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than at the later stage.
Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary, most of them are benign.
Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases ones risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say
that mammography makes breast cancer widespread but that is also not true. There are many other myths which need to be cleared in the minds of
the general masses for the proper detection and management of the tumor.
Early Detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to properly self-examine their breasts. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.
Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetics and environment. The environmental
factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at a late age.
Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are a single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by
mammography and/or biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed, staging is done, to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.
Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is treatment and second is the counseling. Treatment can further be divided
into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors
such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors can have side effects like leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities.
Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities needed for the treatment to ward off the cancerous growth.
Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients need to be taught that this is only another disease, for which treatments are available, and that they can lead a normal life after that.
Latest Research
Research is being done on both the surgeries and the medicines. As for surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best means of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similarly, medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.
About the Author
Mansi Gupta writes about breast cancer topics.
by: Mansi Gupta
Due to our society's on-going socio-economic changes, there has been brought forth, an increased number of working women, and hence, delayed
childbearing, and there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has
risen so has it raised the modality of treatments and survival success rates. Also, scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proven that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than at the later stage.
Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary, most of them are benign.
Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases ones risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say
that mammography makes breast cancer widespread but that is also not true. There are many other myths which need to be cleared in the minds of
the general masses for the proper detection and management of the tumor.
Early Detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to properly self-examine their breasts. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.
Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetics and environment. The environmental
factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at a late age.
Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are a single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by
mammography and/or biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed, staging is done, to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.
Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is treatment and second is the counseling. Treatment can further be divided
into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors
such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors can have side effects like leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities.
Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities needed for the treatment to ward off the cancerous growth.
Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients need to be taught that this is only another disease, for which treatments are available, and that they can lead a normal life after that.
Latest Research
Research is being done on both the surgeries and the medicines. As for surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best means of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similarly, medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.
About the Author
Mansi Gupta writes about breast cancer topics.
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