Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect women.
Breast cancer begins in the breast tissues. It occurs when breast cells mutate and grow out of control, creating a mass of tissue (tumor). Like other types of cancer, breast cancer can invade and grow in the tissue around the breast.
We’ve listed some things you need to know about breast cancer:
Risk Factors
Studies have shown that breast cancer risk is based on a combination of factors.
Some women develop breast cancer without known risk factors. No single risk factor causes the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Although most women have some risk factors, most women never get breast cancer.
Immutable risk factors
- Age: Breast cancer risk increases with age. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after the age of 50.
- Genetic mutation: Women who inherit changes (mutations) in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Menstruation: Periods before age 12 and menopause after age 55 expose women to more hormones and increase their risk of breast cancer.
- Density: Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, making it difficult to see a tumor on a mammogram. Women with full breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
- A personal history of breast cancer or certain noncancerous breast diseases: Women with breast cancer are more likely to get second breast cancer. Some noncancerous breast diseases, such as atypical hyperplasia and intraepithelial lobular carcinoma, are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Inherited risks: A woman's risk of breast cancer increases if she has a mother, sister, daughter (first-degree relative), or more than one member of her family who has had breast or ovarian cancer. A male first-degree relative with breast cancer also increases the risk for women.
- Prior treatment with radiation therapy: Women who have had radiation therapy to the chest or breast (such as to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma) have an increased risk of developing breast cancer before age 30.
- Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES): Women who take DES or whose mothers took DES during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Modifiable risk factors
Research suggests that other factors, such as physical activity, smoking, exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, and hormone replacement therapy, may also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Signs And Symptoms
Breast cancer may not show any symptoms in the early stages. Often the tumor is too small to feel, but the mammogram is still abnormal.
The first sign is usually a new breast lump that wasn’t there before. However, not all lumps are cancerous.
There are different types of breast cancer and each type of breast cancer can cause different symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some may be different. Symptoms of the most common types of breast cancer include:
- A lump or thickening of tissue in the breast that is new and different from the surrounding tissue.
- Chest pain
- Red discolored skin or scar on chest
- All or part of the breast is swollen
- Nipple discharge different from breast milk
- Bleeding from the nipple
- Peeling of the skin on the nipples and breasts
- Sudden, unexplained changes in breast shape or size
- Sunken nipple
- Changes in the appearance of the breast skin
- Lump or swelling under the arm
Having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. For example, breast pain and breast lumps may be caused by benign cysts.
However, if you find a lump in your breast or have other symptoms, immediately see your doctor for further evaluation and testing.
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Some tests and procedures used to diagnose breast cancer include:
- Breast examination: Your doctor will examine the armpit, breast, and lymph nodes to look for lumps or other abnormalities.
- Mammography: An x-ray of the breast is a mammogram. Mammograms are often used to screen for breast cancer. If a screening mammogram finds an abnormality, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram to investigate the abnormality further.
- Breast ultrasound: Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of structures deep within the body. An ultrasound can determine if a new breast lump is a solid or fluid-filled cyst.
- Biopsy: It is the only definitive way to diagnose breast cancer. During a biopsy, your doctor will use a special needle device guided by her x-rays or another imaging test to remove a core of tissue from the suspected area. A small metal marker is often placed in the chest to easily identify the area on future imaging tests. Biopsy samples determine the types of cells involved in breast cancer, the aggressiveness (grade) of cancer, and whether cancer cells carry hormone receptors or other receptors that may influence treatment options.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI machine uses magnets and radio waves to make pictures of the inside of the breast. Before your breast MRI, you will receive an injection of a contrast agent. Unlike other imaging tests, MRI does not use radiation to create the images.
Other tests and procedures may be used depending on the circumstances.
How To Run A Self-test
It may seem strange initially to examine your breasts, but it’s important to make this part of your daily routine. Remember – prevention is much better than cure.
Breast self-examination can be done in the comfort of your home and is a useful tool for the early detection of breast cancer.
Breasts undergo many changes in shape, size, and composition from the onset of puberty to menopause. So you don’t have to worry about your body changing. It’s all-natural.
The Right Way To Examine Your Breast
Look in the mirror:
- Standing naked in front of a brightly lit mirror, put your arms around your hips. Notice the shape and size of both breasts.
- What are you looking for:
- Redness or lumps around the nipple
- Rash
- Scaling
- Enlarged pores
- Next, place both hands on your hips and press down to see if your pectoral muscles contract evenly on both sides and if there are any dents in your skin.
- Bring your palms together and raise them above your head. Note if the skin is dimpled. Gently pinch both nipples between your index finger and thumb to check for discharge. After childbirth, some discharge from the nipple is considered normal.
Check your breasts while lying down:
- Lie with a pillow under your shoulders and with one hand behind your head.
- Touch your left breast with your right hand, then touch your right breast with your left hand.
- Your fingers should be flattened and held together for a firm touch, from the collarbone to the entire chest, around the nipple, chest, and underarms.
- Repeat the same with the other breast.
Check your chest while standing or sitting:
- You can do this while showering, as soap makes it easier to move your hands over your chest.
- Raise your right arm and place your right hand behind your head for the right chest. Then use your left hand to examine your breast.
- Move your fingers in a circular motion from the outside to the inside of the circle until you reach the nipple. Look for any unusual growths or lumps in the breast.
- Use different pressure levels to feel the different layers of tissue in your breast.
- Then similarly, examine the left breast to look for changes:
- Breast lump
- Skin redness
- An orange peel-like appearance or dimple around the nipple
- Changes in breast shape and size
- Nipple discharge
- Inverted or retracted nipples
All of these changes help detect breast cancer earlier and thus improve survival.
When Should I See A Doctor?
Make an appointment to check for breast cancer, especially if you:
- Feel knots that seem tight or stuck
- Notice a lump that does not go away after 4-6 weeks
- Notice skin changes in your breasts, like dimples, wrinkles, redness, and scabs
- May have bloody discharge from your nipples
- Have nipples that are facing inward and are generally not positioned that way
- May feel a lump under your armpit
If you notice any sign or symptom listed above, contact your doctor immediately.
Early diagnosis is essential for breast cancer management and treatment.
