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Breast Cancer Awareness Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

  • October 10, 2022
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October is the chosen month around the world to raise breast cancer awareness, and this year the significance of spreading awareness is even higher as cases continue to rise. With an estimated two lakh cases identified in the year 2020, the cases have risen to show alarming statistics. The current data suggests that nearly 4 out of 10 women who tested positive had succumbed to the fatal disease. Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and lack of awareness is one of the reasons to blame for its high mortality ratio.

Did You Know?

Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer among Indian women and this is followed by cervical cancer.

What is Breast Cancer?

This is a form of cancer that originates in the breast tissue. Breast cancer occurs when the cells within the breast grow and multiply beyond control, which eventually leads to an increased mass of tissue called as tumour Similar to other forms of cancer; this fatal disease can grow into the tissue surrounding the breast and start spreading by travelling to the other parts of the body to form new tumours. This stage of rapid growth of the cancer is called metastasis.

Who can be affected the most?

Breast cancer is one of the most fatal cancer after skin cancer and occurs mostly in adults above the age of 50, or at any age. It is most likely to affect women but also rarely occurs in male.

Types of Cancer

There are different types of breast cancer. Here are some of them

1) Infiltrating (invasive) ductal carcinoma: This cancer starts in the breast's milk ducts and breaks through the wall of your duct, spreading to surrounding breast tissue. It makes up about 80% of all cases and is the most common type of breast cancer.

2) Ductal carcinoma in situ: This cancer is also called stage 0 breast cancer. It is considered precancerous because the cells haven't spread beyond your milk ducts, and this condition is treatable. However, early diagnosis and prompt care are necessary to prevent cancer from becoming invasive and spreading to other tissues.

3) Infiltrating (invasive) lobular carcinoma: This cancer forms in the breast's lobules, where milk production occurs and spreads to surrounding breast tissue. It accounts for 10% to 15% of breast cancer cases.

4) Lobular carcinoma in situ: It is a precancerous condition in which there are abnormal cells in the lobules of your breast. It isn't true cancer, but it can indicate the potential risk for breast cancer in the future. So, it's important for women with lobular carcinoma in situ to perform clinical breast exams and mammograms regularly.

5) Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): This cancer makes for one of the most challenging breast cancers to treat. It is called triple negative because it does not have any of the three markers associated with other types of breast cancer. This makes early diagnosis and treatment difficult.

6) Inflammatory breast cancer: This is one of the rarest and most aggressive types of cancer. Its symptoms usually are redness, swelling, pitting, and dimpling of the breast skin. This cancer resembles an infection caused by the obstructive cancer cells in the skin's lymph vessels.

7) Paget’s disease of the breast: This cancer targets the skin of your nipple and the skin around your nipple, known as the areola.

Symptoms

There are many breast cancer cases where early symptoms go unnoticed and hence regular mammograms are important. The symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are:

  • Change in the size, shape or contour of your breast
  • Mass or lump in your breast that may feel as small as a pea
  • Lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarm
  • Change in the look or feel of skin on your breast or nipple
  • Redness on your skin on your breast or nipple
  • Distinctly different area from any other area on either breast
  • Marble-like hardened area under your skin
  • Blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from your nipple

Causes of Breast Cancer

There can be various factors that can increase your chances of getting breast cancer. Regular check-ups and talking to your healthcare professional are important to find out if you are at risk. Here is a list of causes that contribute majorly towards increasing your chances of breast cancer.

1) Family history and genetics: You are most likely to develop breast cancer disease at some point in your life if your parents, siblings, or any of your close relatives have been diagnosed with it. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are due to single abnormal genes passed down from parents to children. These cases can be discovered early by genetic testing.

2) Smoking and Alcohol Use: Serial smoking and tobacco use have been linked to many different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Did you know? Research indicates that drinking alcohol can increase your risk for certain types of breast cancer.

3) Obesity: Obesity can increase your risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence.

4) Radiation exposure: If you have had exposure to any prior radiation therapy, especially to your head, neck, or chest, you are more likely to develop breast cancer.

5) Hormone replacement therapy: Individuals who have taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

How to Prevent Breast Cancer?

Preventing breast cancer altogether is unattainable. But there are certain things you can do to reduce your risk of finding it at an advanced stage. Follow these simple measures:

1) Get routine mammograms: It is recommended to have a baseline mammogram at age 35 and a screening mammogram every year after age 40.

2) Examine your breasts every month after age 20: This will make you more familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts, making you more alert to changes.

3) Clinical breast exams help detect lumps that mammograms may not find. You can have your breasts examined by a healthcare provider at least once every 3 years after age 20 and every year after age 40.

Don’t ignore the symptoms and opt for regular check-ups to prevent this disease. Early identification of the symptoms can help you get preventive treatment that could eliminate the symptoms at the early stages.

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