GIRL TALK: Breast Cancer Awareness

Read Time:4 Minute, 1 Second

Introduction

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and serves to highlight the importance of breast cancer screening and education. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and accounts for 43,700 deaths out of 297,790 new cancer cases every year. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Diagnoses usually occur around the age of 62, however, diagnoses can definitely happen before this age. Although some think breast cancer to be mostly hereditary, it is not. In fact, only about 5-10% of cases are genetic while the rest is sporadic. Breast cancer is not 100% curable, but treatment can help. Even though it is not as common, men are also at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Swope Health

There are some factors that increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer such as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, being overweight, a family history of breast cancer, excessive radiation, etc. Even with these risks, there are ways to mitigate the chance of developing breast cancer.

Screening

Screening for breast cancer should start at the age of 40. However, if there is a family history, screening should start earlier. An earlier diagnosis results in better results and better prognosis. In order to detect breast cancer, a mammogram is used. This is an X-Ray of the breast that allows doctors and radiologists to see inside the breast tissue and identify any anomalies. Mammograms should be continued every 2 years until the age of 74. If there is a suspicious area or lump, doctors will biopsy the area or the lump where they extract part of the cells, tissue or fluid to be sent for examination.

An ultrasound and MRI are also used for detection. A breast MRI is utilized to see if there are other areas within breast tissue that could also have cancer. A breast ultrasound is used to determine if a lump is cancerous or not. All of these methods are effective for detection of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Testing: Screening and More

A 3D mammogram is a special type of x-ray which is able to scan breast tissue in 3D as opposed to 2D. 3D mammograms have recently been used in breast cancer screening which can detect breast cancer in a patient who is not experiencing any signs or symptoms. The 3D mammogram moves around you in order to capture the necessary images in order to detect the earliest forms of breast cancer. A 3D mammogram can also be used to further detect a suspicious lump or thickening in breast tissue.

Treatment Options

There are a few types of treatment for breast cancer including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Usually, more than one treatment option will be combined with others at the same time.

Stages of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer staging is the process by which doctors categorize how severe the cancer is. Stages of breast cancer are important because they determine the treatment and prognosis of the cancer. Different stages determine the severity of the cancer. The stages of cancer are also important because they determine whether or not cancer has spread. Different stages also tell the patient about survival from breast cancer.

Stage 1

Stage 1 breast cancer is benign. The cancer may only be in the breast or the surrounding lymph nodes. The cancer is usually very small and less than 2 cm. For Stage 1 breast cancer, surgery is recommended, followed by radiation.

Stage 2

Stage 2 breast cancer is more serious than Stage 1. In order to treat this, a full or partial mastectomy may be needed which is where some of the breast/breast tissue is surgically removed.

Stage 3

Stage 3 breast cancer means that the cancer has spread outside the breast and to the surrounding areas such as lymph nodes. Surgery and chemotherapy are needed for Stage 3 breast cancer. A full mastectomy might be recommended.

Stage 4

Stage 4 breast cancer is at the stage where breast cancer is the most aggressive. Unfortunately, at this stage, the cancer is unlikely to be cured because it has spread throughout the body: the cancer has metastasized. Even with Stage 4 breast cancer, someone can live very long. With treatment, the cancer can be controlled, but not cured.

Conclusion
Breast cancer is an ongoing threat for everyone, especially women. Even though breast cancer represents a major health concern, there are ways to prevent the minimize the risk such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding regular consumption of alcohol. In addition, breast cancer screening is very important as this type of cancer is better when detected early. These are just some of the steps individuals can take in order to prevent and minimize their risk for developing breast cancer.