Each breast also contain lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels located throughout the body and connected to the lymph nodes. They play a very important role in the defense of the body. Lymph nodes in the armpit is closest to the chest.
Breast Cancer Is Most Common In Women
Breast cancer is the cancer most often occurs in women (35%). It is also a leading cause of cancer deaths (20.6%). But it was not the most deadly. For example, the prognosis for survival is better than lung cancer. More than three out of four women survivors of breast cancer.
Breast cancer occurs more
The number of cases of breast cancer has increased over the last 25 years, especially in Western countries. This increase is largely associated with the aging of the population. But breast cancer deaths declined. On the one hand this is a result of systematic detection where the tumor can be detected early on. In addition, current treatment also leads to a better prognosis.
Age is the most influential risk factors
The average age of the patient when diagnosis is 61 years old. Three-fourths of breast cancer occurring after 50 years. These numbers show that age is an important risk factor.
Breast cancer in men
A man can also be affected by breast cancer. But it is very rare: less than 1% of all breast cancer cases.
Early stage breast cancer disease: the importance of early detection
As with most cancers, early detection of breast cancer improves the chances of survival and recovery. The more premature a tumor is detected, the less risk. This makes it easier to handle.
The disease of breast cancer is caused by what? : A risk factor for breast cancer
Several factors increase the development of breast cancer.
- Age. Almost 75% of breast cancer occurs after 50 years.
- Genetic factors. Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are almost might be affected by breast cancer in their lives. They are also vulnerable to risk of ovarian cancer.
- Breast cancer whether descendants/family history. A woman whose brother suffered ovarian or breast cancer have a greater risk of developing cancer of the breast or ovary.
- Late or no pregnancies. A woman who is pregnant for the first time after the age of 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer.
- Treatment of hormonal substitution. That kind of care will only have a significant impact against the risk after five years.
- Lifestyle: breast cancer due to smoking, overweight, etc.
Genetic factors: BRCA1 and BRCA2
Genetic mutation: between 5 to 10% of cases of breast cancer are the consequence of genetic disorders Genetics: gene mutation BRCA1 and BRCA2. This genetic mutation greatly increases the risk of breast cancer.
Protective genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes: a role in the recovery of DNA. If the cells multiply, errors can occur on new DNA chain. Usually this error is corrected. But if the gene which is responsible for the restoration does not work properly, the error cannot be corrected. New cells then can mutate and become cancerous cells. Abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene makes vulnerable to breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Hormone replacement: some women menopause following hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Such treatments reduce symptoms (hot, dry vagina) of menopause. Can also prevent certain diseases associated with menopause, such as osteoporosis. In the case of HRT, estrogen and/or progesterone are essentially given in pill form to compensate for the lack of hormonal menopause.
This controversial treatment is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, especially if they are used over a longer period, for example, more than five years. Now this treatment only specified in certain cases and also in a much lower dosage to limit risk.
Diagnosis: Examination Of Breast Cancer
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
Lumps: Lumps are the main symptoms of breast cancer. The lump is abnormal thickening in chest or under the armpit. A lump can be felt when it has grown an inch. During nodulnya, it cannot be felt.
Other symptoms of breast cancer
Other symptoms may also indicate breast cancer:
- abnormal loss of nipple,
- sensitivity or pain in the chest,
- look different from the nipple: ulcer, retraksi,
- the change around, temperature or texture of the breast.
Prevention and diagnosis
Mammography is the primary method for detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Mammography is a radiography in which the breast is compressed between two plates. An anomaly can be detected or confirmed by these images. During the second half of the menstrual cycle, breast has a higher density. Then any growth more difficult to see. Therefore it is better to do a mammography at the beginning of the cycle.
Ultrasound assessment: additional research consisting of mammography ULTRASOUND where ultratones is used. ULTRASOUND gives a different picture of mammography and can determine a diagnosis first.
NMR SPECTROSCOPY (imaging with magnetic resonance): NMR explains information mammography and ultrasound. Because of the high prices, an NMR is primarily used to detect patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. He also used more and more to check the extent of breast cancer. NMR is also used almost systematically to prepare for a surgical procedure.
The GPA is not only useful for monitoring patients with breast reconstruction with the prosthesis, but also to monitor women with lobular tumors (cancer not seen on mammography).
The guided biopsies: If a suspicious injuries have been shown during the previous examination, the doctor may do a JAB to check whether it is cancer.
Biopsy: Biopsy is the reduction of a wider network. Certain characteristics of the tumor can be determined with this. Distinguishes between different types of tumors based on receptor is there or not, and on what kind of receptors:
- Hormone sensitive tumours (hormones affect tumor development);
- The tumor HER2-positive (HER2-receptor);
- Triple negative tumors
ULTRASOUND is used to identify a network location that is appropriate to be appointed and to help doctors insert a needle biopsy to the right place.
Biopsy gave doctors valuable information about tumors, information which is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment.
Breast Cancer Treatment
Breast cancer treatment usually consists of a combination of different forms of treatment:
- Surgery (surgery)
- radiotherapy (irradiation)
- hormonal therapy (hormone)
- targeted treatments
Common treatment such as surgery and radiotherapy are used to remove or destroy cancer cells in the breast level itself.
Treatment such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy, aiming to destroy or control breast cancer cells anywhere in the body.
The choice of treatment depends on many factors:
- the size of the tumor and where its location
- types of cancer
- age of patient
- hormone sensitivity
- the extent to which the development of the disease
- the State of public health
Surgery of breast cancer: Tumorektomi: Conservative surgery
To avoid mastectomy (amputation), the doctor will choose tumorektomi or conservative surgery. Thus, only the tumor to be appointed formally by a margin of 1 cm around the tumor. Margin serves to eliminate all cancer cells, while the breast is spared.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy (radiation) is used after tumorektomi, and in some cases used after mastectomy. Mammary irradiated with rays are ionizing radiation that is very accurate to destroy cancer cells that may still exist.
Radiotherapy can cause side effects: pain or swelling in the chest, Burns, etc. However, these side effects quickly improved.
Chemotherapy of breast cancer
Metastasis: one characteristic of cancer is that it can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system and the circulatory system. In this way they can embed themselves in other places and breeding there, creating a new tumor. the new tumor growths called metastases. Metastasis can be formed in the framework, the heart, brain, lungs, etc.
Additional treatment: Chemotherapy is sometimes used as a complement on surgical procedures. The purpose of this additional treatment is to destroy cancer cells that will probably leave the area of the mammary glands without forming metastases.
Care neo-adjuvants: in some cases, chemotherapy can be given before surgery. The size of the lump can be reduced significantly, so that it can be removed more easily.
The side effects of chemotherapy: Chemotherapy directed against cancer cells are proliferating rapidly. But the other cells in our body are also destroyed in a major way. This causes many side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, anemia, nausea, etc. However, oncologists have made much progress in the prevention and treatment of this side effect.
Hormone therapy
Female hormone-sensitive cancer: about two-thirds of breast cancer is sensitive to estrogen. In types of cancer that are sensitive to these hormones, exposure to female hormones stimulate tumor growth. For hormone-sensitive, efficient care can reduce the production or the effects of estrogen.
Additional Peengobatan: hormone therapy can reduce the production of female hormones, hormonal receptors block cancer cells. In this way the multiplication of cancer cells to slow down. Thanks to hormonal therapy, the mortality rate is dropping, and in certain cases the risk of recurrence can be reduced up to 50%.
Breast cancer treatment without surgery: angiogenesis against Drugs
Nutrition: tumor Angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) is regarded as a key process in the expansion of cancer in General, and especially breast cancer. To survive and thrive, tumors need to nourish themselves. Because it will form new blood vessels from the neighboring cells that irrigate and feed him. The mechanism is called angiogenesis.
Means against angiogenesis: some medications stop the process. Anti-angiogenesis drugs prevent the development of blood vessels so that the tumor was not given nutrients.