BREAST CANCER & 21 FACTS

One out of every ten women develops cancer of the bosom (an incidence of 10%)

Among women who are 25 – 74 years of age, bosom cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality.
Cancinoma of the bosom is more common on the left bosom than the right. It is more common in the outer than the inner quadrant.
Cancer of the bosom is commoner in women who have no children and in women who have not bosom fed.
Cancer of the bosom is 5 times more likely to occur in women who have family history of bosom cancer.
Cancer of the bosom is one of the leading causes of death from all causes of death in women between ages 39 to 44 years.

The typical presentation of bosom cancer is that of a lump in the bosom which in the early stages is isolated, movable and painless.
As the cancer advances, fixation, retraction of skin or Tip, ulceration, pain, redness and ancillary masses may appear.
EARLY detection depends on SELF examination by women at monthly intervals and twice yearly by physicians. bosom self examination (BSE) should be performed monthly, one week after the menses.
To make an early diagnosis the DOCTOR must have a high degree of suspicion regarding all bosom lumps as well as a basic knowledge of bosom problems.

The most common type of bosom lesions and their frequencies are: fibrocystic disease 34% bosom cancer 27% fibroadenoma 19% intraductal papilloma 6%, duct ectasia 4% other types of bosom lesions 11%.

Patients at high risk of bosom cancer are:

• Those over the age of 40 years
• Those with a family history of bosom cancer
• Women who have never been pregnant or never had children.
• Women having their first baby after age 35 years.
• Women with a previous history of cancer in one bosom
• Women with explosure of bosom to excessive ionizing radiation.
• Women with endometrial or ovarian cancer
• Women with high dietary intake of fat.
• Women with chronic psychological stress.
• Women leaving in the western hemisphere of Europe or America.
• White women in the upper socio economic group.

Biopsy is mandatory in bosom lumps, any suspicion found by mammogram or bosom scan even if there are no clinical findings. It is also mandatory in any serous or bloody Tip discharge even if there are no lumps, and mammograms are negative. A woman should have a baseline mammogram between age 35 to 40 years of age. Between 40 and 50 years, mammogram are recommended every other year, after 50 years of age, yearly mammogram are recommended.
15% of patients who survive treatment of the initial bosom cancer for 3 or more years develop cancer in the opposite bosom.

Contralateral hidden cancers are seen in about 25% of patients with bosom cancer recently proved on one side.35% of women with untreated bosom cancer are known to survive for 5 years.
Irrespective of all diagnosis, techniques including mammogram, some cancers still unfortunately still elude early detection. Reliance for early detection of bosom cancer must be placed on self examination.
Recommendations for surgery, radiation and chemotherapy depends on the type, size, location and the extent of the tumour, the patient’s age, relation to the menopause and other factors.
bosom monthly self examination (BSE), bosom scan and mammogram in those of high risk group aids early detection and treatment.

What is bosom Cancer?

bosom cancer is a malignant tumour (a collection of cancer cells) arising from the cells of the bosom. Although bosom cancer predominantly occurs in women, it can also affect men.
What Causes bosom Cancer

There are many risk factors that increase the chance of developing bosom cancer. Some of the bosom cancer risk factors can be modified (such as alcohol) while other cannot be influenced (such as age).

Age: -
The chances of bosom cancer increases as you get older.

Family: -
The risk of bosom cancer is higher among women who have relatives with the disease. Having a close relative with the disease (sister, mother, daughter) doubles a woman’s risk.

Previous bosom Cancer: -
Having been diagnosed with bosom cancer in one bosom increases the risk of cancer in the other bosom or a recurrence in the same bosom.

Menstruation: -
Women who started their menstruation as a younger age (before 12) or went through menopause later (after 55 years have a slightly increased risk.

Bosom Tissue: -
Women with dense bosom tissue on mammogram have a higher risk of bosom cancer.

Race:-
White women have a higher risk of developing bosom cancer, but African Americans and black women have more aggressive tumours when they do develop bosom cancer.
Exposure to previous chest radiation increases the risk of bosom cancer.
Having no children or the first child after age 30 increases the risk of bosom cancer.
bosom feeding for one and a half to 2 years slightly lowers the risk of bosom cancer.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of bosom cancer.

Bosom Cancer Symptoms and Signs

The most common signs of bosom cancer are a new lump or mass in the bosom. In addition, the following are possible signs of bosom cancer:
Tip discharge or redness
bosom or Tip pain
Swelling of part of the bosom or dumpling.


How is bosom Cancer Diagnosed?

Although bosom cancer can be diagnosed by the above signs and symptoms, the use of screening MAMMOGRAM has made it possible to detect many of the cancers early before they cause any symptoms.
Women age 40 years and older should have a screening MAMMOGRAM every year and should continue to do so as long as they are in good health.
Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical and self bosom examination regularly by their gynaecologist during any gynaecological encounters.


What is Treatment of bosom Cancer?

Patients with bosom cancers have many treatment options. Most treatments are adjusted to the type of cancer and the staging group.

Surgery: -
Most women with bosom cancer will require surgery. The surgery could be bosom conserving surgery or mastectomy.
bosom conserving surgery will only remove part of the bosom. (Partial Mastectomy) and usually followed by radiation therapy.
Mastectomy means all the bosom tissues are removed.
Radical mastectomy means the whole bosom tissue is removed in addition to the axillary lymph nodes and the chest wall muscles.

Radiation Therapy: -
Destroys cancer through external beam radiation or through branchy therapy.

Chemotherapy: -
chemotherapy is the treatment of bosom cancers with medications given either through intravenous injections or orally.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy means chemotherapy is given after the surgery.
Neo adjuvant Chemotherapy means it is given before the surgery.

Hormone Therapy: -
This is usually used to prevent or reduce the risk of bosom cancer recurrence. Tamoxifen prevents oestrogen from binding to oestrogen receptors on the bosom cells. Other hormones that can be used are Fulvestrant, Aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole, anatrozole and exemestane.