Breast Cancer
Breast cancer occurs in both men and women but far more often in women. In fact, breast cancer is the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women, right behind skin cancer. Fortunately, due to increased research on the disease, coupled with earlier detection and new treatments, deaths from breast cancer are dropping. Projections for 2012 predict approximately 39,000 deaths, down from over 40,000 deaths in 2007.
Most breast cancer begins in the milk ducts of the breast and is called ductal carcinoma. The cause of breast cancer isn’t known for sure but scientists believe that there is a complex interaction between genes, diet, and the environment. Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer is linked to defective genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Being female
- Increasing age – women older than 55 have a greater risk
- Personal or family history of the disease
- Obesity
- Alcohol use
- Beginning menstruation at younger than 12 years of age or beginning menopause after age 55
- Having your first child after age 35
- Radiation exposure such as radiation treatments to the chest
Post menopausal hormone replacement therapy can also be a risk factor. Speak with your doctor about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement. It is important that any woman taking hormone replacement therapy be checked regularly by a physician for signs of cancer. It is usually recommended that hormone replacement therapy be used at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest time possible.
Women looking for signs and symptoms of breast cancer might notice changes in their breasts, particularly as they get older. Fortunately, most breast tissue changes do not indicate cancer. Here are some signs and symptoms to be aware of:
- A lump or thickening in the tissue
- A change in size or shape of the breast
- Changes to the skin on the breast such as dimpling, peeling, scaling, flaking, redness, or pitting of the skin (looks like the skin of an orange)
- Bloody discharge from the nipple
- Inverted nipple
Any of the above conditions should prompt a visit to your physician even if you have recently had a mammogram screening with normal results.
The most effective prevention strategies include maintaining a healthy weight and eating a nutritious diet. A breast exam by your physician should be conducted annually with regular mammograms as advised by your doctor. If further testing is needed, a breast ultrasound or MRI may be recommended. A biopsy is sometimes performed to remove a sample of suspicious cells for analysis.
A breast cancer diagnosis can be terrifying for any woman and her whole family. However, new treatments including gentler chemotherapies, targeted radiation doses, and effective surgeries are improving survival rates with a good quality of life after treatment. It’s vital to learn all you can about breast cancer and its risks. Most important, take care of your own well-being by getting rest, choosing a healthy diet, and making time for the things you enjoy.
Speak with your Old Hook Medical physician about screening for breast cancer. Dr. Edward Gold is Board-Certified in Oncology & Hematology and specializes in the treatment of all types of cancer including other benign and malignant tumors.
http://www.oldhookmedical.com/our-doctors/dr-edward-gold/
