| Among all the types of cancer, breast cancer is | | | | cancer. Other treatments are hormone therapy |
| one of the most frequently diagnosed in the | | | | and chemotherapy, which are classified as |
| world today. But compared to other cancer types | | | | systemic therapy because they are applied to the |
| that are not as frequently diagnosed, fewer | | | | entire body. Hormone therapy is the blocking or |
| people have actually died because of it. This | | | | reducing of estrogen in the body. This treatment |
| means that there are more breast cancer | | | | is available if the cancer is |
| survivors than the other types of cancer because | | | | hormone-receptive-responsive. In chemotherapy, |
| most of them were given the proper diagnosis of | | | | medicine is applied to hinder cells from multiplying. |
| the breast cancer that they had, allowing them to | | | | Once the diagnosis is clear, choosing the |
| know and obtain the most viable treatment | | | | treatment options will follow. If cancer is |
| possible. Here are some things that you should | | | | non-invasive, lumpectomy may be performed. But |
| know regarding breast cancer diagnosis. | | | | if the cancer is invasive, other forms of |
| Invasive or non-invasive | | | | treatment shall be applied. Treatment for Stage I |
| Non-invasive breast cancer is the type where the | | | | cancer is usually lumpectomy or modified radical |
| cancer cells remain in the part of the body where | | | | mastectomy. Radiation may or may not follow |
| it originated, whether in the duct or lobule. | | | | the surgery. Treatment for Stage II cancer is |
| Invasive breast cancer is that which has passed | | | | usually the same as that for Stage I cancer, |
| through the walls of the place of origin and has | | | | followed by radiation. Stage III and IV cancer |
| spread and infected the adjacent tissues and at | | | | may be treated by mastectomy, chemotherapy |
| times, may travel to other parts of the body | | | | and/or hormone therapy after surgery. |
| through the vessels. | | | | Cancer Personality |
| Lymph node involvement | | | | Doctors also tell you of the "personality" of your |
| Lymph is a fluid that moves through the arteries | | | | cancer, whether it is aggressive or not. If it is of |
| and travels through the tissues in order to cleanse | | | | the meaner or aggressive type, there is a higher |
| them. Lymph nodes act as filters that trap all | | | | risk for it to spread. There is therefore the need |
| unwanted substances, including cancer cells, and | | | | to use systemic treatment such as |
| they try to eliminate them from the body. The | | | | chemotherapy and hormone therapy. If it is of |
| problem is that most of the time cancer cells are | | | | the milder type, localized treatment may be |
| not eliminated but actually settle in the lymph | | | | administered. |
| nodes and that is how the nodes become | | | | Doctors sometimes describe the spread of |
| infected with the tumor. If more lymph nodes are | | | | cancer as local, regional and distant. Local means |
| involved, this means that the cancer is more | | | | that the cancer remains within the breast. |
| threatening and has a higher risk of spreading. | | | | Regional means that lymph nodes are involved, |
| Stages | | | | especially those under the armpit. Distant means |
| There are four breast cancer stages. Stage I | | | | that the cancer has spread to other parts of the |
| means that cancer is of the invasive type, but | | | | body. If the cancer is of the local or regional type, |
| the tumor is 2 centimeters long. Stage II involves | | | | treatment may be lumpectomy or mastectomy. |
| a tumor which is 2-5 centimeters which may or | | | | If cancer is distant, systemic therapy is |
| may not have infected or travelled to the axillary | | | | necessary. |
| lymph nodes. Stage III means that it is now locally | | | | Knowing the breast cancer diagnosis is one reason |
| advanced, meaning, it has spread to more nodes | | | | for the decline in mortality rate. When you know |
| and breast skin, and its size is more than 5 | | | | the diagnosis, you know the proper treatment. As |
| centimeters. With Stage IV, or more advanced | | | | we all know, breast cancer can be treated if |
| breast cancer, the tumor has moved farther | | | | diagnosed at an early stage. While the number of |
| from the breast and has infected other parts of | | | | women diagnosed may not considerably reduce, |
| the body as well. | | | | the number of women who shall seek treatment |
| Treatment | | | | and survive shall increase. With an increase in |
| Mastectomy is the complete removal of the | | | | awareness and advances in medicine, there will be |
| breast. Lumpectomy involves removal of only a | | | | more breast cancer survivors in the years to |
| part of it. After surgery, radiation may be | | | | come. |
| administered, depending on the personality of the | | | | |