| "body"> | | | | Normally, radiation therapy is applied as a follow-up |
| Breast cancer has become a more common | | | | measure to ensure that the remaining breast |
| disease among women in modern times. Once | | | | tissues are hopefully cleansed of cancer cells. In |
| known as an older women's disease, women in | | | | mastectomy, the entire breast is removed and in |
| their 20's are now experiencing more cases of it. | | | | most cases followed up by radiation and/or |
| Statistics reveal that the average breast cancer | | | | chemotherapy. This is because the current |
| risk is 14%. This climbs by 32% for smokers. The | | | | understanding of cancer is that they really don't |
| incidence of breast cancer could also be inherited | | | | know the cause or the extent so they |
| but is likely more too environmental factors and | | | | recommend this in hopes that it gets all the |
| lifestyle. Studies show that two genes BRCA1 and | | | | cancerous cells. |
| BRCA2 should normally prevent cancer cell | | | | In persons having invasive breast cancer, surgery |
| growth but when there are abnormalities in these | | | | and radiation might be supplemented by an axillary |
| genes, they can become the cause of higher | | | | lymph node dissection. Further hormonal therapy |
| breast cancer risk. Combine this with the present | | | | or chemotherapy - or both - might be needed in |
| toxic environment and multiple carcinogens and | | | | a few breast cancer patients. Radiation therapy is |
| the higher rates are easier to understand. | | | | an effective process for the destruction of |
| Typical breast cancer symptoms are the | | | | cancer cells that might remain after surgery. |
| formation of lumps, swelling or skin changes in the | | | | Radiation therapy reduces the risk of recurrence |
| breast. However, a cyst or an infection could also | | | | significantly. The side effects of radiation therapy |
| exhibit the same symptoms. Regular | | | | are dependant on the type, duration and health of |
| self-examination of the breast and an annual | | | | the patient. Dietary changes and nutritional |
| mammogram would help in early diagnosis of | | | | supplements are highly recommended. |
| breast cancer. If there is a doubt and concern | | | | If the breast cancer is hormone-receptor-positive, |
| that breast cancer may be starting, further scans | | | | then hormonal therapy is a primary method of |
| like ultrasound, MRI, CAT, and PET scans should | | | | breast cancer treatment. Hormonal therapy stops |
| be taken. | | | | the hormone known as estrogen to stimulate |
| Breast cancer treatment depends on several | | | | breast cancer cell growth. In recent times, |
| factors, like the size and stage of the tumor, as | | | | aromatase inhibitors are preferred to tamoxifen, |
| well as the lymph node and hormone receptor | | | | particularly for breast cancer treatment of |
| status. Breast cancer is classified as ductal | | | | post-menopausal women who have |
| carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ | | | | hormone-receptive-positive breast cancer. |
| (LCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and | | | | Chemotherapy is resorted to mainly to eliminate |
| invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). | | | | any cancer cells that could have spread from the |
| Modern technology has ushered in several | | | | breast to other parts of the body. However, the |
| treatment options. They are surgery, radiation, | | | | chemotherapy treatment regimen would differ |
| hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy. These | | | | with each individual. It is very important to be |
| treatments could be done singly or in a | | | | regular in the treatment plan and continue with |
| combination of more than one. Normal breast | | | | follow-up checkups to avoid recurrence, as well as |
| cancer surgery, called lumpectomy, is done where | | | | a change in lifestyle. |
| only the tumor in the breast is removed. | | | | |