Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. Its incidence rises after the age of 40. Certain factors that increase its risk are early onset of menses and late menopause, obesity or lifetime exposure to oestrogen. Women who have their first pregnancy after the age of 30 have a two to five fold increase in breast cancer risk than women with first full-term pregnancy before the age of 18. With every woman, the case is different and women should consult their doctors regarding their personal risk factors for breast cancer.

It is important to note that antiperspirants, injury to the breast or mammograms do not increase the risk for breast cancer, and when cancer is found at an early stage, it can effectively be treated, as there are several ways to help prevent recurrence.

Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit, a change of size or shape of the mature breast, fluid (other than milk) leaking from the nipple, a change of size, shape, colour or texture of the nipple, the areola, or of the skin of the breast itself. Early stages of breast cancer may not cause any pain or discomfort.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women of 40 years and above have an annual mammogram, for it can help detect 85 to 90 per cent of all breast cancers even before one feels a lump. Early detection is essential in reducing the number of women who develop stage IV, also known as meta-static breast cancer. Women between the ages of 20 and 30 should have a clinical breast exam during their annual physical.

There are four stages of breast cancer critical to the course of treatment and include tumour size, node status and metastasis. At times, diagnostic surgery is needed to determine if cancer is actually present or if it has spread. Options include fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and breast biopsy.

The five major types of breast cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, chemo, biologic and hormonal therapies. However, not every patient needs all five treatment modalities. Prevention and early diagnosis are very important tools in the long term disease course and the extent of treatment required for breast cancer.