Breast Cancer is like any other Cancer that can occur in both men and women. They are life-threatening and must be detected on time. Modern Science has made it possible for humanity to prevent it with adequate measures and by making certain lifestyle changes, which can positively impact your life. This piece aims to deconstruct every single information that you need to know about breast cancer, from detection to treatment and tips to prevent it.
Breast cancer occurs when some abnormal cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and continue to take the shape of a lump or a cluster of masses. It may occur in one breast or both. If not detected at the right time, it can spread dangerously to other parts of the body.
Dr Rohan Khandelwal is the best breast cancer doctor in South Delhi, an expert in the field, and involves advanced tools like vacuum-assisted excision and minimally invasive breast surgery in India.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
You must be vigilant about your health and do what is necessary to detect breast cancer. Periodic health checkups are instrumental when it comes to the detection of breast cancer. The topic of breast cancer is rarely discussed among women, let alone periodic checkups. Even when some women feel certain changes in their bodies, they hesitate to consult a doctor.
In this scenario, unlearning certain stereotypes is too beneficial. Indeed, Health is Wealth; unless you care about yourself, nobody else will. You can even consult a doctor to understand it anywhere in India, and finding a doctor in your locality is easy. Just search for a breast cancer doctor in gurgaon and choose a healthcare service that matches your preference. It is advised to get well-versed with symptoms to seek help when you observe little changes. Here's a list of changes that could be observed when breast cancer is at a developing stage.
1)Lump in the breast or armpit
2) Change in the size of the breast
3) Swelling in the breast
4)Usual change in the texture of the skin
5) Discharge of blood through the nipple
6) Change in the breast colour
7) Pain
How is breast cancer detected?
Breast cancer is detected through various techniques that ensure its presence. It is a known fact that early detection saves lives breast cancer awareness must be the norm.
Clinical breast examination - A trained doctor examines breasts and looks for the prevalence of cancer. Their focus on the examination is primarily on lumps and changes in the breast rather than before. This process is general, and it does not help in detecting tumors in thick breast tissues.
Mammography is a special form of X-ray of the breast and is considered the best standard for the detection of breast cancer. Mammography detects even the tiniest tumors before they take the shape of a large lump. There are two types: screening, which is the routine check for those with no symptoms, and diagnostic mammography, used for examining lumps and other symptoms.
Ultrasound is another way to detect breast cancer. It uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images. It helps in differentiating solid lumps from fluid-filled cysts (benign). Ultrasound is performed along with mammography a lot of times to get precise results. These are radiation-free procedures.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce 3D images. At times, breast cancers become undetectable due to thick breast tissue. Once detected, the process of eliminating it becomes smooth. To strike a difference from an abnormal tissue, they use a different dye.
Breast Self-Examination - You must notice little changes in your body with self-examination. Check for lumps in the breast or armpit, whether your breasts change shape, and discharge of blood/fluid. Self-examination begins with noticing these changes and consulting doctors. Vigilance saves lives.
Biopsy- when an imaging test shows suspicious areas, doctors go for a biopsy. In this process, doctors remove a small tissue sample and test it for cancer cells. There are several types of biopsies, such as fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsy.
Causes of Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is life-threatening, and we must do everything to ensure that we live cancer-free lives. Let's understand how certain factors contribute to the development of breast cancer.
Genetic Factors
Women with Inherited General Mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) have a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Other mutations like CHEK2 and PTEN also increase the risk. If a family member in the past had it, another person is likely to have it.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle highly contributes to the development of breast cancer. Unhealthy dietary habits, such as eating junk food or consuming high amounts of saturated fat, lead to obesity and cancer. Processed foods must be discarded. Fat tissues produce estrogen, which can fuel the best cancer growth. Even if you consume junk food in small amounts, it can highly affect your health. Exercising is a great activity, and it can prevent not only breast cancer but also many diseases. Daily exercises can help you achieve a healthy life.
Hormonal Factors
As per research, those who get their menstruation before the age of 12 and those who experience menopause after 55 have a high risk of developing breast cancer due to the prolonged exposure to estrogen. Many choose hormone replacement therapy, which exposes them to estrogen and progesterone, which is not recommended for many.
Reproductive health
A woman who has never had children or one who had them after the age of 30 has a higher risk of developing breast cancer due to the exposure to estrogen for the longest time. Breastfeeding reduces the risk and protects you in the long run.
Other factors
Did you know? Certain cosmetic products could give you breast cancer due to the presence of carcinogenic ingredients in them. These chemicals in the product are labeled as hormone disruptors like asbestos, formaldehyde, and phthalates. Check the ingredients in the makeup products before buying, because these makeup products can harm you.
Treatment of Breast Cancer
Treatment is based on several factors, not just one. It depends on patient preferences, stage, hormone receptor status, and overall health. You can receive Breast Cancer Treatment in NCR, which incorporates advanced tools to kill cancer cells.
- Surgery: Several types of surgeries eliminate the risk and effects of breast cancer.
Lumpectomy: Removal of the tumor while preserving the breast.
Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Removal of a few lymph nodes near the tumor.
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: Removal of Multiple Lymph Nodes
- Radiation Therapy: This therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is carried out after a lumpectomy.
- Chemotherapy: It eliminates cancer by the use of drugs, radiation, or injections. Chemotherapy is harsh and leaves side effects. It includes the use of IV, pills, and radiation. This therapy kills cancer cells.
- Hormone Therapy: It is carried out when cancer is hormone-receptor positive (ER/PR+). Estrogen and progesterone are blocked or reduced in their effect.
- Immunotherapy: It boosts the body's capability to fight cancer.
- Palliative Care: The entire process is overwhelming and leaves a long-lasting emotional and physical impact. To enable the patients to deal with its aftermath, they are made to do exercises, pain management, and engage in counselling sessions.
Whether you are looking for surgical cancer treatment in gurgaon or anywhere in the country, you must analyze and understand the treatment of breast cancer before making a choice.
Prevention: A step towards a healthy life
With the right measures and timely consultation with a capable doctor, you can reduce the risk of breast cancer by a thousandfold. Here are some of the prevention measures you should consider adopting in your life. Breast Cancer Awareness helps you fight it.
-Foods high in fats, such as processed and junk food, must be discarded because fat can lead to cancer.
-Exercise is a great activity that can help you achieve a healthy life, and it can not only reduce the risk of breast cancer but also save you from other diseases.
-Routine checkups, which incorporate mammography and ultrasound, can help you detect breast cancer promptly. They accurately detect with precision.
-Keep track of the medical history of your family because having a family member with breast cancer can increase the risk of it. In this case, it is very important to be aware and do routine checkups to keep yourself safe.
-Breastfeeding is not only a way of nursing the child, but it also reduces the risk because exposure to estrogen for a longer period of time hampers life.
-After consulting a doctor, you must find an alternative to hormone replacement therapy because it disrupts your hormone balance and severely impacts your health.
Conclusion
You must choose a professional who is trained and not only understands how to save you, but is also empathetic Breast Cancer Hospital in Delhi NCR reflects these qualities. Breast cancer must be detected on time, and in the beginning stage, the tumor or lump is painless, and in some cases, it goes undetected due to thick breast tissue. The changes are minor and therefore, each little change must be taken seriously. Breast cancer sometimes can’t be prevented, but certain lifestyle changes make a positive impact on your life, such as discarding processed food. Treatments are based on the stage, preferences, and medical history of a patient. Treatments like chemotherapy leave side effects, procedures like Breast Conservation Procedure, and Palliative Care are carried out.
