Cancer of the Breast

There are many types of cancer and breast cancer is one of the most common. Roughly speaking about 1 in 11 women by the age of 75 will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast. It occurs rarely in males – about 1% of all cases – and so is understood to be a female disease. There are many stages of breast cancer, many treatments and many outcomes.

The beginnings though are all the same. Cancerous cells begin in the ducts of the breast. The best diagnosis is to discover the cells are still in this location. Most breast cancers are discovered after the cancerous cells have spread from the ducts.

We are not certain what causes cancer of the breast although there are factors which are possibly important. A woman who has had breast cancer before may have the disease come back. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women over the age of 55 although it does occur in young women if less frequently. Genetics are a likely cause so that a woman whose mother or aunt has been diagnosed will have a greater risk factor.

There are other risk factors such as not having children or having had your first child after the age of 30, drinking alcohol to excess, obesity and never breastfeeding. But [a] these are only risk factors and [b] a woman with one or more of these risk factors may never be diagnosed with breast cancer.

One good aspect regarding cancer of the breast – if ‘good’ is the right word – is that all women can make regular checks of their breasts in order to see if a change has occurred. This could be in the colour of the breast, its shape, any leakage or if there is a lump or swelling. Every woman over the age of 50 should have a mammogram every two years. If a woman notices any change in their breast they should visit their doctor as soon as possible. As with all cancers, the key to survival is early detection.

Many menopausal women are prescribed HRT or hormone replacement therapy as a means of relieving pain and other symptoms of menopause. Recent studies have showed that taking HRT increases a woman’s risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. This has sparked debate as to whether or not the benefits of HRT outweigh the possible bad effects. The debate continues.

There is today a variety of treatment options for women with cancer of the breast. This can include breast conserving surgery where, depending on the size of the cancerous cells, a partial removal of the breast is carried out. If a mastectomy or complete removal of the breast is required, re-constructive surgery can replace the breast using tissue from elsewhere in the patient’s body. Sometimes the re-constructive surgery can take place immediately after the breast has been removed or it may take place some months later.

Remember that we are all unique. If the cancer of the breast is caught early, there is an excellent chance of a full recovery. There are several treatment options and many fine resources to help both the patient and her family in the fight against the disease.