Breast cancer
Breast cancer is a common type of cancer that affects women worldwide. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of death from cancer among women, after lung cancer.
The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, but certain risk factors can increase a woman’s chance of developing it. These include advancing age, family history, obesity, and prior radiation exposure to the chest area. There are also types of breast cancers that are caused by genetic mutations inherited from parents or acquired during a person's lifetime.
In most cases, breast cancers are classified according to the type of cells they originate from: ductal carcinoma (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma (LCIS). DCIS begins in the milk ducts, while LCIS begins in the lobules that produce milk for breastfeeding. The best breast cancer treatment has two types that have different prognoses and treatments; however, both can spread beyond their site of origin and may require more aggressive forms of treatment such as chemotherapy or surgery if not caught early enough.
Diagnosis and Staging of Breast Cancer
Diagnosis and staging of breast cancer is a crucial part of the overall treatment plan. It is important to understand the process so that you can make informed decisions about your care.
A diagnosis of breast cancer means that abnormal cells have been found in the breast tissue. To determine if these cells are cancerous, a biopsy will be performed to collect tissue samples for examination under a microscope. Depending on the results, further tests may be necessary in order to identify specific types of cancer and determine how far it has spread from its original location in the body (known as staging).
The most common type of biopsy for diagnosing breast cancer is an excisional or incisional biopsy, which involves cutting into the affected area with a scalpel to remove all or part of a tumor for testing. Other methods include needle core biopsies, which use long needles instead of scalpels; fine needle aspiration biopsies, which involve taking fluid and/or cell samples from tumors; and lumpectomies (surgical removal) or mastectomies (surgical removal) if larger tumors are present.
Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a serious and life-threatening disease affecting millions of women around the world. Treatment options vary, depending on the type and stage of cancer, as well as other factors like age and overall health. The five most common types of treatment used to treat breast cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies (biological therapies).
Surgery is one of the most common treatments for breast cancer. Surgeries such as lumpectomy or mastectomy can help remove tumors or affected tissues from the breasts. Depending on the extent of the tumor or affected tissue, some patients may even have reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy to make their breasts look more natural again.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells in specific areas in order to shrink tumors prior to surgery or afterward if any remaining cells are found. It can be used alone or combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy for better results.
Chemotherapy is another commonly used treatment for breast cancer that uses drugs that target rapidly growing cells like those found in cancers in order to kill them off before they spread elsewhere in your body. It’s usually given intravenously over several weeks but can also be taken orally if needed.
Potential Side Effects and Risks Associated with Treatments for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a serious disease that affects millions of people around the world. Fortunately, treatments for breast cancer have improved significantly over recent decades and now offer greater hope than ever before. However, it is important to be aware of the potential side effects and risks associated with these treatments so that patients can make informed decisions about their care.
Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer and involves using high-energy X-rays to destroy or shrink tumors. While this type of treatment can be effective in treating the disease, it may also cause side effects such as skin irritation, fatigue, nausea, and dryness in some patients. Long-term effects may include changes in skin texture or color as well as an increased risk of secondary cancers due to radiation exposure.
Chemotherapy is another popular treatment option used to treat breast cancer but can come with its own set of risks and side effects. The most common side effect experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy is hair loss due to damage caused by the drugs used during treatment; other potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia (low blood count), infertility (inability to conceive), nerve damage resulting in numbness or tingling sensations, fatigue, infections due to weakened immune system function from drug use.
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