Introduction of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a cancerous breast tissue growth arising from transformed cells of the ducts or lobules. It may also invade other tissues in the body/through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system, hence the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Breast cancer is not exclusive to women since men may also be affected, but this is very rare.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is subdivided into many types, which have different factors that cause breast cancer and the way they are treated. Some of the most common types include:

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, abbreviated as IDC, is a common type of breast cancer that has spread beyond the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

IDC is the most widespread type of breast cancer, comprising approximately 80% of all cases. This type of cancer affects the milk ducts as well as the breast tissue outside the ducts. IDC can also be further divided into specific subcategories, such as luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple negative, that would allow the right course of treatment.

Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of invasive breast cancer.

Invasive lobular carcinoma makes up about 10–15 percent of breast cancer diagnoses in women globally. While IDC begins in the milk ducts, ILC begins in the lobules, or milk-producing glands, of the breast. As a result, it spreads in a single line and thus does not easily show up on the mammograms or during organism palpation. As with IDC, ILC can also be subdivided into ILC subtypes, including luminal A and luminal B, HER2 positive, and triple negative.

In situ Breast Cancers

DCIS and LCIS are pre-malignant conditions, meaning that although the cells are malignant, they have not invaded surrounding tissues. Invasive cancers can form from these, but the cancer cells have not continued to invade the rest of the breast tissue. It is diagnosed more often than other non-invasive breast cancers named DCIS, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of all breast cancer cases. Inverse LCIS is particularly unusual; it is encountered in 1–3% of patients.

Paget’s Disease of the Breast

Paget’s disease of the breast is an uncommon type of breast cancer that originates from the milk ducts and also spreads to the skin layer of the nipple. It is defined as inflammation of the nipple and/or areola presenting in scarlet red and scaly skin lesions. Paget’s disease might be challenging to diagnose because most of the symptoms are similar to other diseases like eczema or psoriasis.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Thus, inflammatory breast cancer is an invasive form of breast disease that constitutes 1-5% of overall malignancies. It is associated with redness, swelling, and skin induration or thickening. complaints of feeling the breast inflamed. Inflammatory breast cancer is characterized by fast-growing and aggressively spreading malignant cells; that is why diagnosis and treatment of this type of cancer are urgent.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Although breast cancer can present differently in each individual, some common symptoms include:

• Breast cancer may also manifest itself through a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm area.

• Irregular lump formation and any shape or contour abnormality in the breast

• Skin dimpling or puckering

• Intraductal papillary or ductal ecliptic not involving breast nipple discharge or galactorrhea

• Nipple retraction or inversion

• Nipple retraction, inversion, or nipple skin changes such as erythema, scaliness, and/or crust formation in the nipple or areola region.

• Pain in the breast or nipple

Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

The diagnostic process for breast cancer typically involves several steps, including:

1. Clinical breast exam: Depending on the species of this condition, a healthcare person will feel the breasts and the region of the underarms for any lumps or changes in size or shape.

2. Mammogram: A small dose of X-ray can be used to examine the breast tissues for any irregularities, for example, tumors or calcium deposits.

3. Ultrasound: This is an imaging test that involves the use of sound waves to develop a picture of the breast in an attempt to note any lumps or any other irregularities.

4. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small piece of the area that looks abnormal is removed for examination under a microscope for cancerous cells.

5. Additional tests: If the biopsy or other tests show that the person may have breast cancer, other tests might be needed to find out how far the cancer has spread and what type of breast cancer it is.

Treatment for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer management is informed by factors including cancer type and stage, cancer subtype, and the general health status of the patient. Some common treatment options include:

1. Surgery: Lumpectomy, mastectomy, and a double mastectomy are forms of surgery that may be used to remove the cancerous tissue from the breast. In some situations, the lymph nodes may also be taken out for purposes of checking whether the cancer has spread.

2. Radiation therapy: This treatment involves the use of X-rays to eliminate fast-growing cells, which are characteristic of cancer.

3. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals or drugs to destroy cancer cells in the entire body either as a preliminary step to surgery or at a later stage.

4. Hormone therapy: It is also used in the treatment of breast cancer to avoid the growth of cancer cells that are inclined with estrogen and progesterone hormones.

5. Targeted therapy: It means that it employs drugs that seek out proteins and cells that help the cancer grow, like HER2-positive breast cancer.

6. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a treatment procedure that assists the immune system of the human body to identify cancer cells and destroy them.

Prognosis and Prevention

Breast cancer survival rate depends on several factors, including type of cancer, stage of cancer, type of cancer cells found in the patient’s body, and his or her general health status. If breast cancer is diagnosed early enough and appropriate treatment is started, then the outlook for breast cancer patients is much better. Also, it was discovered that avoiding smoking, adequate breastfeeding, regular exercise, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, and being underweight or overweight can prevent breast cancer.