Overview

Cancer is a disease that involves rapid, uncontrolled growth and spread of cells. This post addresses breast cancer and understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control at a high pace. The cancerous tumour can also spread inside the body, causing the condition to worsen. There is no specified breast cancer age. Hence, doctors organise many breast cancer awareness camps to educate females about the disease and preventive measures to follow.

Causes of Breast Cancer

There are many causes of breast cancer. Some of the major causes of breast cancer are -

Personal History of the Disease- A person affected by breast cancer can have a family history of the disease. Most of the time, breast cancer causes include the personal account of the individual's family.

Issues during Menstruation and Menopause- If a female experiences mensuration before 11 to 12 years of age or menopause after the late 50s, such females are at a higher risk of breast cancer. In such scenarios, the cells in the breast are exposed to hormones such as oestrogen.

Late Pregnancy- A late pregnancy, such as after the age of 37, can also be a cause of breast cancer. Pregnancy helps to push the breast cells for maturation. Late pregnancy slows this process resulting in breast cancer.

Improper Lifestyle- Improper lifestyle habits such as obesity, consumption of alcohol, no physical activity, and unhealthy food habits are also some of the breast cancer causes. Hence, females are always advised to have a healthy lifestyle and at least include physical activities for 1 hour.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Mentioned below are some of the visible and early signs of breast cancer that can also be considered red flags to detect the disease:

Change in the shape of the breasts- The shape of the breast changes due to the formation of lumps. One should check for these lumps in both breasts. It helps to identify whether the form has changed due to regular changes in the body or is an early sign of breast cancer.

Lump in the breast or near the armpit area- One can also observe lumps near the breast or armpit area. These are also one of the visible signs of breast cancer. Such signs should not be ignored and should be immediately consulted with a doctor.

Changes in the texture of the breast skin- Breast cancer cells form lymph fluid in the breast. It leads to changing or dimpling of the skin of the breast area. However, these liquids can also be found in other parts of the body, damaging the skin of that part.

Inward nipples- In the case of breast cancer, the milk duct behind the nipple is attacked by the cancerous tumours. In this case, nipples point inwards instead of pointing out. Hence, it is also one of the signs one must identify and immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment Options For Breast Cancer

Today, with the help of advanced technology and high-tech machinery, cancer can be easily detected and treated. Mentioned below are some of the treatment options to cure breast cancer:

Preliminary Treatments- Different treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy, and hormonal therapy are administered to treat breast cancer, depending on the extent and severity of the disease.

Essential Treatments- Treatment option such as surgery is one of the primary treatments a doctor adopts for breast cancer. The treatment involves the removal of a cancerous tumour from the breast without affecting other parts of the body.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert Oncology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

Breast cancer is one of the rapidly increasing and highly found forms of cancer in women today. Breast cancer awareness camps organised by doctors and medical institutions are helping to educate women about the measure to be taken to stay at bay from the disease. The more education, the more lives can be saved.

Reference Links

- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
- https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types
- https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/view-all