Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
  • English
    • Hindi
    • Bengali
Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
  • English
    • Hindi
    • Bengali
Home > Blog > Breast Cancer > Know About Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer

Know About Breast Cancer

by Narayana Health October 21, 2019
written by Narayana Health October 21, 2019
Know About Breast Cancer | Narayana Health

Breast cancer, the most common site-specific cancer in women and a leading cause of death from cancer for women aged 20-59 years has been rising in incidence. October being the breast cancer awareness month, I take the privilege in writing this article with the hope that it will benefit at least some if not all of the readers.

In a country like India, breast cancer is a very important medical condition for various reasons:

  1. 1 in 28 Indian women develop breast cancer during her lifetime
  2. In India, the average age of getting breast cancer is lesser  (43-46 yrs) compared to the West (53-57yrs) and a more aggressive variety of cancer is prevalent. (more Her2neu positive and ER/PR negative cases)
  3. Social taboos regarding breast cancer prevent women from talking to friends and families, let alone doctors. This poses a big problem in early detection. As a result, a lot of cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage

There are various risk factors associated with breast cancer, important ones being:

  1. Family history of breast cancer – especially in first degree relatives like mother or sister
  2. Pregnancy is protective in a way that women with no children or having first childbirth late are at relatively higher risk
  3. Breastfeeding is protective
  4. Obesity and alcohol increases risk
  5. Radiation exposure increases risk
  6. Hormone therapy increases risk – estrogen and progesterone, however, there is no significant increase in risk with the usage of oral contraceptive pills

Breast Cancer, a type of cancer arising in the breast can occur in both women and men although the incidence in men is rare.

It can present as a lump in breast, puckering or dimpling of the skin of the breast, retraction of nipple inwards, discharge from nipple especially bloody discharge, ulceration of skin or nipple – areola. It is usually painless. Sometimes it may present as a red, warm, painful breast mimicking an infection.

Very rarely there may not be any signs in the breast but signs of spread to other organs.

It can present as a lump in the axilla or neck. It can present as backache or any bony pain if spread to bones. It can present as cough, chest pain or breathlessness if spread to lungs.

However, we must understand that these signs of distant spread without any signs in the breast are rare and usually breast cancer will present as some sign in the breast itself first, which can be picked up early and treated before spreading to other organs.

One very important fact that our readers must note is that Breast cancer if detected at an early stage is curable.

Hence a lot of our effort should be directed towards detecting any signs of breast cancer at the earliest stage. For this, we advocate regular once a month self-breast examination and consult a physician if any change is noted at the earliest. A self-breast examination should be done in a correct way for it to be effective and avoid unnecessary anxiety.

What if a lump or any other sign of breast cancer is detected? – A physician should be consulted as soon as possible. For any breast lump triple test is advised:-

Clinical examination, Imaging (mammography or ultrasonography) and biopsy

Depending on the above further treatment plan is made which may consist of

  1. Surgery – which can be either Mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) or Breast conservation surgery (removal of the only lump with adequate margin)
  2. Chemotherapy
  3. Radiation therapy
  4. Hormonal therapy or Targeted therapy

After completing treatment breast cancer patients need regular follow up every six months for five years and once a year after that.

Certain myths:-

  1. Finding a lump in breast means its cancer – not all breast lumps are cancers – most are benign
  2. If there is no pain in lump, there is nothing to worry –  Most cancerous lumps are painless
  3. Breast cancer is communicable – No, it is not. It cannot be caught or spread by contact
  4. Cancer is not curable – It is if detected early

Dr. Neha Choudhary, Consultant Breast Onco-Surgery, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Howrah

Breast CancerBreast Cancer Mythsbreastfeeding
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
previous post
Breast Cancer: New Menace of westernized India
next post
Help your loved one cope with Breast Cancer

You may also like

Beware – Cancer does not knock!

October 20, 2021

स्तन संबंधी कर्करोग

June 6, 2021

उसके स्तन: उसका निर्णय!!

February 25, 2021

Know your risk factors for breast cancer

January 5, 2021

Advances in Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment

October 15, 2020

Why is breast biopsy absolutely essential for cancer...

October 14, 2020

Be your own kind of beautiful even with...

October 10, 2020

Creating Awareness – Busting Myth and Facts of...

October 9, 2020

Detection of Breast Cancer – Increasing the odds

July 27, 2020

Hereditary Breast-Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC)

May 27, 2020
1 2 3 … 252

About NH

Narayana Health

Narayana Health is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, and operates a network of hospitals across the country, with a particularly strong presence in the southern state of Karnataka and eastern India, as well as an emerging presence in northern, western and central India. Our first facility was established in Bengaluru with approximately 225 operational beds and we have since grown to 23 hospitals, 7 heart centres, 19 primary care facilities across India and an international hospital in the Cayman Islands.

Keep In Touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube Telegram

Tell us your Medical Query

    [recaptcha]


    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Boosting your Immune System against Coronavirus: How to minimize the risk of...

      April 2, 2020
    • 2

      Coronavirus Testing – How to Test for Coronavirus? – Different Types of Tests

      March 13, 2020
    • 3

      How to maintain a Balanced Diet

      September 3, 2019
    • 4

      Know about proper usage, disposal and reuse of mask

      April 6, 2020

    Categories

    • Aids (5)
    • Bengali (1)
    • Blood Pressure (4)
    • Bone marrow transplant (12)
    • Breast Cancer (31)
    • Cancer (38)
    • Cardiac Surgery (23)
    • Cardiology (155)
    • Coronavirus (110)
    • Dental Sciences (1)
    • Dermatology (14)
    • Diabetes (37)
    • E. N. T – Paediatric (6)
    • E. N. T. (5)
    • ECMO (1)
    • Endocrinology (10)
    • Gastroenterology (30)
    • General Health (90)
    • General Surgery (4)
    • Gynaecology (43)
    • Haematology (5)
    • Health Nuggets (41)
    • Healthy Life (1)
    • Hepatology (14)
    • Hindi (7)
    • Infectious Diseases (4)
    • Kidney (4)
    • Liver (30)
    • Medical Oncology (1)
    • Mental Health (3)
    • Narayana Health (228)
    • Nephrology (33)
    • Neurology (98)
    • Neurosurgery (30)
    • News (6)
    • NH services (6)
    • Nutrition and diet (22)
    • Oncology (101)
    • Organ Donation (1)
    • Orthopaedics (96)
    • Paediatric Cardiology (11)
    • Paediatric Liver Transplant (1)
    • Paediatric Oncology (3)
    • Paediatric Surgery (4)
    • Paediatrics (71)
    • Pain & Palliative Care (4)
    • Pregancy (8)
    • Psychology (4)
    • Pulmonology (31)
    • Radiation Oncology (8)
    • Rheumatology (3)
    • Services (3)
    • Spine Surgery (30)
    • Stroke (5)
    • Swine Flu (1)
    • Transplant (1)
    • Urology (36)
    • Vascular Surgery (10)

    Follow us

    QUICK LINKS

    Find a Doctor

    Book an Appointment

    Make an Enquiry

    Feedback

    Hospitals

    Blogs

    Privilege card

    Heart Rhythm Disorder

    NH CARES

    Hernia

    Lung Cancer

    Brain Tumour

    Liver Cancer

    Heart Attack

    Urinary Problems

    Heart Transplant

    Kidney Transplant

    Bone Marrow Transplant

    Pulmonary Hypertension

    CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

    Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery

    Cardiology

    Cardiac Surgery

    Neurology

    Neurosurgery

    Orthopaedics

    Robotic Surgery

    Vascular Surgery

    Nephrology

    Radiation Oncology

    MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

    Academics

    Clinical Research

    NH Colleges

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    Subscribe to our Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

    About Narayana Health

    |

    Stakeholder Relations

    |

    News & Media Relations

    |

    Awards and Accreditations

    |

    Leadership

    |

    Careers

    |

    CSR

    |

    Sitemap

    © Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd | All rights reserved
    NPPA Implant Pricing     Terms & Conditions     Privacy Policy     Disclaimer

    Book Online Consultation