Breast Cancer Signs, Symptoms and Treatment [Video]

Breast Cancer Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

### Breast Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

#### **Signs and Symptoms**

Breast cancer can present with a variety of signs and symptoms, which can vary widely between individuals. The most common include:

1. **Lump in the Breast or Armpit**:
– Often the first noticeable symptom.
– Can be hard, painless, and immovable, but some lumps may be tender or painful.

2. **Changes in Breast Size or Shape**:
– Unexplained changes in size or shape of the breast.
– Asymmetry where one breast changes differently than the other.

3. **Skin Changes**:
– Dimpling or puckering of the skin (often described as looking like an orange peel).
– Redness or scaling on the breast, nipple, or areola.

4. **Nipple Changes**:
– Nipple turning inward (inversion) or retraction.
– Nipple discharge, which can be clear, bloody, or another color.

5. **Pain**:
– Persistent pain in the breast or nipple area, though breast pain is more often linked to benign conditions.

6. **Swelling**:
– Swelling in all or part of the breast, even if no distinct lump is felt.
– Swelling in the lymph nodes under the arm or around the collarbone.

#### **Diagnosis**

Diagnosis of breast cancer typically involves several steps:
1. **Clinical Breast Exam**:
– A physical exam by a healthcare professional to check for lumps or other changes.

2. **Imaging Tests**:
– **Mammogram**: X-ray of the breast, often the first imaging test done to evaluate breast changes.
– **Ultrasound**: Uses sound waves to create images of the breast tissue, often used to further evaluate a lump found on a mammogram.
– **MRI**: Magnetic resonance imaging for a more detailed view, sometimes used in high-risk individuals.

3. **Biopsy**:
– Removing a sample of breast tissue to examine under a microscope to confirm if cancer cells are present.
– Types include fine-needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, and surgical biopsy.

#### **Treatment**

Treatment for breast cancer depends on the type and stage of cancer, as well as individual patient factors. Common treatments include:

1. **Surgery**:
– **Lumpectomy**: Removing the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue.
– **Mastectomy**: Removing the entire breast, which may be necessary for larger or more invasive cancers.

2. **Radiation Therapy**:
– Uses high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells.
– Often used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

3. **Chemotherapy**:
– Uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
– May be given before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink tumors or after surgery (adjuvant) to reduce the risk of recurrence.

4. **Hormone Therapy**:
– Used for cancers that are hormone receptor-positive (ER-positive or PR-positive).
– Medications such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors to block the body’s natural hormones that can promote cancer growth.

5. **Targeted Therapy**:
– Drugs that target specific characteristics of cancer cells, such as HER2-positive breast cancer.
– Examples include trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta).

6. **Immunotherapy**:
– Uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
– Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is an example used in certain types of breast cancer.

#### **Prognosis and Follow-up**

– The prognosis for breast cancer varies widely based on stage, tumor characteristics, and response to treatment.
– Early detection and advances in treatment have significantly improved survival rates.
– Regular follow-up care is crucial to monitor for recurrence and manage any long-term side effects of treatment.

#### **Prevention and Early Detection**

– **Screening**: Regular mammograms and clinical breast exams for early detection.
– **Lifestyle**: Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, limiting alcohol, and a healthy diet.
– **Genetic Testing and Counseling**: For those with a family history of breast cancer or known genetic mutations (like BRCA1/BRCA2).

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