What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease that is the most common in women’s health. There are different types of breast cancer. These different types of breast cancer depend on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Breast cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells and continue accumulating, forming a lump or mass. However, breast cancer starts when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer), also called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is cancer that begins growing in a milk duct and has invaded the breast’s fibrous or fatty tissue outside of the chimney. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common form of breast cancer, represents about 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Breast cancer can have different signs and symptoms for other people. Most don’t notice any signs and symptoms at all. A lump is the most common sign of breast cancer in your breast or armpit. Other symptoms may include skin changes, pain, a nipple that pulls inward, and unusual discharge from your nipple.
Warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer
The most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:-
- A lump in your breast or underarm is often the first sign of breast cancer. Your medical professional can usually see a lump on a mammogram long before you can see or feel it.
- Swelling your armpit or near your collarbone is often the second sign of breast cancer. This point indicates that breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes in that area. Instantly, swelling may start before you feel a lump, so tell your medical consultant if you notice it.
- Pain and tenderness: Although lumps don’t usually hurt. This may cause a prickly feeling.
- A flat or indented area on your breast: This problem could happen because of a timer you can’t see or feel.
- Breast changes: Some changes in the breast, such as differences in the size, contour, texture, or temperature of your breast.
- Changes in your nipples: These changes are pulled inward, burns, itches, etc.
- Unusual nipple discharge: Unusual nipple could be clear, bloody, or another color.
Causes of breast cancer
However, these breast cells can divide more rapidly than healthy cells and continue accumulating, forming a lump or mass. These cells may spread through your breast to your lymph nodes or other body parts.
Breast cancer problem most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma “IDC”). In the same kind, breast cancer may also start in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or other cells or tissue within the breast. Most researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But, one point is not clear why some people with no risk factors develop cancer, yet others with risk factors never do.
Prevention method
Breast cancer risk reduction for women with a low risk
- Ask your health consultant about breast cancer screening
- Become familiar with your breasts by occasionally inspecting through breast self-exam for breast awareness
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
- Exercise most days of the week
- Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Choose a healthy diet, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
Breast cancer risk reduction for women with a high risk
- Preventive medications (chemo-prevention): Preventive medications start with estrogen-blocking medicines, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors, to reduce breast cancer risk in women with a high risk of the disease.
- Preventive surgery: Many women with a very high risk of breast cancer may choose to have their healthy breasts surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy).
