BREAST CANCER FOR BEGINNERS

BREAST CANCER FOR BEGINNERS
BY: MANSI GUPTA
introduction
because of the social changes, which has brought
INCREASED NUMBER OF WORKINGWOMAN AND HENCE
delayed childbearing, there has been a steep
rise in the number of breast cancer patients in
THE LAST FEW DECADES. BUT AS THE INCIDENCE OF
the patients has risen so has raised the
modality of treatments and the success rates.
ALSO SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVISED METHODS BY WHICH
the cancer can be detected in an early stage and
it has been convincingly proved that early
DETECTION AND TREATMENT BEARS A BETTER PROGNOSIS
than the later stage.

MYTHS
there are many myths attached to breast cancer.
some think that any lump in breast is a breast
CANCER BUT TO THE CONTRARY MOST OF THEM ARE
benign. similarly it was a popular belief
earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk
OF THE CANCER BUT THAT HAS BEEN NOW FOUND TO BE
untrue. some say that mammography makes the
breast cancer widespread but it's not true.
SIMILARLY THERE ARE MANY OTHER MYTHS, WHICH NEED
to be cleared in mind of the general mass for
the proper detection and management of the
TUMOR.

early detection
BREAST CANCER CAN BE DETECTED IN AN EARLY STAGE
if women are taught to self-examine their
breast. in case of detection of any breast lump
OR OF ANY SLIGHTEST SUSPICION, MAMMOGRAPHY
should be done to rule out any tumor.
mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type
OF CANCER.

statistics
THE INCIDENCE OF BREAST CANCER IS INCREASING AT
an alarming rate. it is said that every 2-3
minutes one american woman is diagnosed a breast
CANCER.

cause
ALTHOUGH THE CAUSE IS NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD BUT
it is hypothesized that there are various
factors such as genetic and environmental. the
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ARE INCREASED AGE,
obesity, smoking and having the first child at
late age.

diagnosis
the findings that denote a cancer are single,
NON-TENDER AND FIRM TO HARD MASS WITH
ill-defined margins. this can be later confirmed
by mammography and biopsy. after the cancer has
BEEN DIAGNOSED STAGING IS DONE TO FIND OUT THE
best treatment option as well as the prognosis.

MANAGEMENT
the management of breast cancer rests basically
on two things. the first is the treatment and
SECOND IS THE COUNSELING. THE TREATMENT CAN
further be divided into three: medical,
radiation, and surgery. the medical treatment
CONSISTS OF DRUGS SUCH AS TAMOXIFEN, WHICH IS AN
anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as
aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such
AS TRASTUZUMAB. BUT SIMILAR TO OTHER DRUGS THEY
have their own side effects profile. the side
effects associated with tamoxifen are increased
VAGINAL BLEEDING, ENDOMETRIAL CANCER AND
cataracts. the aromatase inhibitors have the
side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight
GAIN WHILE THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES MAY CAUSE
sterility or certain birth abnormalities.
generally the radiation and surgery are the
MODALITIES, WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR THE TREATMENT
to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.

COUNSELING
this is one of the most important parts of the
treatment both before and after the surgery. the
PATIENTS ARE TO BE TAUGHT THAT THIS IS ONLY
another disease, which has treatment available,
and persons can lead a normal life after that.

latest research
latest research is being done on both the
SURGERY AND THE MEDICINE. FOR THE SURGERY,
surgeons are trying to find out the best way of
surgery so that post surgery the patients have
MINIMAL DISABILITIES. SIMILAR MEDICINES WITH
lesser side effects are being researched.

about the author:
mansi gupta writes about breast cancer topics.
LEARN MORE AT
http://www.breastcancerassistance.com [2].

circulated by article emporium [3]
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