Breast Cancer

The breast cancer is the state when a tumor, benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous), appears and grow slowly nearby the breast tissues. Usually breast cancer begins in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast. Usually breast cancer is caused by a genetic abnormality (a "mistake" in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from patient's mother or father. Roughly 90% of breast cancers are due to hereditary defects that happen as a result of the aging process and the "wear and tear" of life in general. The cause of breast cancer is due to an abnormal expansion of cells which later leads to the growth of tumor. In modern time it is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in the women.

There are generally two types of breast cancer named as- Ductal carcinoma and Lobular carcinoma. Ductal carcinoma deforms and shapes up in the tubes which move milk from the breast to the nipples, whereas Lobular carcinoma shapes up in the lobules part of breast which produces milk. The symptoms of breast cancer are- swelling of all or part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, breast pain, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness, scariness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin, a nipple discharge other than breast milk, a lump in the underarm area.

There are many treatment options for curing of breast cancer in women. These include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy. As per the requirement sometimes more than one type of treatment procedure is applied. Since the medicinal technologies have improved and earlier diagnosis has become possible combined with improved treatment methods, deaths ratio due to breast cancer have drastically decreased over the past few years.

The early treatment of breast cancer depends on the location and size of the tumor, its development, and the patient's general health, which an oncologist or surgeon diagnoses. During the surgical procedure of cancer treatment cancerous cell is removed or destroyed in the breast. In case cancer is spread to other parts of the body, local therapy may be performed to control the ailment in those specific areas. Besides the local therapy, Systemic therapy (which includes- chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy), is also performed to remove the cancerous cell. During the surgery, which is used to treat the cancer, either the whole breast is removed in a procedure called a mastectomy or just the element of the breast that contains the cancer is removed in a procedure known as a lumpectomy. Through the radiation therapy, high doses of X-rays are used to shrink tumors and destroy cancerous cells.

After breast cancer surgery, patient usually stays in hospital for 4-5 days and it varies depending on the extent of the surgical procedure. Initial pain is normal after the procedure and patient is observed for a period of several hours by the doctor. The duration of the recuperation period depends on whether breast reconstruction surgery becomes part of the treatment plan.