Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer




What is breast cancer?

If at some places in our body there are cells which growth is excessive, there will be a lump or tumor. These tumors can be benign or malignant. A malignant tumor is called cancer. Malignant tumors have unique properties, which can spread to other parts of the body to develop into new tumors. The spread is called metastases. Cancers have different characteristics. There is growing rapidly, there is growing not too fast, such as breast cancer.

The first breast cancer cells can grow into tumors of 1 cm at the time of 8-12 years. Cancer cells are silent on the breast gland. Breast cancer cells can spread via the bloodstream throughout the body. When the spread is going on, we do not know. Breast cancer cells can hide inside our bodies for years without the owner knowing, and active suddenly becomes a malignant tumor or cancer.

Cancer development

Stage 1 (early stage)

Tumor size of not more than 2 to 2.25 cm, and there is no spread (metastases) in axillary lymph nodes. At this stage I, the possibility of cure is 70% perfect. To check for the presence or absence of metastases to other parts of the body, must be examined in the laboratory.

Stadium 2

The tumor was larger than 2.25 cm and metastases have occurred in the lymph nodes in the armpit. At this stage, it is possible to recover only 30-40% depending on the extent of the spread of cancer cells. In stage I and II are usually performed surgery to remove cancer cells that exist in all parts of the deployment, and after irradiation to ensure operations are conducted no more cancer cells left behind.

Stage 3

The tumor was quite large, cancerous cells have spread throughout the body, and the possibility to live a little better. Breast treatment had no meaning anymore. Radiation treatment is usually only performed and chemotherapie (administration of drugs that can kill cancer cells). Sometimes also performed surgery to remove the breast that has been severe. This business is only to inhibit cancer cell growth process in the body and to alleviate the suffering of patients as closely as possible.

Early prevention

Needs to be known, that 9 out of 10 women found a lump in her breast. For early prevention, can be done independently. Examination should be done after completion of menstruation. Before menstruation, breast, slightly swollen making it difficult for the examination. How to check are as follows:

* Stand in front of the mirror and see if there are abnormalities in the breast. Usually the two are not the same breast, her nipples are also not located at the same altitude. Notice if there are wrinkles, indentations, or drawn into the nipple. If there are abnormalities that or out of fluid or blood from the nipple, immediately went to the doctor.
* Put your arms above your head and look back to two breasts.
* Bend the body until the breasts hanging down, and check again.
* Lie down on the bed and place your left hand behind his head, and a pillow under your left shoulder. Touch the left breast with your right fingers. Check if there are lumps in the breast. Then check whether there is a lump or swelling in the left armpit.
* Check and Touch the nipple and surrounding areas. In general, when palpable mammary glands with the flat of your fingers will feel rubbery and easily moved. If there was a tumor, it will feel hard and can not be driven (can not be moved from its place). When you feel there is a bump of 1 cm or more, immediately went to the doctor. The more premature treatment, the more likely to recover completely
* Do the same for breast and right armpit.

Treatment of advanced-

When found the lump, the doctor usually will recommend mammografie examination. Mammografie is a breast examination by means of x-ray examination and are a simple way, not sick, and only take 50-10 minutes. The best time for tests mammografie is a week after menstruation. The trick is to put the breast in turn between two sheets of the base, then x-rays made from top to bottom, then from left to right. The result of these photos will be reviewed by a radiologist physicians. A lump of 0.25 cm can already be seen on mammogram.

The other way is with a small operation to retrieve a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the lump, and then examined under a microscope anatomic pathology laboratory. When known and ascertained that the lump is cancerous, then the breast should be removed entirely to avoid spreading to other parts of the body.

Who should undergo examination mammografie?

* Women who are older than 50 years.
* Women who have a mother or sister had breast cancer.
* Women who had undergone removal of one of her breasts. Women in this group must be in strict control.
* Women who never bear children. It was found that this type of breast cancer is common assault.