Page 17 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

These include:
Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and / or the
Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and / o r t h e These include:
g
milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form » » Surgery to remove the breast tumour
milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form
Surgery to remove the breast tumour
(in situ) is not life-threatening and can be detected in » » Radiation therapy to reduce recurrence risk in
(in situ) is not life-threatening and can be detected in
Radiation therapy to reduce recurrence risk in
g
earl y st ag es. Cancer cells can s pr ead i nto nearb y breast the breast and surrounding tissues
early stages. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast
the breast and surrounding tissues
tissue (invasion), creatin g tumours that cause lum ps
tissue (invasion), creating tumours that cause lumps
Medications to kill cancer cells and prevent
or thickening. Invasive cancers can spread to nearby
g
or thickenin g. Invasive cancers can sp read to near by » » Medications to kill cancer cells and prevent
spread, including hormonal therapies,
ly
h nodes or other o
lymph nodes or other organs (metastasize), which can spread, including hormonal therapies,
rg
ans (metastasize), which can
mp
chemotherapy, or targeted biological therapies
be life-threatening and fatal. Treatment is based on the
be life-threatening and fatal. Treatment is based on the chemotherapy, or targeted biological therapies
individual, the type of cancer, and its spread. It typically » » Treatments for breast cancer are more effective
Treatments for breast cancer are more effective
individual, the type of cancer, and its spread. It typically
and are better tolerated when started early and
nes surgery, rad
i
ons.
i
cat
i
i
combines surgery, radiation therapy, and medications. and are better tolerated when started early and
at
i
on therapy, and med
comb
taken to completion.
Symptoms
Sy mp toms taken to completion.
g
Surgery may remove just the cancerous tissue
le will not ex
p
erience any sym
p
p
toms when
Most people will not experience any symptoms when Surgery may remove just the cancerous tissue
eo
p
Most
(called a lumpectomy) or the whole breast
the cancer is still early, hence the importance of early (called a lumpectomy) or the whole breast
p
ortance of early
the cancer is still early, hence the im
(mastectomy). Surgery may also remove lymph
detection plays a si g ni cant role. Breast cancer can (mastectomy). Surgery may also remove lymph
detection plays a signi cant role. Breast cancer can
nodes to assess the cancer’s ability to spread.
have combinations of symptoms, especially when it
have combinations of symptoms, especially when it nodes to assess the cancer’s ability to spread.
Radiation therapy treats residual microscopic
p
p
is more advanced. Symptoms of breast cancer can
is more advanced. Symptoms of breast cancer can Radiation therapy treats residual microscopic
cancers left behind in the breast tissue and / or
include:
include: cancers left behind in the breast tissue and / or
lymph nodes and minimizes the chances of cancer
» » A breast lump or thickening, often without pain lymph nodes and minimizes the chances of cancer
A breast lump or thickening, often without pain
recurring on the chest wall. Advanced cancers
recurring on the chest wall. Advanced cancers
» » Change in size, shape, or appearance of the breast can erode through the skin to cause open sores
Change in size, shape, or appearance of the breast
g
can erode through the skin to cause open sores
» » Dimpling, redness, pitting, or other changes in the (ulceration) but are not necessarily painful. Women
Dimpling, redness, pitting, or other changes in the
(ulceration) but are not necessarily painful. Women
skin with breast wounds that do not heal should seek
skin
with breast wounds that do not heal should seek
» » Change in nipple appearance or the skin medical care to have a biopsy performed.
medical care to have a biopsy performed.
g
Change in nipple appearance or the skin
surrounding the nipple (areola)
surrounding the nipple (areola) Medicines to treat breast cancers are selected
Medicines to treat breast cancers are selected
» » Abnormal or bloody uid from the nipple based on the biological properties of the

based on the biological properties of the
g
Abnormal or bloody uid from the nipple
cancer as determined by special tests (tumour
People with an abnormal breast lump should seek cancer as determined by special tests (tumour
People with an abnormal breast lump should seek
marker determination). Chemotherapy drugs
medical care, even if the lump does not hurt.
medical care, even if the lump does not hurt. marker determination). Chemotherapy drugs
are the medicines used during chemotherapy.
are the medicines used during chemotherapy.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous. Breast lumps Chemotherapy is one of the most common and
Most breast lumps are not cancerous. Breast lumps
Chemotherapy is one of the most common and
that are cancerous are more likely to be successfully effective cancer treatments available. It destroys
that are cancerous are more likely to be successfully
effective cancer treatments available. It destroys
treated when they are small and have not spread to
treated when they are small and have not spread to
nearby lymph nodes. Breast cancers may spread to
nearby lymph nodes. Breast cancers may spread to
other areas of the body and trigger other symptoms.
other areas of the body and trigger other symptoms.

Often, the most common rst detectable site of spread
Often, the most common rst detectable site of spread
is to the lymph nodes under the arm, although it is
is to the lymph nodes under the arm, although it is
possible to have cancer-bearing lymph nodes that
possible to have cancer-bearing lymph nodes that
cannot be felt.
cannot be felt.
Over time, cancerous cells may spread to other organs
Over time, cancerous cells may spread to other organs
- including the lungs, liver, brain, and bones. Once they
- including the lungs, liver, brain, and bones. Once they
reach these sites, new cancer-related symptoms such
reach these sites, new cancer-related symptoms such
as bone pain or headaches may appear.
as bone pain or headaches may appear.
Treatment Plan
fast-growing cells like cancer cells, and prevents
Treatment Pl an fast-growing cells like cancer cells, and prevents
A med i cal oncolo gi st or a rad i at i on oncolo gi st or them from multiplying.
A medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist or
them from multiplying.
a team of s
p
lan
ecialist may decide a treatment
p
a team of specialist may decide a treatment plan Medical treatments for breast cancers which
Medical treatments for breast cancers which
depending on the subtype of cancer and how much it may be given before (“neoadjuvant”) or after
f
depending on the subtype o
cancer and how much it
g
may be given before (“neoadjuvant”) or after
has s p read outside o f the breast to lym p h nodes or to (“adjuvant”) surgery is based on the biological
has spread outside of the breast to lymph nodes or to
(“adjuvant”) surgery is based on the biological
other p arts o f the body. subtyping of the cancers. Radiotherapy plays a
other parts of the body.
subtyping of the cancers. Radiotherapy plays a
» » Doctors combine treatments to minimize the very important role in treating breast cancer. With
Doctors combine treatments to minimize the
very important role in treating breast cancer. With
chances of the cancer coming back (recurrence). early-stage breast cancers, radiation can prevent
chances of the cancer coming back (recurrence).
early-stage breast cancers, radiation can prevent
y
(2009-2010) theme
World Cancer Da
World Cancer Day (2009-2010) theme: :
17
“I love my healthy active childhood”
“I love my healthy active childhood”