Breast Cancer

If you notice a suspicious lump in your breast, it’s important to consult a doctor immediately. They can perform a physical examination or mammogram, which is a low-dose X-ray that detects the presence of breast abnormalities. To confirm if it’s a cyst or a solid mass, an ultrasound may be recommended.

Determining whether a cyst contains malignant cells is simply a matter of taking a liquid sample with a needle, whereas a solid mass requires microscopic analysis following a biopsy. Cancerous cells may require testing for the presence of estrogen or progesterone receptors, which will guide treatment.

Other tests are available, including magnetic resonance imaging, bone scans, or CT scans to check whether the cancer has spread to other organs or tissues.

A lump or mass in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer that can be detected during breast self-examination. It’s not usually painful, but may cause an unusual sensation where the lump is located. It is possible that the size or shape of the breast may change when a lump develops.

Swelling in the armpit, dimpling, a reddish rash, or breast swelling are other symptoms that may be early signs of breast cancer and require immediate consultation with a medical specialist, even without the presence of a lump. They may, however, be related to a condition that is not cancerous. While determining the exact cause of a lump is important, it should be noted that around 8 out of 10 lumps are non-cancerous.

A number of factors can influence the choice of treatment for breast cancer, including how quickly the tumour progresses, its response to prior treatments, or whether there is dissemination, meaning whether cancer cells break away from the tumour and spread elsewhere in the body.

Early detection can reduce the risk of spread and increase the chances of recovery. Several treatments are available, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Surgery involves complete or partial breast removal. With partial removal, known as lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, only the tumour and a few surrounding tissues are surgically removed, while with a simple mastectomy, the entire breast is removed. Chest tissue, muscles, and lymph nodes may also have to be excised. Knowing the precise location of the tumour is necessary for a successful surgical treatment and radiotherapy, unlike systemic cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy consists of injecting drugs to destroy cancer cells in various parts of the body. This treatment can have a number of side effects, since it harms not only cancer cells, but also healthy ones. Patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. Hormonal treatment can also slow the growth of cancer cells. Menopausal women whose cancer has hormone receptors can also benefit from this treatment.

In some cases, a targeted treatment can be administered. This is the case for patients overexpressing the HER2 protein, for high-risk patients, or those with an advanced disease.