Breast Cancer: Preventive of Breast Cancer

Size of breast cancer

How is breast cancer prevented ?

Reviewing the risk factors and modifying the ones that can be altered (increase exercise, keep a good body weight, etc.) can help in decreasing the risk.

Following the American Cancer Society's guidelines for early detection can help early detection and treatment. There are some subgroups of women that should consider additional preventive measures: Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should be evaluated by genetic testing. This should be discussed with your health-care provider and be preceded by a meeting with a genetic counselor who can explain what the testing can and cannot tell and then help interpret the results after testing.

Chemoprevention is the use of medications to reduce the risk of cancer. The two currently approved drugs for chemoprevention of breast cancer are tamoxifen (a medication that blocks estrogen effects on the breast tissue) and raloxifene (Evista), which also blocks the effect of estrogen on breast tissues. Their side effects and whether these medications are right for you need to be discussed with your health-care provider.

Aromatase inhibitors are medications that block the production of small amounts of estrogen usually produced in postmenopausal women. They are being used to prevent reoccurrence of breast cancer but are not approved at this time for breast cancer chemoprevention.

Preventive surgery: For a small group of patients who have a very high risk of breast cancer, surgery to remove the breasts may be an option. Although this reduces the risk significantly, a small chance of developing cancer remains.

Some of the reasons for this approach may include

•  Mutated BRCA genes found by genetic testing,
• A strong family history, 
• A personal history of cancer in one breast.

Beware of Breast cancer: symptoms and sign

What are The symptoms and signs of breast cancer ?

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast. 

In addition, the following are possible signs of breast cancer:

• Nipple discharge or redness  
• Breast or nipple pain
• Swelling of part of the breast or dimpling .

It’s better to discuss with your health-care provider to get some more informations. 

The Diagnoses of breast cancer 

Although breast cancer can be diagnosed by the above signs and symptoms, the use of screening mammography has made it possible to detect many of the cancers early before they cause any symptoms.

The American Cancer Society has the following recommendations for breast cancer screenings: 

• Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so as long as they are in good health. Mammograms are a very good screening tool for breast cancer. As in any test, mammograms have limitations and will miss some cancers. The results of your mammogram, breast exam, and family history should be discussed with your health-care provider.
• Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of regular health exams by a health-care professional about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 years of age and over. 

CBE are an important tool to detect changes in your breast and also trigger a discussion with your health-care provider about early cancer detection and risk factors. 

Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should report any breast changes to their health-care professional. If a woman wishes to do BSE, the technique should be reviewed with her health-care provider. The goal is to feel comfortable with the way the woman's breast feels and looks and therefore detect changes.

Women at high risk (greater then 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderate risk (15%-20%) should talk to their doctor about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram.

Breast Cancer: The causes of Breast Cancer

The causes of breast cancer There are many factors can increase the chance of developing breast cancer. Although we know some of these factors, cannot detect how these factors cause the development of a cancer cell. The risk factor of breast cancer Some of the breast cancer risk factors can be modified (such as alcohol use) while others cannot be influenced (such as age). It is important to discuss these risks with your health-care provider anytime new therapies are started (for example, postmenopausal hormone therapy). The following are risk factors for breast cancer: 

• Age: The chances of breast cancer increase as you get older. 
• Family history: The risk of breast cancer is higher among women who have relatives with the disease. Having a close relative with the disease (sister, mother, daughter) doubles a woman's risk. 
• Personal history: Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast increases the risk of cancer in the other breast or the chance of an additional cancer in the original breast. 
• Women diagnosed with certain benign breast conditions have an increased risk of breast cancer. These include atypical hyperplasia, a condition in which there is abnormal proliferation of breast cells but no cancer has developed.
• Menstruation: Women who started their menstrual cycle at a younger age (before 12) or went through menopause later (after 55) have a slightly increased risk.
• Breast tissue: Women with dense breast tissue (as documented by mammogram) have a higher risk of breast cancer.
• Race: White women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, but African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors when they do develop breast cancer. 
• Exposure to previous chest radiation or use of diethylstilbestrol increases the risk of breast cancer. 
• Having no children or the first child after age 30 increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Breastfeeding for one and a half to two years might slightly lower the risk of breast cancer.
• Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Use of oral contraceptives in the last 10 years increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Using combined hormone therapy after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer. 
• Alcohol use increases the risk of breast cancer, and this seems to be proportional to the amount of alcohol used. * Exercise seems to lower the risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer and Type : What is breast cancer ?

Breast cancer predominantly occurs in women, it can also affect men.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor (a collection of cancer cells) arising from the cells of the breast.

What are the different types of breast cancer?

There are many types of breast cancer. Some are more common than others, and there are also combinations of cancers. Some of the most common types of cancer are as follows:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ: The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This type of cancer has not spread and therefore usually has a very high cure rate.   

Breast profile:

1. A ducts 
2. B lobules 
3. C dilated section of duct to hold milk
4. D nipple
5. E fat 
6. F pectoralis major muscle 
7. G chest wall/rib cage
8. Enlargement: 

1. A normal duct cells 
2. B ductal cancer cells 
3. C basement membrane
4. D lumen (center of duct)

• Invasive ductal carcinoma: This cancer starts in a duct of the breast and grows into the surrounding tissue. It is the most common form of breast cancer. About 80% of invasive breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinoma.

Breast profile:

1. A ducts 
2. B lobules
3. C dilated section of duct to hold milk 
4. D nipple 
5. E fat 
6. F pectoralis major muscle 
7. G chest wall/rib cage 

Enlargement:

1. A normal duct cells 
2. B ductal cancer cells breaking through the basement membrane 
3. C basement membrane

• Invasive lobular carcinoma: This breast cancer starts in the glands of the breast that produce milk. Approximately 10% of invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinoma. 

Breast profile:

1. A ducts
2. B lobules 
3. C dilated section of duct to hold milk
4. D nipple 
5. E fat 
6. F pectoralis major muscle 
7. G chest wall/rib cage 

Enlargement:

1. A normal lobular cells 
2. B lobular cancer cells
3. C basement membrane 

The remainder of breast cancers are much less common and include the following:

• Mucinous carcinoma are formed from mucus-producing cancer cells. Mixed tumors contain a variety of cell types. Medullary carcinoma is an infiltrating breast cancer that presents with well-defined boundaries between the cancerous and noncancerous tissue. 
• Inflammatory breast cancer: This cancer makes the skin of the breast appear red and feel warm (giving it the appearance of an infection). These changes are due to the blockage of lymph vessels by cancer cells.
• Triple-negative breast cancers: This is a subtype of invasive cancer with cells that lack estrogen and progesterone receptors and have no excess of a specific protein (HER2) on their surface. It tends to appear more often in younger women and African-American women. 
• Paget's disease of the nipple: This cancer starts in the ducts of the breast and spreads to the nipple and the area surrounding the nipple. It usually presents with crusting and redness around the nipple. 
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma: These cancers have both glandular and cystic features. They tend not to spread aggressively and have a good prognosis. The following are other uncommon types of breast cancer: Papillary carcinoma Phyllodes tumor Angiosarcoma Tubular carcinoma