EBN- Beast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Therefore, scientific studies and research are active to find the best ways to eliminate the disease.
Below are the latest surgical developments that contribute to improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors, in addition to the symptoms and types of breast cancer.
Breast cancer symptoms
The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice, according to Cancer Research UK, is a lump or thickening in the breast. But there are some other symptoms to look out for as well, which are:
A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit.
A change in the size, shape, or texture of the breast.
Skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, rash, or redness of the skin.
Nipple discharge in a woman who is not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Changes in the nipple, such as it turning inward.
Types of breast cancer
There are are many types of breast cancer , and it is important for doctors to identify the type and subtype of cancer so that they can design effective treatment with the fewest side effects.
Common types of breast cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): This cancer begins in the milk ducts and spreads to nearby breast tissue. It is the most common type of breast cancer. This cancer begins in the milk ducts and spreads to nearby breast tissue.
Lobular breast cancer: This type of breast cancer begins in the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast and often spreads to nearby breast tissue. It is the second most common type of breast cancer.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This type also begins in the milk ducts. But it doesn’t spread outside the milk ducts.
Less common types of breast cancer include:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): This invasive cancer is aggressive and spreads more quickly than other breast cancers.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC): This rare, fast-growing cancer looks like a rash on the breast.
Paget’s disease of the breast: This rare cancer affects the skin of the nipple and may appear as a rash.
Breast Cancer Symptoms and Developments
According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Advances in treatment, including innovations in surgery, are helping women and their healthcare providers provide personalized care and improve their quality of life.
There are two surgical options for treating breast cancer: lumpectomy and mastectomy. Often, the choice is left to the patient, says Sarah McLaughlin, MD, a surgical oncologist and chief of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. “Some of it may be related to the cancer, some of it may be related to family history and genetics, and some of it may be for personal comfort,” she says.
“If you don’t need a mastectomy, you’re not going to get better or live longer just because you have that surgery.”
Breast cancer treatment involves surgery to remove cancerous tumors from the breast. It’s often used in combination with other treatments, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy , hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
Surgery may also be used to reduce the risk of developing cancer in the future.
Surgical options include:
Removal of cancerous tissue and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue.
Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast.
Sentinel node biopsy: Removing a few lymph nodes to check if cancer has spread to them.
Axillary lymph node dissection: Removing more lymph nodes from under the arm, if there are many sentinel lymph nodes with cancer.
Breast reconstructive surgery: After a mastectomy, for a period determined by the doctor, in order to reconstruct the breast.
All of these options are evolving as knowledge improves. For example, Dr. McLaughlin explains, decades of research have shown similar long-term survival rates for local lumpectomy and total mastectomy.
Some patients no longer need to have their underarm lymph nodes removed.
Modern mastectomy techniques focus on removing as little skin as possible and preserving the nipple and areola as much as possible.
