Preventing cancer is huge on the minds of researchers, the widespread increase in the rate of cancer has made everyone more worried and this includes the medical research team too. Breast cancer happens to be one of the most popularly known types of cancer that affects women globally.
Cancer develops when cells begin to multiply abnormally, women are mostly affected by breast cancer, and even if it is a rare situation, it is possible for men to also develop breast cancer. Breast cancer is of different types and can be largely categorized into two groups, the invasive and non-invasive types of breast cancer.
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The non-invasive type of breast cancer is the one that has not spread beyond the duct or lobule where it started. Further categorized into two other types, we have the;
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) which is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer that originates in the milk ducts of the breast and is yet to spread to other surrounding tissue.
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) is a condition that has abnormal cells found in the lobules of the breast. This is not considered cancer yet, but could be an indication for the development of invasive breast cancer.
Invasive breast cancer, on the other hand, is the cancer type that has spread or invaded the surrounding breast tissue. Just like the other type, there are two forms of invasive breast cancer;
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of invasive breast cancer, it starts from the milk ducts and then invades the surrounding breast tissue.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) begins from the milk-producing glands and spreads to other areas of the breast.
There are risk factors for the occurrence of breast cancer, some may be controlled while others cannot be controlled. Age is one of those factors that cannot be controlled, people older than the age of 55 have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, gender is another thing because women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
If you have siblings, parents, or close relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, then there is a chance of getting it at some point in life. Some studies also show that women who have their first child after the age of 30, who do not breastfeed, or who do not carry their pregnancy to full term are at risk of developing breast cancer. Smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol excessively can also increase the chances of breast cancer.
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Exposure to radiation therapy, particularly around the neck, chest, or head creates an increased possibility. Obesity can also be a trigger to developing breast cancer, and those who make use of hormone replacement treatment will most likely get breast cancer too. From the list of possible risk factors, we can tell which can be controlled and the one that cannot be controlled.
From the controllable risk factors, staying away from alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, getting active, breastfeeding, and limiting hormone therapy especially after menopause can significantly help with the chances of developing breast cancer.
The presence of breast cancer can be suspected when, there is a change in the size or shape of breast, red skin appearing on the nipple or breast, changes in the position or shape of nipple, a mass or lump even if it is as small as the size of a pea, nipple discharge that is either clear or bloody, a marble-sized or hard spot found underneath the skin.
The treatment of cancer is dependent on different factors, the cancer type and stage, the age and overall health of the patient, and hormone sensitivity too. The primary treatment options are usually; chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and biological treatment also known as targeted drug therapy.
There is no best method to prevent cancer yet, I mean researchers are still looking for a way around it, but some changes to our lifestyle can help to limit the risk of breast cancer.
For Further Studies
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-prevention-pdq
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3986-breast-cancer
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/nutrition-and-breast-cancer
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