Types Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. A breast lump that is malignant is referred to as breast cancer.
Breast cancer begins when abnormal cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form a tumor.It can develop in different parts of the breast, such as the ducts or lobules. Early detection is very important, as it helps in effective treatment and better recovery. Common symptoms include a lump in the breast, changes in breast shape, or nipple discharge. Not all lumps are cancerous, but medical evaluation is necessary to confirm the cause. Risk factors include family history, age, hormonal changes, and lifestyle factors. Regular screening through mammography and self-breast examination helps in early diagnosis. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. Advances in medical care have greatly improved survival rates in breast cancer patients. Awareness, early detection, and timely treatment are the keys to overcoming breast cancer.
Breast cancer be non invasive initially where it is developed within the site. Later it may invade into other parts of the breast and become invasive.
Based on size of the tumor, its spread to lymph nodes and other organs, stages of breast cancer are identified.
Treatment of Breast Cancer Treatment
Based on size of the tumor, its spread to lymph nodes and other organs, stages of breast cancer are identified.
Mammography
Mammography is a screening technique to diagnose malignancy in the breast. It uses low energy X-rays to examine the breast. The motive of a mammography is early detection of breast cancer so as to treat it in time and cure it. Mammography followed by other screening methods such as ultrasound, PET scan, MRI and ductography aid in confirming malignancy of tumors in the breast.
It can identify even small calcifications and hidden abnormalities that cannot be felt during a physical examination. Early detection through mammography greatly improves the chances of successful treatment. Regular screening is advised for women over the age of 40 or for those with a family history of breast cancer. Digital mammography provides clearer images with greater accuracy, helping doctors make precise diagnoses. It also plays an important role in monitoring breast health for patients who have undergone treatment. The procedure is quick, non-invasive, and usually completed within minutes.
While mammography aids in initial screening and diagnosis of breast lumps and cancer, it can also be misleading. A clear mammogram can indicate exact location and density of the tumor. However several times, due to many dense tissues in the breast there can be false positives and false negatives.
False positives can lead to unnecessary screening and further expenses for a negative malignancy causing unwanted stress and anxiety. On the other hand, a false negative can be more dangerous as the whole purpose of early detection is lost.
A mammography unit is used to perform a mammography. Breast is placed on the parallel plates of the mammography unit and compressed in order to even out the thickness of the breast tissue. This ensure lesser diffusion of x rays and clearer image. It is recommended to avoid applying deodorant, talcum powder or lotion before screening the breast as these appear as calcium deposits and can be misleading. There are two types of mammography or mammogram studies:
Screening Mammography : This type is generally for the general yearly screening of the breast and yields 4 standard X Ray images . This includes the craniocaudal (CC) view and the mediolateral oblique view.
Diagnostic Mammography: This type is for patients with known breast irregularities, changes, conditions or history. Apart from the standard X Ray images, geometrically magnified and spot-compressed views are also taken.
Mammography has advanced to digital mammography where digital receptors and software is used to analyse the digital mammograms instead of X Ray films to study the breast tissue. Digital mammography are of the two types: Spot View for breast biopsy and Full Field for screening.
3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBS), tomosynthesis, and 3D breast imaging, is a mammogram technology that creates a 3D image of the breast using X-rays. It adds value to a regular mammography however exposes the patient to radiation two times.
