My Operabreast cancer st pete urology fl
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 6:29:53 AM
breast cancer The term "breast cancer" refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells within the breast. • Race: caucasian women have been found to be at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than their African-American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian counterparts.
• Presence of other cancers in the family: a positive family history of cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix or colon increases the risk of you developing breast cancer.
• Excessive exposure to radiation
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): long term use of combined oestrogen and progesterone increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Late childbirth: having your first child after the age of 35 or never having children increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Early menarche: if you had your first period before the age of 12 years, your risk is increased.
• Late menopause: if you reach menopause very late, this would also increase your risk of breast cancer.
What are the Symptoms?
Breast cancer, in its early stages, usually has no symptoms. As the tumour grows, some of the following symptoms may be noticed:
• Lump in the breast or underarm that does not change in size with your mensus. Lumps due to breast cancer are typically painless.
• Changes in the colour or skin of the breast, areola or nipple (e.g. puckering, dimpling or scaling)
• Change in the nipple, such as retraction (pulled in nipple), itching or burning sensation, or discharge from the nipple.
• A marble-like hardened area under the skin of the breast.
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
What Can Help Decrease the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer?
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding over-consumption of alcohol, will help decrease the chances of developing breast cancer, along with a host of other diseases. Minimizing the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy to as short a time as possible will also minimize risk.
Having regular screening mammograms will not decrease the risk of developing breast cancer, but it enables the best chance of early detection, where treatment is generally more successful.
How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Many women present to their doctors with breast symptoms which do not turn out to be due to cancer. Common benign conditions of the breast include fibroadenomas and fibrocystic disease of the breast. However, all new breast changes should be evaluated by a doctor.
Doctors generally make the diagnosis of breast cancer by employing what is commonly known as the "Triple Test". As its name suggests, there are three parts to it:
(i) Clinical Examination
(ii) Imaging of the Breast
(iii) Breast Biopsy
1. Clinical Examination
Breast examination by a doctor involves inspecting and palpation of all 4 quadrants (the breast is typically categorized into 4 parts) of both breasts, the area under the nipples, and under both arms to feel for lymph node enlargement.
2. Imaging of the Breast
Mammography is the commonest test used to detect breast cancer. In younger women who tend to have much denser breast tissue, mammograms may be difficult to read and doctors may request for other imaging methods instead.
Benign breast lumps are typically rounded with smooth edges. Cancers, by contrast, usually appear denser with an irregular edge. The surrounding tissue may also be distorted by invading cancer cells.
• Presence of other cancers in the family: a positive family history of cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix or colon increases the risk of you developing breast cancer.
• Excessive exposure to radiation
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): long term use of combined oestrogen and progesterone increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Late childbirth: having your first child after the age of 35 or never having children increases your risk of breast cancer.
• Early menarche: if you had your first period before the age of 12 years, your risk is increased.
• Late menopause: if you reach menopause very late, this would also increase your risk of breast cancer.
What are the Symptoms?
Breast cancer, in its early stages, usually has no symptoms. As the tumour grows, some of the following symptoms may be noticed:
• Lump in the breast or underarm that does not change in size with your mensus. Lumps due to breast cancer are typically painless.
• Changes in the colour or skin of the breast, areola or nipple (e.g. puckering, dimpling or scaling)
• Change in the nipple, such as retraction (pulled in nipple), itching or burning sensation, or discharge from the nipple.
• A marble-like hardened area under the skin of the breast.
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
What Can Help Decrease the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer?
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding over-consumption of alcohol, will help decrease the chances of developing breast cancer, along with a host of other diseases. Minimizing the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy to as short a time as possible will also minimize risk.
Having regular screening mammograms will not decrease the risk of developing breast cancer, but it enables the best chance of early detection, where treatment is generally more successful.
How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Many women present to their doctors with breast symptoms which do not turn out to be due to cancer. Common benign conditions of the breast include fibroadenomas and fibrocystic disease of the breast. However, all new breast changes should be evaluated by a doctor.
Doctors generally make the diagnosis of breast cancer by employing what is commonly known as the "Triple Test". As its name suggests, there are three parts to it:
(i) Clinical Examination
(ii) Imaging of the Breast
(iii) Breast Biopsy
1. Clinical Examination
Breast examination by a doctor involves inspecting and palpation of all 4 quadrants (the breast is typically categorized into 4 parts) of both breasts, the area under the nipples, and under both arms to feel for lymph node enlargement.
2. Imaging of the Breast
Mammography is the commonest test used to detect breast cancer. In younger women who tend to have much denser breast tissue, mammograms may be difficult to read and doctors may request for other imaging methods instead.
Benign breast lumps are typically rounded with smooth edges. Cancers, by contrast, usually appear denser with an irregular edge. The surrounding tissue may also be distorted by invading cancer cells.
