Breast Cancer - Causes, Treatment and Prevention - Case Study Example

Breast Cancer Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Breast Cancer According to the Center for Disease Control (2016), breast cancer is a condition that causes the breast to grow uncontrollably. Moreover, the Cancer Organization (2017) notes that breast cancer is an uncontrollable growth of breast cells, which form a tumor that can be felt as a lump or detected by an x-ray machine. Breast Anatomy Ideally, the breast is made of three parts; ducts, lobules, and connective tissues. The breast has lobes made of 15 to 20 sections. The lymph vessels transport lymph between the lymph nodes. (Cdc.gov, 2016). Lymph and blood vessels can spread breast cancer outside the breast to other parts of the body an action describes as metastasize. Types of Breast Cancer The common kinds of cancer are Invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma: This type of cancer originates from the lobules and spreads to the nearby breast tissues and can also spread to other parts of the body. Invasive ductal carcinoma: Is a type of cancer that originates from the ducts and spread to other parts of the breast tissue and other parts of the body (Cdc.gov, 2016). Nevertheless, there are other minor types of breast cancer are not common like medullary, Paget disease, inflammatory breast cancer, and mucinous (Cdc.gov, 2016). Symptoms Breast cancer can start from different parts of the breast and can create a lump in the breast. However, not all types of breast cancer form a lump hence it is important to look out for other symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, breast cancer has many symptoms, but the most noticeable sign is a lump or a thickened breast tissue. However, Li (2010) notes that not all breast lumps are cancerous, but it is good to have them checked out. Having mention that is important to point out that breast cancer can manifest itself in the following ways: Blood streaked discharge from the nipples (one or both) Changes in the shape and size of one or both breasts A rash on the nipple A lump in the armpits Variations in the appearance of the nipple (nipples appear sunken into the breast) The dimpling of the breast skin (Ryerson, Miller and Eheman, 2015). Causes Despite the fact that the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown or entirely understood, there are certain factors attributed to increasing the risk factor of contracting breast cancer. These factors include: Genetics (breast cancer present in the history of the family) Age (the risk of contracting breast cancer increase with age) Obesity and tallness Personal history of breast cancer (Recurring breast cancer) Excessive abuse of alcohol Breast density (high concentration of cells in the breast can increase the chances of contracting breast cancer) The occurrence of non-malignant breast lumps (Nhs.uk, 2017). Detection There are several ways in which breast cancer can be detected. These methods include: Breast exams Mammograms MRI scans Blood tests Ultrasounds CT scans Diagnosis Early Detection The standard means of detection of breast cancer is after a breast examination, screening, or after confirming certain signs and symptoms with a physician. According to Nordqvist, (2017) it is advisable for women to have regular checkups and see a doctor immediately they experience any of the signs and symptoms or note any irregularities in their breast. Staging Staging determines the extent cancer has grown into the body of a patient and whether it is invasive or non-invasive. Moreover, staging describes the size of the tumor and whether it has metastasized and through lymph nodes of blood vessels. Determining the stage of the cancer is vital in deciding the treatment option that is suitable for the patient and determining their prognosis. Nevertheless, staging is conducted after diagnosis and is done by performing some tests on the patient (Nordqvist, 2017). Nonetheless, there are several diagnostic examinations and test that can help ascertain the presence of breast cancer, they include: Breast exam (entails examination of both breast for any abnormalities and lumps) X-ray examination (mammogram). The use of these methods has become controversial in recent years. Some experts argue that it should start at 40 years while others prefer 50 years old. However, another section of the groups believes that only the high-risk groups should be subjected to routine mammogram checks (Nordqvist, 2017). Breast ultrasound Biopsy: This determines if abnormalities are cancerous and what type of cancer it is. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan Bone scan (this scan check for dividing cells that can cause cancer in the bones) PET scan (A procedure that checks for malignant tumor through injecting a small amount of radioactive glucose into the vein) Stages Stage 0 This stage is described as carcinoma in situ and it has three types; ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (noninvasive and manifested by abnormal cells in lining of breast duct); lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) (manifested by abnormal cells in lobules of the breast) and Paget disease of the nipple manifested by abnormal cells in the nipples (Cancer.org, 2017). (Cancer.org, 2017). Stage 1 Stage I of breast cancer is divided into two parts stage IA and stage IB as shown in the picture below. (Cancer.org, 2017). In stage IA the cancerous tumor is 2 centimeters or less, which implies that the cancer has not spreads outside the breast. In stage IB the tumor is not large than 2 millimeters and is manifested by cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Stage II Stage II is divided into IIA and IIB. In stage IIA no tumor is present or it is less than 2 centimeters. The cancer cells are located in 1 of the 3 lymph nodes near the breastbone (Cancer.org, 2017). Moreover tumor can be longer than 2 centimeters but less than 5 centimeters and the cancer cells have not spread to the lymph nodes. In Stage IIB the tumor can be 5 centimeter and the cancer cells have spread to 1 of the 3 axillary lymph nodes. Or the tumor can be longer than 5 centimeters and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (Cancer.org, 2017). Stage IIIA Stage IIIA is manifested by: No tumor in the breast or it can be any size and the cancer cells have spread to more than 4 axillary lymph nodes; or The tumor is more than 5 centimeters and small cancer cells are present in the lymph nodes; or Tumor is more than 5 centimeters and has spread to 1 of the 3 axillary lymph nodes (Cancer.org, 2017). Stage IIIB In Stage IIIB the cancer can be of any size and has spread to the skin of the breast or the chest wall and caused a swelling. The cancer could have spread to 9 axillary lymph nodes (Cancer.org, 2017). Stage IIIC In stage IIIC the tumor could be of any size and it can be absent in the breast. The cancer could have spread to the skin and caused a swelling. Moreover, the cancer could have spread to 10 axillary lymph nodes. Stage IV In stage IV the cancer has spread to the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. Treatment and Prevention Many factors influence the chances of getting breast cancer over the life of an individual. Some of the factors such as family history and getting old cannot be changed, but the chances of getting breast cancer can be reduced by leading a healthy life. Several methods can be utilized in the treatment of breast cancer; these methods depend on the type and stage of cancer. Surgery is the standard method of treatment in early stages of cancer followed by the advanced methods of chemotherapy radiography. Ideally, the type of treatment and surgery a patient can have depends on the kind and stage of breast cancer. Surgery: It is mostly used for early stages of breast cancer. Early stages of cancer affect the sentinel lymph node, which is removed by breast-conserving surgery. Radiation therapy: This type of treatment utilizes high-energy x-rays and radiation to stop the spread of cancer or kill it. There are two types of radiation, internal radiation therapy, and external radiation therapy. Chemotherapy: This type of treatment uses drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. There are two types of chemotherapy, regional chemotherapy (injected directly into the cells) and systematic chemotherapy (injected or taken through the mouth). Hormone therapy: This type of treatment removes or blocks the action of hormones that facilitate the growth of cancer cells. Target therapy: This therapy identifies specific cancer cells and uses drugs to attack the specific cells without affecting healthy cells (National Cancer Institute, 2017). Conclusion It is evident that breast cancer is one of the major health concerns that affect most women in the world, with statistics showing a high number of breast cancer mortality. However, it is important to note creating awareness of the effects and signs of breast cancer can help in the reduction of the number of deaths since it can facilitate early detection and management of the disease. Thus, there is a need for more awareness to create an informed society that can help in reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer. Nevertheless, awareness alone cannot be enough if the women cannot be health conscious and take the step of going for regular checkups for breast cancer. Therefore, the reduction and prevention of breast cancer start with an individual. References Breast cancer (female) - NHS Choices. (2017). Nhs.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-breast-female/Pages/Introduction.aspx National Cancer Institute (2017). Breast Cancer Treatment. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-treatment-pdq#section/all CDC - Breast Cancer Statistics. (2016). Cdc.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/ Nordqvist, C. (2017). Breast Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Medical News Today. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37136.php?page=2 Ryerson, A., Miller, J., & Eheman, C. (2015). Reported breast symptoms in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Cancer Causes & Control, 26(5), 733-740. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0544-1 Cancer.org. (2017). What Is Breast Cancer?. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/what-is-breast-cancer.html Read More