1. Introductory remarks
When cancerous growth takes place in the breast, it acquires the characteristics of cancer. Broadly, it is classified into two types, viz, Ductal and lobular. Ductal starts at the tubes which moves milk from the breast to the nipple and Lobular starts in parts of the breast known as lobules, which actually secretes milk. Of the two, ductal is most common and but for these two the other types are rare though that starts in other areas of breast cannot be completely ruled out.
2. Causes and symptoms
Probability estimates reckon that one in eight women could become a victim to breast cancer. Some of the chief causes are traced to age, family history, genes and mensal cycle. Some other causes that could trigger it are excessive drinking, obesity, child birth, hormone replacement therapy and breast implants. Between 1940 and 1960, the usage of a drug by name diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage was believed to be responsible in the increased incidence of breast cancer.
Symptoms do not show up in early stages, which have been one of the reasons that regular breast examination is suggested by the doctors. As it advances, symptoms start to show in the form of a lump in the breast which is hard, changes in the shape of the breast or nipple and eruption of fluid out of the nipple. When it reaches the advanced stage, it is accompanied by bone pain & breast pain, skin ulcers, swelling in the arm close to the affected breast and unexplained weight losses.
3. Treatment
Number of factors is taken into account while prescribing treatment because of the sensitive nature of the complications. One important factor that determines the nature and course of treatment is whether the cancer overproduces a gene called HER2/neu.
Some of the common treatments include chemo/radiation therapy, surgery that could be lumpectomy or mastectomy, hormonal therapy. Targeted therapy is a new treatment. Otherwise known as biologic therapy, it uses new generation special anti-cancer drugs, which have the capability to identify changes in a cell that can cause cancer. Herceptin is a classic example of this class of drugs.
4. Concluding remarks
The survival rates are dependent on the stage in which cancer is identified. Up to stage 1, it is 100%, IIA, 92%, IIB 81%, 67% and 54% for stages IIIA and B respectively and it falls to 20% when it reaches the stage IV. It may be noted that men also get breast cancer except the fact that its incidence in them is rare.