Breast cancer isn't a cookie-cutter disease. The proverbial lump just doesn't cover the possibilities of breast cancer. Breast cancer can invade the ducts of the breast or the tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules of the breast. Cancer can take the form of minute cell changes that can't be seen by the human eye or cellular changes beneath the surface of the skin. Let's look at how to even the odds in the fight against breast cancer with early detection, treatment options and future developments.
Early Detection
Every month, you gently press out a circular pattern on your breasts. This monthly checkup functions as a woman's foremost tool against a disease that over 70 percent of women discover during this routine self-exam, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Although most lumps aren't cancerous, this diligence leads to early detection of breast cancer and subsequent higher survival rates.
Mammograms also play an important role in detecting and managing breast changes. A baseline mammogram provides doctors with a snapshot of your breasts to compare against future mammogram pictures. Each woman's medical history is so unique that you must decide with the help of your doctor when you should have that first baseline mammogram.
Breast cancer doesn't always come in the form of a traditional "lump." Breast cancer can take the form of microcalcifications that might become a collection point for cancer cells. If you have calcifications, your doctor will schedule subsequent mammograms to check for clustering, increased size or irregular shapes. A biopsy might also be scheduled to remove the calcium deposit to check for breast cancer.
Still other types of breast cancers create changes in the breasts that aren't readily noticeable. Some women experience a firming of the breasts that indicate cellular changes in the lobules (milk producers) in the breasts. Others might feel patches of extreme warmth coupled with redness that can indicate a more serious breast condition. Self-exam requires a physical check as well as a visual check of the breasts. Any changes should be discussed with your doctor, sooner rather than later.
Current Treatments for Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of breast cancer isn't a ticket to the grave. Breast cancer is a very treatable disease but treatment is aggressive. Doctors have found that the combination of full removal of tumors and chemotherapy greatly increases survival rate to allow many women a new lease on life as well as a cancer-free future.
Surgery
Surgery involves your doctor removing the tumor plus surrounding tissue to establish clean margins completely around the cancerous mass. Surgery sometimes involves a mastectomy to remove the entire breast. Some women choose to have a double mastectomy to reduce the incidence of breast cancer occurring to their other breast. This decision requires consultation with an oncologist to determine what's best for the patient based on the type of breast cancer, staging (level) and plans for treatment. Some women choose bilateral (double) mastectomy to aid plastic surgeons in constructing new breasts from a "clean slate" instead of matching an already existing breast.
Lymph Node Removal
The lymphatic system houses a fluid called lymph that cleanses cells, fights infection and removes fluid from body tissue. The lymph system also can provide cancer cells the perfect avenue to travel throughout the body. Medical oncologists remove a series of lymph nodes for biopsy to check for cancer cells entering other parts of the body. Lymph node removal helps your doctor formulate future treatment since any presence of cancer in a lymph node requires a more aggressive treatment as well as radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Oncologists use chemotherapy as a systemic treatment to address possible cancer cells that have moved from the initial tumor site to other parts of the body. If cancer cells are present in the lymph nodes, chemotherapy becomes even more important since this indicates the cancer may have spread. Treatment usually involves a series of infusions (injections with IV) into a special catheter installed under the skin near the collarbone. This mediport allows doctors to administer chemo directly into a large vein. Chemotherapy scheduling usually involves infusion on a schedule based on the types of drugs being used. Some women receive two chemo drugs every 2 weeks for four treatments and then another chemo drug for four additional treatments. Others receive three chemo drugs at 3-week intervals for four to six treatments. Oncologists make these decisions based on current medical trends and clinical trials.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy involves targeting the actual tumor sites and affected lymph nodes with a beam of radiation. This direct therapy specifically addresses any cancer cells that might be present locally. Radiation therapy usually occurs after surgery and radiation. However, some women have tumors that must be reduced in size before surgery. Radiation therapy can be used in this instance to shrink tumors to aid surgeons in successful removal without the destruction of nearby tissue. This treatment plan is called neoadjuvant therapy.
Radiation therapy has become an integral part of breast cancer treatment for women with the presence of any cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Standard procedure now dictates that any positive nodes require the use of radiation therapy to reduce the chances of recurrence. Radiation is typically given once a day for a series of weeks. Many women receive a typical amount of 30 or more treatments of targeted radiation therapy.
New Developments
Breast cancer treatment changes continually as new studies and drugs present more options for doctors. Let's begin with digital mammography. Digital mammography allows doctors to see a clearer picture of the breast when compared with older mammogram machines. The difference is literally the comparison between a fuzzy picture and a clear snapshot. This has greatly aided doctors in evaluating the needs of patients at risk for breast cancer.
Clinical trials occur continually and some of the largest hospitals and research foundations conduct these studies with the help of thousands of breast cancer patients. Clinical trials provide alternative treatments for women who want to help others as well as seek aggressive treatment for themselves. These trials also provide the testing ground for potential new cancer therapies. Ask your doctor about participation in any clinical trials that might be appropriate for you.
Oral anti-cancer drugs are also used to prevent future incidences of cancer. Doctors dispense these drugs to treat pre-cancerous incidences of breast cancer. In addition, they also use anti-cancer drugs as an integral part in treatment of some breast cancers after chemotherapy and radiation are complete.
Researchers are also developing new diagnostic tools to help evaluate whether a particular drug will be effective against a woman's type of breast cancer. Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in Canada have discovered a technology to analyze the presence of proteins in cells. This research may help doctors evaluate the best course of treatment and its effectiveness for future breast cancer patients.