Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the breast
tissue.
Cancer can begin to grow in the milk glands, milk ducts,
fatty tissue and connective tissue in the breast.
The cause is unknown, but there are some risk factors that
cause a woman to be more likely to suffer from breast cancer.
Risk Factors
Some risk factors are influential:
1. Age. Approximately 60% of breast cancers occur in over 60 years.
The biggest risk was found in women aged over 75 years.
2. Never had breast cancer. Once the affected breast removed, then the risk of breast
cancer in a healthy increase of 0.5-1% / year.
3. Family history of breast cancer. Women are mothers, sisters or children suffering from
cancer, have a 3 times greater risk of developing breast cancer.
4. Genetic and hormonal factors.
5. Had suffered from non-cancerous breast disease.
6. Menarche (first menstruation) before age 12, menopause
after age 55 years, first pregnancy after age 30 years or had never been
pregnant.
7. Use of birth control pills or estrogen replacement
therapy.
8. Obesity after menopause.
9. The use of alcohol.
10 The use of alcohol more than 1-2 cups / day can increase
the risk of breast cancer.
11. Chemicals. Several studies have cited the exposure of chemicals that
mimic estrogen (contained in pesticides and other industrial products) may
increase the risk of breast cancer.
12. DES (diethylstilbestrol). Women who took DES to prevent miscarriage have a higher risk
of breast cancer.
13 Irradiation.
Symptoms and Signs
Early symptoms include a lump that is usually perceived
differently from the surrounding breast tissue , painless and usually have an
irregular edge .
In the early stages , when driven by a finger , a lump can
be moved easily under the skin .
In later stages , the lump is usually attached to the chest
wall or surrounding skin . In advanced cancer , can form a swollen lump or
breast skin ulcers .
Sometimes the skin over the lump shrank and looked like an
orange peel .
Other symptoms that may be found in a lump or mass in the
armpit , change the size or shape of the breast , an abnormal discharge from
the nipple
( usually bloody or yellow to green , may also be pus ) ,
changes in the color or texture of the skin on the breast , nipple and areola (
dark brown colored area around the nipple ) ,
breast looks red , the skin around the nipple scaly ,
nipples are interested in or feel itching , breast tenderness or swelling of
one breast .
In later stages may develop bone pain , weight loss ,
swelling of arms or ulcerated skin .
prevention
Many risk factors that can not be controlled . Some
dietitians and oncologists believe that changes in diet and lifestyle in
general can reduce the incidence of cancer .
Endeavored to make early diagnosis of breast cancer is
easier to treat and can care if it is still at an early stage .
Realize , clinical breast examination and mammography as a
screening procedure is 3 tools to detect cancer early .
management
Treatment usually begins after a thorough assessment of the
condition of the patient , which is about 1 week or more after the biopsy .
Treatment consists of surgery , radiation therapy ,
chemotherapy and hormone inhibitors .
Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells in the
removal of the tumor and the surrounding area , including the lymph nodes .
Chemotherapy ( a combination of drugs to kill the cells that
multiply quickly or pressing breeding ) and hormone inhibitor drugs ( drugs
that affect the hormones that support the growth of cancer cells ) is used to
suppress the growth of cancer cells throughout the body .
