In women, hormone-dependent breast cancer is quite common, which occurs when a hormonal imbalance occurs. With early diagnosis, this form of the disease has a favorable prognosis after complex therapy. The latest technologies make it possible to determine the stage of the course of the disease and the size of the tumor, as well as possible prognosis for the patient.
Features of the disease
The cause of hormone-dependent breast cancer is often a hormonal dysfunction in a woman's body. Cancer cells have special receptors on their surface. For growth, they use estrogens, which leads to a sharp growth of the tumor. Therefore, female sex hormones provoke the growth of a malignant neoplasm. This type of cancer is diagnosed in about 30-40% of sick women. The prognosis of oncologists is much better than that of the hormone-independent form of the disease. This is due to the fact that hormone-dependent cancer has a calmer course, and at the same time, the process of metastasis occurs much more slowly.
Main classification
Depending on the degree of growth of malignant cells, such forms of hormone-dependent breast cancer are distinguished as:
- neoplasm with localization inside the ducts;
- lobular tumor;
- triple negative cancer.
All these varieties differ in the degree of aggressive course and the prognosis for the subsequent recovery of the patient. Depending on the growth of the tumor, it can be diffuse and nodular. The latter form of neoplasm is much easier to diagnose, since it is quite dense, limited in displacement and firmly connected to the skin. A diffuse tumor is characterized by the appearance of a thickening of the skin of the chest, an increase in temperature, and a change in the vascular pattern. However, such symptoms may also indicate the presence of a benign neoplasm.
Development stage
Hormone-dependent breast cancer is usually divided into 4 stages depending on the characteristics of the lesion of this organ and general pathological symptoms. In this case, the size of the malignant neoplasm is necessarily taken into account. Hormone-dependent breast cancer of the 1st stage is characterized by an increase in the tumor up to 20 mm in the absence of metastases. The prognosis after timely treatment is positive. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo an examination in a timely manner to identify the disease in the early stages of the development of the disease.
Hormone-dependent breast cancer stage 2 is characterized by the fact that the tumor has a size of more than 50 mm. In addition, metastasis to nearby lymph nodes is possible. At this stagethe course of cancer survival is somewhat reduced. Skin color and texture change over the affected area.
The third stage is much more severe, and metastases spread throughout the body. The survival rate is reduced to 10%. This results in symptoms such as:
- constant feeling of weakness;
- drastic weight loss;
- partial or total disability;
- mood swing;
- frequent dyspeptic disorders.
At stage 4, the prognosis is not established, since it is believed that women are doomed to death. What will be the life expectancy, largely depends on the characteristics of the body. An increase in lymph nodes indicates a prolonged progression of the disease. If the tumor process is accompanied by inflammation, then pus begins to stand out from the nipple.
Causes of occurrence
Non-aggressive hormone-dependent breast cancer is formed as a result of a combination of several provoking factors at once. The main ones are:
- increased risk of increased estrogen levels or imbalance of sex hormones;
- change in immunity;
- increased activity of glandular cells.
The risk of tumor formation is greatly increased in the presence of predisposing factors. Significantly increases the likelihood of developing neoplasms in women with:
- early maturation and late menopause;
- presence of other hormone-sensitive tumors;
- violationmenstrual cycle.
Elevated estrogen levels may be congenital. In this case, the hereditary factor is important. In addition, the presence of other types of tumors can lead to the development of cancer. The incidence rate is significantly increased in patients with:
- fibroadenosis;
- mammary cysts;
- fibrocystic breast disease.
The risk group also includes women with other pathologies associated with hormonal disorders. Prerequisites for the development of neoplasms are frequent miscarriages, abortions, promiscuity, ectopic pregnancies. The situation can be significantly aggravated with a decrease in immunity due to emotional and physical overstrain, taking certain drugs, and insufficient rest.
Main symptoms
Hormone-dependent breast tumor can manifest local and general symptoms. General signs are associated with general intoxication of the body during the decay of cancer cells. They appear much later than local symptoms, and indicate the spread of the neoplasm throughout the body. Common manifestations are characterized by:
- reduced performance and severe weakness;
- headache and nausea;
- loss of appetite, significant weight loss;
- nervousness, frequent mood swings.
When the disease progresses, local signs also appear that a woman can notice on her own. To do this, you need to regularly performbreast examination. Local signs of a malignant tumor include:
- changes in breast structure;
- skin manifestations;
- enlargement of adjacent lymph nodes.
At the very beginning of the course of the disease, a painful formation appears inside the chest, eventually reaching a significant size. After a while, the cancer grows so much that it changes the shape of the breast. In the area of the neoplasm, the skin becomes rough or wrinkled.
In addition, there are changes in the structure of adjacent lymph nodes. The malignant tumor metastasizes to the armpit. Lymph nodes become painful and differ in adhesion to each other. A dense, bumpy swelling forms in the armpit, which hurts and remains almost motionless. Metastases mainly appear at the very last stages of neoplasm development. In addition, as the disease progresses, the position and shape of the nipple changes.
Diagnostics
To select the most appropriate method of treatment for hormone-dependent breast cancer, an oncologist prescribes a whole range of various examinations. A malignant tumor can be not only due to a hormonal disorder, therefore, in order to make an absolutely accurate diagnosis, every sick woman must undergo an immunohistochemical analysis that allows you to determine the type of neoplasm, as well as its degree of sensitivity to sex hormones.
In addition, a biopsy is performed, and then the resulting material is examined for dependence onestrogen. Another no less informative research method is a blood test for the presence of appropriate hormones. In addition, the doctor suggests undergoing such types of research as:
- analysis for the determination of oncomarkers;
- mammography;
- ultrasound diagnostics.
The combination of all these examination methods allows the oncologist to choose for each woman her own course of treatment for hormone-dependent breast cancer and make a prediction of the subsequent development of the disease.
Features of treatment
To achieve the most positive result, therapy should be complex, since only in this case the prognosis for hormone-dependent breast cancer is good enough, especially if treatment is started at the initial stage. The complex necessarily includes:
- complete excision of the cancer;
- chemotherapy;
- radiotherapy.
In the treatment of hormone-dependent cancer, a very important role is played by the intake of specially selected hormones, which are required to improve and stabilize the overall hormonal background. This will prevent the rapid growth of the neoplasm, and then the doctor will apply stronger drugs.
Hormones are often used with chemotherapy or after surgery. They can also be prescribed if it is not possible to treat with chemotherapy. Burdock root shows a very good result in hormone-dependent breast cancer. Need to prepare an infusion ordecoction based on this plant and apply daily. However, it is worth remembering that before using various kinds of folk remedies and techniques, you must first consult with your doctor. Also, be aware that they are in no way a substitute for primary therapy.
The doctor must definitely adjust the diet, as the success of the treatment largely depends on this. The sooner a cancerous tumor is detected, the more likely it is to get rid of it.
Drug therapy
Hormone-dependent cancer responds very well to hormone treatment, but it is worth noting that only a proportion of affected women have appropriate indications for receiving this type of therapy. Hormone therapy prescribed:
- to avoid relapse;
- if the cancer is an invasive form that is not amenable to chemotherapy;
- if the risk of metastases is high;
- in the case when the tumor grows very quickly, but the number of new cells does not increase;
- there were lumps in the chest after surgery.
The duration of the treatment largely depends on the patient's well-being. If the first part of the treatment course went well, then the next batch of hormones is prescribed for 3-6 months. In hormone-dependent breast cancer, the prognosis largely depends on the stage of the disease, but it is worth noting that after taking the drugs, the life expectancy of patients increases. The most commonly used drugs include:
- Tamoxifen.
- "Anastrozole".
- Faslodex.
The drug "Tamoxifen" is indicated for malignant tumors that develop during menopause. Anastrozole is widely used in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer, as this drug helps to normalize the level of hormones in the body and copes well with malignant tumors.
The drug "Faslodex" promotes the destruction of estrogen. It is used to prevent the spread of malignant cells to the glandular tissue. It should be noted that hormone therapy is effective only in the initial stages of the disease.
Surgery
Surgical methods of therapy involve the removal of degenerate tissues. In addition, ovarian surgery may be required. Specialists perform complete or partial removal of the breast. Various latest equipment is used for the procedure. Modern laser instruments help to irradiate tissues during the operation in order to prevent subsequent recurrence. Mostly it is carried out in the postmenopausal period. For nulliparous women, oncologists try to preserve the reproductive organs as much as possible.
In order to reduce the aesthetic and psychological problems that arise in connection with the removal of a breast affected by cancerous cells, reconstructive plastic surgery is often performed. They may be delayed or immediate. To improve the course of the rehabilitation period, the patient is shown to follow a diet, takemedications to prevent complications.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for hormone-dependent breast cancer involves the introduction of specially selected drugs to destroy the most active cells of the malignant neoplasm. Doctors prescribe a similar technique before or after surgery. The main goal of such therapy is to reduce the affected area and prevent recurrence.
Chemotherapy for hormone-dependent breast cancer is used to treat women of reproductive age and patients with enlarged lymph nodes. It is worth noting that drugs help to destroy absolutely all actively multiplying cells of the body, and not just cancerous ones. That is why after the course of therapy, rehabilitation is required. Hormone dependent breast cancer is not treated with chemotherapy if:
- pre- and postmenopausal;
- low risk of metastasis;
- if the lymph nodes are not involved in the malignant process.
In addition, chemotherapeutic methods are not used to treat women over 70.
Radiation therapy
Radiotherapy is used before surgery to reduce the area affected by malignant cells and swelling. This will allow during surgery to destroy only the carcinoma cells, while not affecting the he althy area.
Some doctors give patients radiation therapyafter operation. A similar procedure is used when the disease is at the very last stage, and then the procedure helps to stop the growth of the tumor. This will not completely cure the cancer, but will improve the patient's quality of life and prolong it somewhat. The doctor calculates the area and therapeutic dosage of radiation separately for each patient, depending on the area of spread of the malignant process and the patient's well-being.
Dieting
Nutrition for hormone-dependent breast cancer must be balanced. The diet should contain foods with a lot of antioxidants.
Oncologists advise during treatment to exclude the consumption of harmful foods, coffee, alcoholic beverages, s alty foods, preservatives. Patients are advised to follow a properly selected diet not only during the period of treatment, but also during the rehabilitation period.
Possible Complications
Complications are formed due to the course of a running malignant process and as a result of therapy. The most dangerous consequence is metastasis, which implies the spread of malignant cells throughout the body. Metastases may not manifest themselves for 6-10 years.
Germination into the skin and subsequent disintegration of the tumor is complicated by inflammatory processes, tissue necrosis and bleeding. The main effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are hair and eyebrow loss, itching, dryness, redness and severepeeling of the skin. Against the background of taking the prescribed anticancer drugs, there may be a violation of the digestive processes, the appearance of complaints of vomiting and nausea.
Hormone therapy provokes a strong leaching of calcium from the bones, followed by the occurrence of pathological fractures, impaired blood clotting and a tendency to form blood clots.
Prognosis after treatment
Doctors say that in hormone-dependent breast cancer, the survival prognosis largely depends on the stage of the disease, as well as the characteristics of damage to organs and systems. This type of oncology is considered the most favorable in terms of therapy, since today there are many different therapeutic methods.
With stage 1 hormone-dependent breast cancer, the prognosis is quite good, since a woman has a high chance of a full recovery. Doctors use modern methods of therapy. However, after treatment, a woman should undergo regular preventive examinations throughout her life and, if necessary, repeat courses of hormone therapy.
