The defeat of breast tissue by cancer cells is one of the most common oncological diseases that occur in women. Today every tenth inhabitant of the planet hears this diagnosis. And if men think that this diagnosis does not threaten them, they are mistaken - it’s just that their disease manifests itself much less frequently. What is this disease? How does it manifest itself? How is breast cancer diagnosed at home? What are the consequences of late detection? We will deal with these issues.
Causes of breast cancer
The exact cause of breast cancer is still not known. Scientists have identified only factors that, under certain conditions, can provoke malignant degeneration.
First of all, you should understand why the breast is so prone to the appearance of malignant neoplasms, because adverse factors affect the entire body. It is associated with stronghormone dependence of the mammary glands. And in a woman's body, hormonal changes can be caused by just about anything, including climate change, stress, unhe althy lifestyles, solar radiation, and more.
Today, after giving birth to a child, a woman strives to return to work as soon as possible. Nevertheless, it has been proven that prolonged breastfeeding is beneficial not only for the baby, but also for the mother - the risk of developing breast cancer is much less.
Modern lifestyle and oncology
Sports involve injuries, and, at first glance, a minor blow can later make itself felt oncology. Therefore, it is important to know how breast cancer can be diagnosed.
Urban life involves finding a person in conditions of constant stress, and this is another provoking factor. Nervous experiences reduce the activity of the immune system, and the body is no longer able to cope with the defective cells formed in the tissues.
Another factor doctors consider exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The fashionable topless tan today makes medical professionals sound the alarm. Doctors recommend sunbathing in the shade so as not to provoke the growth of pathological cells in the gland.
Cancer and heredity
Most researchers are inclined to believe that hereditary predisposition plays a big role in the occurrence of breast cancer in women. And there is a reason for this, because everyone is exposed to environmental factors, but the tumor occurs only in some representatives.the fair sex.
From studies it was concluded that in 10% of cases of cancer, the cause is a mutation that is inherited. A large number of gene defects have been identified that dramatically increase the risk of breast cancer.
Even a special genetic analysis for the presence of these genes in the female body has been developed. But the discovery of mutations does not mean at all that a woman will definitely get sick. This is just a risk warning. Knowing about the presence of a genetic predisposition, patients will be more attentive to their he alth.
Signs and symptoms
Knowing how to identify breast cancer at an early stage, you will not allow yourself to develop more severe forms. Unfortunately, at first the disease does not manifest itself in any way. Only by chance, when examining by palpation of the chest, the first symptom is found - a slight seal in the mammary gland. Most often, education is painless and has clear boundaries.
You need to know other possible signs of oncology in order to imagine how to independently determine breast cancer:
- incomprehensible change in the shape and size of the lymph nodes above the collarbone or under the armpits;
- appearance of discomfort in the mammary gland;
- the structure of the skin changes around the detected nodule (the so-called orange peel, which is formed due to swelling or wrinkling of skin tissues);
- allocationsfrom nipples, often bloody;
- changing the shape of the mammary gland itself on one or both sides;
- retracting or changing the shape of the nipple gland;
- the skin changes its color (there is redness, blanching, cyanosis at the site of growth of the neoplasm).
This is not an exhaustive list of things to look out for if you are wondering how to spot breast cancer in women. But even if you find one of the symptoms, this is not a sentence. Only a specialist, after conducting a series of tests and studies, will make a diagnosis.
Comorbidities
There are certain diseases that greatly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. If you have them, you should be more attentive to yourself and be sure to study the recommendations on how breast cancer is determined in order to notice changes in time. These include:
- breast diseases that are themselves precancerous, such as fibroadenoma or mastopathy;
- endocrine pathologies that cause a jump in estrogen levels - diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc.;
- the onset of menopause - the period is difficult in itself, but it is at this time that the likelihood of oncology in women is very high (due to a sharp change in hormonal levels).
Classification by stages
In international medicine, which is also used in the CIS countries, there are four stages in the classification. Each of them manifests itself in its own way and has morphological features. How breast cancer is determined and its stage depending on those presentsymptoms?
The stages of cancer and their features for simplicity, we have summarized in the table:
| Stages | Symptoms | Knot dimensions |
| I | There are no specific symptoms at this stage. Cancer does not grow into fatty tissue and skin. | less than 2cm |
| II | A characteristic manifestation is the "wrinkle syndrome", when when the skin is gripped by fingers, wrinkles are formed that run perpendicular to the skin fold. The elasticity of the skin decreases, the area after pinching is not smoothed out for a long time. Perhaps the appearance of adhesions. The skin under the cancerous node is drawn inward. | 2 to 5 cm |
| III or inflammatory breast cancer |
The penetration of a malignant formation into fatty tissue and skin begins. Due to increased skin retraction, the following symptoms appear and progress: - puffiness; - "orange peel"; - pulling the nipple inward. Metastases spread to nearby tissues. Characterized by the appearance of discharge from the nipples (bloody or transparent). |
5 cm or more |
| IV | The tumor spreads by metastases throughout the mammary gland, affecting nearby and distant organs. Malignant cells spread through the lymphatic and blood vessels. The appearance of purulent or bloody discharge is observed, the shape of the breast is completely deformed. | The size can be any, but metastases are common to all organs and tissues |
Methods for determining and diagnosing
For the purpose of prevention, every woman should have a preventive examination at least once a year to detect a tumor in the mammary gland. There are several effective methods. So how is breast cancer diagnosed?
- mammography (the method is based on the study of an image taken under x-rays) and ductography (a type of mammography in which a contrast agent is injected into the milk ducts);
- ultrasound examination of the breast;
- biopsy of material taken from a lump in the breast;
- blood test for tumor markers;
- examination of nipple discharge.
It should be remembered that the older the woman, the more likely to get sick.
More likely to see a history of breast cancer if:
- women started menstruation before age 9;
- menopause came after 55.
Self-diagnosis
How to detect breast cancer at home? A monthly self-examination will help. The best time to check is a week after the end of the period, as the breasts are softer during this period.
After a shower, lather your hands and, first raising your right hand, with your left hand, feel your right breast from the armpit to the sternum. Then follow the same procedure on the left side. Be sure to feel along the collarbone and the entire underarm area.
If you find any nodules or seals, as well as the appearance of discharge from the nipples, be sure to contact a specialist. Only he, after the examination, can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
