Breast cancer is more common in women over the age of 40. It can also appear in men, but only much less frequently. The disease equally affects both the right breast and the left, but the bilateral disease is observed in rare cases, the development occurs simultaneously or alternately.
In the history of breast cancer, a huge role is played by the violation of the correct regulation of the brain, the establishment of the work of all organs of the endocrine system. These facts are confirmed by the positive results of treatment with hormonal drugs.
What is breast cancer?
An epithelial neoplasm that originates from the lobules or ducts of the gland is called a malignant tumor, or breast cancer. Most patients have a malignant oncopathology - adenocarcinoma with late diagnosis and with a negative outcome.
The following factors can provoke the development of the disease:
- high blood estrogen levels;
- long receptionhormonal contraceptives;
- taking hormonal products that help regulate the menstrual cycle;
- menopausal use of hormone replacement therapy;
- presence of female relatives with breast cancer;
- women having their first child after 30;
- infertility;
- age over 40;
- previous ovarian or breast cancer;
- contact with a radioactive source;
- changes in the breast such as atypical hyperplasia;
- metabolic disorders and failures in the endocrine system;
- excessive consumption of fatty foods;
- early onset of menstruation - before 11 years old;
- late onset of menopause.
If the size of the breast increases dramatically in adulthood, the risk of cancer increases significantly.
Case history
There is still a lot of research, many scientists deal with this issue, but it is impossible to say exactly why cancer develops. There is an opinion that injuries, inflammatory processes, scars left after injury, precancerous conditions in the form of papillary growths of the milk excretory ducts, fibroadenomatosis are considered to be a disposing factor.
In case histories, breast cancer is reduced to two types: medullar and scirrhous. The cerebellar variety is rich in cellular elements, but there is almost no connective tissue stroma, the most common is scirrhous, which has almost no cellular elements, but is rich in fibrous tissue.
The primary cancer node destroys the wall of the gland, rapidly multiplying malignant cells spread through the tissues and crevices, initially infiltrating the adjacent parts, and then all areas of the gland, growing into it and replacing it. Larger knots become denser and appear whitish-gray when cut.
From the history of breast cancer, you can see that soon after the onset of the disease, another more serious path of development occurs - lymphatic. Cancer cells are transferred through the lymph vessels outside the glandular tissue, at this time they are actively multiplying.
After this, metastasis occurs and it occurs in several ways. The main mass, together with the lymph, follows the lateral edge of the pectoralis major muscle and goes to the axillary nodes, and in fact they are directly connected to almost all lymph vessels. Initially, the pectoralis major, axillary, subclavian, and supraclavicular nodes are affected.
If no action is taken, then after the history of breast cancer suggests that metastases appear remotely from the breast. More often affects the lungs, liver, skeletal system and other organs. Metastases travel to distant sites via the bloodstream.
Causes provoking illness
Breast cancer in women often develops due to the fact that pathological processes occur in the tissues that cause foci of fibro-osseous mastopathy. Disorders of the endocrine system against the background of ovarian diseases, abnormal chestfeeding, in connection with abortions become the cause of pathologies.
Causes of cancer can be concluded in mutations that take place in he althy cells of the gland. Aggressive exposure to carcinogens can change DNA, which is why cells mutate, as a result, normal cells turn into oncogenic ones, especially if they divide frequently.
Breast cancer in women can develop in the presence of the following:
- mechanical injuries, bruises of the mammary gland with hematomas and bruises;
- high estrogen levels;
- malfunctions of the adrenal glands and endocrine glands;
- frequent abortions, which excludes lactation;
- bad habits: smoking, drinking a lot of beer and eating fatty foods;
- frequent stress and sedentary lifestyle.
Gynecomastia is a concomitant disease in men.
Classification of breast cancer
Today, doctors are finding different approaches to the classification of a malignant tumor that has affected the mammary gland, but the definition of treatment tactics, prognosis, size, degree of differentiation, histological type, growth characteristics and the presence of receptors for such a hormone as estrogen.
By the nature of tumor growth in the parenchyma, breast cancer (the photo confirms this) is of two types:
- nodular, which manifests itself in the form of a limited node located in the thickness of the tissues of the gland;
- diffuse, which has no boundaries andgrows tightly into the tissue.
Atypical forms of growth may also occur, such as Paget's disease - primary metastatic breast cancer. The size of the primary node often indicates the degree of malignancy of the pathology. The larger it is, the more aggressive it is, and the prognosis for the patient is unfavorable.
Localization of the neoplasm
Localization determines the stages, lesions by metastases that have spread through the lymphatic ducts. The location of the tumor is characterized by a certain quadrant - a tissue fragment, which is obtained if the mammary gland is schematically divided into 4 equal parts.
Histological type can be distinguished by following the source that provoked the growth:
- ductal emerges from the epithelium of the lactiferous passages;
- lobular arises from the glandular cells of the lobules.
Invasive form: in the history of oncology, breast cancer can be both lobular and ductal, and involves the penetration of the tumor through the basement membrane, on which epithelial cells are located. This spread of cancer is the most aggressive, and it is he who is most often prone to metastasis. Among the histological variants, adenocarcinoma is considered the most common, as well as solid cancer and transitional forms.
How does breast cancer manifest in women? The early stage is the beginning of tumor development, when the affected cells have already gone beyond the basement membrane, but not too deep - up to 3 mm. At this stage, metastasis is not observed, but all because there are no vessels yet, and the prognosis in this case for patients is favorable.
How to recognize a malignant formation?
Malignant formation is a very insidious pathology that does not manifest itself at an early stage. But there are the first signs of breast cancer in women, they must be alerted and forced to undergo a thorough examination. If at least one of these symptoms is observed, you urgently need to go for a consultation with a doctor:
- dense knot in the gland that does not cause discomfort and pain;
- if the mammary gland has changed shape;
- skin on chest wrinkled;
- if there is pain or discomfort in one or both glands;
- tight or swollen nipple, retraction;
- discharge from the nipples with blood;
- Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit on one side.
The first signs of breast cancer in women are not always immediately recognizable, but any change is already a wake-up call to visit the doctor.
Staging of breast cancer
Every third woman after the diagnosis of the disease cannot live more than a year. The main reason for this situation is a misunderstanding of how serious everything is. Many patients simply refuse to follow the doctor's recommendations and seek help when there is no chance. A malignant neoplasm is gradually gaining its growth. Doctors distinguish several degrees of breast cancer:
- Zero −non-invasive cancer, the disease has not yet gone beyond the tumor.
- The first is invasive cancer, in which diseased cells spread beyond the tumor and infect nearby tissues. At this stage, the tumor can be up to 2 cm in diameter, but it is still difficult to detect on palpation.
- The second occurs when the tumor grows to 5 cm in diameter, and the cells affected by the disease have already touched the lymph and nearby tissues.
- Third is divided by doctors into two subcategories: IIIA and IIIB. In the first case, the tumor has a size of 5 cm and a large number of infected cells in the lymph nodes. But IIIB is determined by a tumor of any size, but it has already grown into the skin, lymphatic system and chest wall. In the case history, breast cancer (t2n0m0) is indicated by the doctor himself.
- The fourth is a tumor that has already affected not only the mammary gland, but also captured the armpit, lymph nodes of the neck, lungs and liver.
Breast cancer is not a death sentence. Currently, there are many ways to prolong the life of the patient, the main thing is to diagnose in time and complete the full course of therapy.
Diagnostic methods
Very often women confuse breast cancer with other pathologies. What diseases does breast cancer look like? For mastopathy, fibroadenoma, intraductal papilloma, but all this is a mistake that can cost the patient her life. Therefore, it is important to undergo a comprehensive examination that will help accuratelyconfirm the diagnosis or refute it:
- Examination, palpation. The doctor evaluates the external changes in the breast: shape, symmetry, whether there are symptoms of "lemon peel", discoloration, the presence of tubercles and retractions.
- Mammography is one of the examinations that is carried out for all women after 40 years of age. It allows you to identify tumors with a diameter of 2 cm. An indirect sign of malignancy is a huge amount of calcifications in the gland tissue. There is a significant disadvantage of this method - radiation is harmful.
- CT of the mammary glands. The method is based on X-rays, the rays are directed to the chest at different angles, as a result of which you can see the cancer even at the initial stage, the doctor can assess whether the tumor is operable.
- MRI mammography is one of the most expensive methods, but also the most effective. It is thanks to him that you can view the organ in 3D, study the metabolic processes in the tissues, but it’s impossible to identify calcifications.
- Ductography involves the introduction of a contrast agent into the milk ducts, followed by mammography. This method is used in patients who have discharge from the breast, if intraductal breast cancer is suspected. Each woman has her own course of the disease, but thanks to this study, it is possible to identify tumors of various sizes and cysts.
- Ultrasound is one of the simple but very effective methods that makes it possible to see cysts and dense formations.
- Cytology involves taking a small piece of gland tissue, whichobtained by biopsy, after which it is examined under a microscope. The accuracy of this method is up to 90%.
Breast cancer treatment
There are many treatments for breast cancer, but the choice directly depends on several factors:
- disease stages;
- patient's age;
- tumor structures;
- growth rate of neoplasm.
Currently, the main direction in therapy is given to an integrated approach, which includes surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.
Surgery
When choosing a method of surgical intervention, surgeons plan in advance the option of restoring the shape and volume of the breast. Surgery involves two main approaches:
- Lumpectomy - partial removal of the breast;
- mastectomy - complete removal of the breast.
The need for a mastectomy appears in several cases:
- if the patient has small breasts;
- neoplasm has grown into the skin and chest wall;
- the tumor is large;
- The growth has spread throughout the breast.
Many surgeons approach their work responsibly and try to perform organ-preserving operations. If it is not possible to avoid a mastectomy in any way, then subsequently the woman is offered various options for restoring breast milk that are acceptable to her.gland.
Chemotherapy
This type of treatment can be recommended to the patient both before and after surgery. Its main goal is to reduce the size of the primary tumor so that it becomes possible to remove the tumor, but save the breast.
After surgery, chemotherapy is prescribed to destroy metastases and suppress their growth in the future. Recently, a huge number of drugs have appeared that give excellent results and increase the chances for a further full life of patients with breast cancer.
Radiation therapy
This therapy is used in several cases:
- as a prophylaxis after the operation;
- when carrying out symptomatic treatment of a tumor that has not yet been removed;
- for preventive treatment, if metastases are found in distant organs, when complications are observed: pain, brain compression.
Breast Reconstruction
Reconstructive surgery after breast cancer with the removal of the breast helps the patient to avoid worrying about the fact that she does not have her, or she is severely deformed. Today, medicine has gone so far ahead that several methods have appeared for conducting high-quality reconstruction, which differ in complexity and duration.
The following recovery is especially actively used:
- simultaneous - carried out immediately after the removal of the formation during the operation;
- delayed - performed after all stages of treatment.
These two types differ in the type of tissue used for restoration. Doctors sometimes use the body's own tissues, but most often they prefer temporary implants.
Prevention measures
Many women often wonder if there are activities that help prevent the development of the disease (breast cancer). There are such methods. Be sure to get checked regularly. Women over 40 should have an annual mammogram and see a doctor immediately if there is any change.
Self-examination gives good results. To carry it out, you need to regularly examine the chest in front of the mirror, paying attention to any changes: an increase in size, shape, skin color, and others. In the supine position, you need to carefully feel the mammary glands, evaluating the consistency and uniformity of the parenchyma. With light pressure on the nipple, you can see if there is any discharge.
Be sure to lead a he althy lifestyle, eliminating alcohol from the diet and quit smoking. Revise the diet, exclude fatty foods, smoked meats from it, and add more fresh vegetables and fruits, seafood. Breast cancer also occurs in men, so they also need to periodically examine their breasts and consult a doctor for any changes.
