Breast cancer ranks first among cancers encountered in women. It is defined as a very significant disease that can occur in women of almost all ages. Studies show that one in every four women diagnosed with cancer has breast cancer. Furthermore, it also ranks first among cancers resulting in death in women, with a rate of 15%.
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Early diagnosis plays a critical role in the treatment of this type of cancer, which significantly impacts public health. For the disease to be detected at an early stage, it is necessary to recognize it. Learning about the common symptoms and findings is of great importance. Timely mammography and diagnosis are essential.
What is Breast Cancer?
What is Breast Cancer? It is defined as the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the breast tissue, leading to the emergence of cancerous cell structures. This uncontrolled proliferation generally occurs in the milk ducts and lobules, resulting in mass-like structures. These masses can be detected through physical examination by hand.
Compared to other organs, physical examination allows easier detection. If the disease is noticed at an early stage, its treatment is more effective. For this reason, self-examination and checking for the presence of a mass are of great importance.
What Are the Causes of Breast Cancer?
What Are the Causes of Breast Cancer? Several factors influence the development of cancer. One of these factors is early menstruation, defined as starting menstruation before the age of 11. Additionally, late menopause is also among the risk factors. Not breastfeeding and having the first pregnancy after the age of 30 are also included as potential causes.
Alcohol consumption and being overweight are among the risk factors. Being female and having a family history of this cancer can trigger its occurrence. The likelihood of developing this cancer increases with age. Furthermore, it is known to be more common in women with lighter skin tones. Undergoing radiotherapy before the age of 15 increases the likelihood of developing cancer after the age of 40. Another cause could be long-term smoking.
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed? The first step in diagnosing breast cancer is a physical examination. During the examination, a mass can be detected. If a mass is identified, it is crucial to seek medical evaluation. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly perform self-examinations to check for any masses. These masses may not only appear in the breast but also under the armpit.
The growth of the mass can cause the nipple to retract. There may also be the presence of bloody or non-bloody fluid from the nipple, although this is quite rare.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Breast Cancer?
What Are the Treatment Methods for Breast Cancer? Early diagnosis is extremely important at this stage. If detected early, it has been observed that there is a 90% recovery rate. For this reason, regular checks for masses are essential. There are four treatment methods: surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonotherapy. Surgical treatment is performed at the first stage. At this point, part or all of the breast is removed, followed by the implementation of other methods.
What Are the Types of Breast Cancer?
What Are the Types of Breast Cancer? There are different types of breast cancer, listed as follows:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Paget’s disease of the nipple
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Phyllodes tumor
- Rare breast cancers (squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, apocrine carcinoma, sarcomas, lymphomas)
Breast-Conserving Surgery, Skin-Sparing Mastectomy
Breast cancer surgery includes standard surgical procedures performed in stages 1 and 2 breast cancer, referred to as breast-conserving surgery. This involves the removal of the cancerous area along with healthy tissues surrounding it. During this surgery, the entire breast is not removed. Before the operation, the first lymph node under the armpit is identified using a special dye or previously administered radioactive substance. After finding the first lymph node, it is examined by a pathology doctor.
If the lymph node is clean, the armpit area is preserved; however, if cancer has spread to the lymph node, all lymph nodes in the armpit are removed. The cancerous mass along with the removed breast tissue is then examined by a pathology doctor. If the pathology doctor confirms that the surgical margin is clear, indicating the entire cancerous tissue has been removed, the breast procedure is concluded.
Another method within breast cancer surgery is the skin-sparing mastectomy. Through a circular incision around the nipple, the entire breast tissue, including the nipple, is removed. This ensures the removal of all breast tissue. In such cases, a new breast can also be created during the same surgery. For this procedure, either the patient’s own tissue or silicone is used.
Nipple-Sparing Surgery, Simple Mastectomy
A new method, nipple-sparing mastectomy, involves removing all breast tissue through semi-circular incisions around the edges of the areola. Incisions resembling those used in breast reduction or folds in the lower breast are utilized. In simple mastectomy, all breast tissue and the overlying skin are removed with an elliptical horizontal incision of 15 to 20 cm.
Modified Radical Mastectomy
In breast cancer surgery, modified radical mastectomy involves the removal of all breast tissue, the overlying skin, level 1 and level 2 lymph nodes, and axillary lymph node dissection through a 15–20 cm elliptical horizontal incision.
