Frequently Asked Questions in Breast Cancer
Prof. Dr. Bülent Çitgez answers all frequently asked questions about breast cancer such as why breast cancer occurs.
If first-degree relatives, especially mothers, aunts and cousins, have breast cancer and it is detected at an early age, genetic predisposition should be suspected in this family and genetic screening should be performed. Familial breast cancer can be mentioned in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations that have been genetically associated so far.
In these cases, risk-reducing surgery can be performed. The disease of Angelia Jolie, a well-known media actress, is a familial genetic disease.
Advanced age is an important risk factor in breast cancer. Over the age of 30, the risk increases and the incidence of breast cancer in women over the age of 50 is 4 times higher than in women under the age of 50.
In case of redness and thickening in one or all parts of the breast, the first thing that comes to mind should be mastitis. But cancer should not be forgotten.
Eczema is suspected when there is redness and scaling on the nipple. However, these symptoms can also be seen in Paget's disease, a cancer of the breast skin. A biopsy may be needed for differential diagnosis.
Cancer should be suspected in bloody nipple discharge.
Not all retraction is a cause of cancer. However, in breast cancer, the nipple retracts when the intramammary ligaments are affected by cancer. It is necessary to be especially vigilant about nipple retraction that develops later.
Long-term use of birth control pills increases the risk of developing breast cancer
Although breast cancer is a treatable disease, there is always a risk of recurrence.
For every one hundred female breast cancers, there is one male breast cancer.
In men, it is detected at a later stage because there is no breast screening program in women. It is more aggressive than the same stage of female breast cancer.
Although rare, breast cancer can also occur during pregnancy.
Surgical intervention can be performed in a pregnant mother, especially after the second trimester. Depending on the condition of the pregnancy, chemotherapy can also be given after delivery or during pregnancy.
