The most effective prevention of breast cancer is early detection and thus it is necessary to examine your breasts on a regular basis. Also, from the age of 50 years and earlier if there are predisposing factors, medical examinations should be performed periodically (every 2 years). These exams are called mammography examinations. The scan can detect small tumors missed on SSE.
The appearance of a suspicious nodule indicates that a biopsy is needed. This means taking a small piece of the nodule and microscopic analysis to determine the presence of cancer cells. Normally, the sampling is performed through a needle inserted into the breast tissue, from where there a small part of the suspicious tissue.
If the scan detects cancer cells further studies will be conducted to see the sensitivity of these cells with the female hormones (estrogen and progestin). Depending on the sensitivity to these hormones the doctor can draw conclusions about the most correct treatment, because growth hormones are used differently depending on the response to female hormones for each cancer, and the likelihood of recurrence is different in some cases.
The cure for breast cancer depends on the stage of extension in the time of diagnosis and the overall health of the concerned person.
Conservative surgery: Lumpectomy (excisional biopsy or wide excision) involves removal of the cancerous tumor and a safety zone around it and the occasional axillary node. Subsequently associated with radiotherapy.
Partial mastectomy, where it is removed the cancer with some of the tissue around it and the lining of the chest muscles below the tumor and the axillary lymph nodes. It also requires radiotherapy.
Aggressive or radical surgery
Radical mastectomy is the removal of the breast through the lining of the chest muscles and chest wall underneath the tumor and the axillary lymph nodes. The modified partial mastectomy of the muscles of the chest wall is preserved.
Radiation therapy may be external through radioisotope and applied locally (internal radiation therapy).
Chemotherapy is applied intravenously.
Hormone therapy is applied if the cancer cells are analyzed for estrogen or progesterone receptors. Tamoxifen is used as hormone therapy, administered for 5 years in the breast and stops the cancer to spread to the lymph nodes. The problem is that it increases the probability of developing cervical cancer. There are a lot of breast cancer awareness products on the market. You can recognize them by their color (pink) or by the breast cancer symbol, which is the pink ribbon. Buy breast cancer awareness products and help the breast cancer research.