Warning signs and symptoms of BREAST CANCER. | Types| causes | Risk factors

Introduction

Breast cancer is one of the kind of cancer which is seen predominantly in females after skin cancer. Breast cancer can also occur in mens. Our breast has mainly three parts lobules, ducts and connective tissues.

Lobules is a part where milk is synthesized and ducts carry them forward to the nipple which is used during lactation. 

                 

                

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                              Overactive and uncontrollable cell growth of any tissue of body leads to accumulation , forming a mass or lumpy structure. Breast cancer can be benign (if its not spreading to other regions) or malignant (if its spreading to other regions via blood or lymphatic system).

Types

Most common type of breast cancer include

Invasive ductal carcinoma (malignant form of ducts) and invasive lobular carcinoma (malignant form of  lobules). But apart from it there are other types too

1. Paget's disease of nipple

2. Inflammatory breast cancer

3. Ductal carcinoma in situ

4. Recurrent , Angiosarcoma, Medullary , mucinous etc.

Causes

It's hard to speak but there is no any exact causes that can typically depict that because of it breast cancer occurs.

                  However, scientists beleive that its because of genetic and environmental factors. Additionally doctors believe that about 8-10% of breast cancer is somehow linked to hereditary genes from family. Although there are numbers of genes that are likely to cause breast cancer but among them breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA 1) & breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA 2) are more prominently found to identified to increase the risk of having breast cancer. 

    

                  These genes are also responsible for increasing ovarian cancer risk. If you've a family history of any types of cancer like these then you probably may have a chance of developing such malignancy.

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Symptoms

Early breast cancer is usually asymptomatic in nature. But gradually  prolonged undiagnosed breast cancer can show some following symptoms-

* Asymmetrical breast ( Change in breast size and shape)

* Skin dimpling (kind of depression) over the chest

* Recent nipple inversion

* lump like appearance

* Texture of skin over breast changes

* Sudden bloody nipple discharge

* Axillary lymph nodes pain with axillary lump

* Orange like pitting pin hole skin . Sometimes rashes and even flakes over areola

* Dilated veins

However its should be noted that

^  pain and discomfort are typically not present

^ lump presence doesn't necessarily indicate that its cancer 

^ if you see any kind of sudden and abnormal changes on breast then consult doctors immediately.

Risk factors

Breast cancer risk factors include-

* Ageing

* Family history of breast or ovarian cancer inherent BRCA 1 & BRCA 2

* Early onset of menstruation (menarche <12 years)

* Late cessation of menstruation (menopause after 55)

* Pregnancy at old age(>35 years)

* Never being pregnant (infertile)

* Females who do not breast feed their young ones

* Consumption of alcohol

* Females who are obese are more likely to develop it.

* Females on medications like hormonal therapy after menopause , for normal menstruation , birth control pills . Such females administer mainly combination of estrogen and progesterone causing hormonal imbalance.

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Treatment 

Treatment of breast cancer patients may consist of

* Hormonal therapy

* Radiation therapy

* Chemotherapy with anti - cancer drugs

* Lumpectomy ( removing cancerous lump),

* mastectomy ( complete breast removal) etc.

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