When cancer cells of the breast accumulate, it causes breast cancer. This is a malignant tumor. Even though breast cancer occurs generally in women, men are also affected by it. Even though the causes of breast cancer may vary, there are some factors which influence the chances of occurrence of a breast cancer. An individual must be aware of the symptoms and treatments of breast cancer.
Causes
For one, chances of acquiring it increase with age. If a close relative happens to acquire the disease, then the chances rise as well since it is said to be genetic. Diagnose of breast cancer in one breast also increases the risk to the other breast. Acquiring menstruation at an early age or acquiring menopause later than 55 years of age are also some factors that can increase chances of breast cancer.
Symptoms
There are some common physical symptoms of breast cancer that are easy to identify. Let us look at some of the symptoms:
- When breast or nipple changes shape or size
- Breast pain
- Sore nipple
- Lump in the neck or armpit
- Bloody nipple discharge
- Inverted nipple
- Orange peel texture
Treatment
When it comes to the treatment of breast cancer, there are various options based on the condition and stage. More often than not, surgery becomes an option for the treatment. Breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy are the two broad types of surgeries. These broad types have various other types, all forming treatments for different conditions. Then there is a preventative surgery as well which also help in the treatment of breast cancer and reducing the impact of its symptoms. In this, patients having a very high risk of breast cancer get their breasts surgically removed. It is only done after proper examination when the specialists feel that it will be the right thing to do. Even though the risk is reduced drastically after the preventative surgery, a minimal risk remains. Another treatment for breast cancer is radiation therapy. This therapy destroys the cancer cells. There are various other alternatives for the treatment, but the patients may not want to try out methods which have not been proven.
Some known cancer diagnostics and treatment centers in the country include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Centre, and Mayo Clinic.