Know More About Breast cancer
Breast cancer is the type of cancer that occurs in one or both breasts. The cells of the breasts multiply spontaneously in very large numbers and lead to uncontrolled growth of the cells. The kind of lifestyle followed and the environment that one lives in also matter to a great extent along with the hormonal changes that the body witnesses.
Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. A breast is made up of three main parts:
- Lobules
- ducts
- connective tissue
The lobules are the glands that produce milk. The ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipple. The connective tissue consists of fibrous and fatty tissue that surrounds and holds everything together. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules.
Breast Cancer Causes
Many doctors have claimed hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may increase the risk of breast cancer. The continuous division of body cells is responsible for the formation of mass lumps in the breasts. A few percentages of breast cancers can be traced to gene mutations or heredity. The complex interaction between the environment and the genetic makeup of an individual is crucial to the understanding of its occurrence.
Types of breast cancer
- Ductal or lobular carcinoma
Ductal carcinoma in situ
- Also known as intraductal carcinoma
- It is a noninvasive breast cancer
Invasive breast cancer
It is of two types
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Special type of invasive breast cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer
- accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers
- Difficult to treat
Inflammatory breast cancer
- Aggressive type of invasive breast cancer
- Rare breast cancer
- Less common types of breast cancer
- Paget’s disease of the breast
- Angiosarcoma
- Phyllodes tumor
Breast Cancer Risk factors
- Females are much more likely to develop breast cancer than males
- Increasing age The risk of breast cancer increases with growing age.
- A personal history of breast cancer If a female had breast cancer in one breast, she has an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
- A family history of breast cancer
- A personal history of breast conditions History of lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia of the breast can lead to breast cancer.
- Radiation exposure This can lead to breast cancer
- Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer
- Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Females taking hormone therapy medications that contain the combination of estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Early menarche Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
- Late menopause If a female began her menopause at an older age then she is more likely to develop breast cancer.
- Delayed pregnancy Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
There are foods that prevent breast cancer risk.
Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Different people have different breast cancer symptoms and signs and some do not have any of it.
Following are some of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer
- Any lump in the breast area
- Swelling of the breasts
- Change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast
- A newly inverted nipple
- Dimpling of the breast skin
- Discharge from nipples including blood or fluid
- Redness or flaky skin around the nipples
- Pain in any area of the breast
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Mammogram
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are commonly used to screen for breast cancer.
Breast ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures deep within the body. Ultrasound may be used to determine whether a new breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.
Biopsy
Biopsy is a test that removes tissue or fluid from the breast to be looked at under a microscope for cancer to be diagnosed.
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
It is a kind of body scan that uses a magnet linked to a computer. The MRI scan will make detailed pictures of areas inside the breast.
What are the possible side effects of such treatments?
- Often, after a mammogram, the patient might feel tenderness or discomfort due to breast compression. The levels of sensitivity cannot be predicted once the procedure is completed.
- There is a possibility of developing temporary swelling that might be normal or may cause due to build-up of a fluid called seroma that needs to be drained out.
- Surgery may cause numbness, blood clots, cording, shoulder stiffness, and fatigue.
- In some patients, radiation therapy causes vomiting, changes in scalp and skin, hair loss, headaches, etc.
Breast Cancer Treatments
There are many ways to breast cancer treatments. The treatment depends on the type of breast cancer and how far it has spread. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.
Some of the possible treatments are mentioned below:
Surgery
The surgical approach includes the removal of the whole cancer tissue or sometimes it includes the removal of the whole breast.
Radiation therapy
Cancer cells are killed using high-energy radiation.
Hormonal therapy
Cancer cells are blocked from getting the hormones they need to grow from.
Chemotherapy
Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells. The drugs can be oral medication or intravenously injected or sometimes both.
Biological therapy
Biological therapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. This treatment also prevents the spread of cancer.
How does Ayurveda help you recover?
The traditional and oldest branch of medicine emerged in the form of Ayurveda and holds a rich history. As per Ayurveda, the human body works upon Tridoshas namely Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha. Any kind of imbalance among these three leads to an imbalance. The accumulation of toxins blocks the body’s channels. Ayurvedic treatment and medicine promote the alleviation of patients’ symptoms.
The medicinal herbs used for creating medicines have shown reliable healing processes and curative measures. It involves using herbal dietary supplements that are easy to metabolize and give good results. They are a rich source of chemopreventive measures as well. The interaction between cancerous cells and the herbal compounds helps in promoting anti-cancer activities in the body.
Why rely on Karma Ayurveda?
Karma Ayurveda has been serving patients for a long time and has remained successful at providing new lives. While people suffer from various diseases, our institution provides them with a ray of hope and helps them recover quickly. The treatments here appeal to patients as it does not involve the use of any chemicals or artificial catalysts to cure the diseases.
The risk of breast cancer can be reduced using the Actaea racemosa plant or black cohosh. Consumption of a phytoestrogen-rich diet is a great preventive measure against breast cancer too. The herbal remedies are important for tackling the core of disease accompanied by suppression of therapeutic toxicity. They provide quick drug action and enhance chemotherapeutic potential as well.