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Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women in the age group of 15-54. It continues to remain as a common form of cancer in women. Let us examine various risk factors associated with Breast Cancer:
1. Women who have never had children.
2. Women whose mothers or sisters have had the disease.
3. Women who have had their first baby after age thirty.
4. Women with a history of prior breast cancer in one breast.
5. Females with fibrocystic breast disease are at a greater risk for breast cancer
6. Women with a history for early onset of menses.
7. Higher socioeconomic groups
8. Women born in North America or Northern Europe.
9. Urban women were noticed to be a more susceptible to breast cancer than rural women
It has been noticed that a fat diet and birth control pills increased the risk of breast cancer occurence.

Keep in mind the following symptoms of breast cancer. Early detection goes a long way in the successful treatment of breast cancer. Nearly 90% of localised breast cancer cases are curable but they need to be detected at a stage when the disease is still amenable to cure.
1. A lump that does not go away (including under the arm).
2. Dimpling of the skin over the breast.
3. Any nipple discharge.
4. Retraction of the nipple or changes in the nipple.
5. Any changes in breast shape or contour.

It is recommended that women over the age of 19 conduct self-examination of the breast every month. Regular check ups by a physician are preferable if done annually by women over 40 and once every 3 years by women in the age group 20 - 40.

Mammography is a vital tool used to detect abnormal lumps and tissues within the breast. This special x-ray can help in detecting over 90% of all breast cancers. Women who have suspicious lumps in their breasts must have a mammography done to rule out breast cancer. The Department of Health recommends mammography every 3 years in females 50 and older. There has been no evidence to suggest that the mammogram itself increases the risk of breast cancer

A biopsy (tissue specimen) is done on any suspicious lumps found during a mammography screening. The lump is surgically excised (totally removed using local anaesthesia) and studied under the microscope. Definitive diagnosis of breast cancer requires a positive tissue biopsy.

The course of treatment to be followed for breast cancer depends on the biopsy findings. Most breast biopsies are negative. The ones that show up as positive are treated based on the extent to which the tumour has spread, the type of tumour as well as the individual patient needs. Read up more on lymph node biopsy to understand how this procedure aids in diagnosis of cancer.

Breast cancer treatments target two main purposes - preventing local recurrence as well as prevention of spread of the cancer outside the breast. Surgical removal of the breast (mastectomy) is one way of controlling the incidence of local recurrence. This is done in combination with radiation therapy. Hormone therapy in the form of tamoxifen or doses of chemotherapy are used to prevent the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. After a mastectomy, it is possible to get a breast reconstruction surgery done with the help of a Plastic Surgeon.

An important part of therapy for any type of cancer is a nutritious diet. Look up the cancer diet to understand what kind of food would help in tackling this dreaded disease.

A study is currently underway to determine if the medication tamoxifen has any beneficial effect in the prevention (prophylaxis) of breast cancer in some women.

Tips to good health:
1. Do not smoke.
2. Lower fats in your diet. Read up on cardiac diet to understand its implications.
3. Perform routine self-examinations of the breast.
4. Go for routine check ups.
5. Get a Mammography done if suggested by the physician.

Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer manifests in different ways - endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Most instances of uterine cancer occur in the endometrial tissue lining the uterus. While instances of uterine cancer are on the rise, they are curable if detected early. Uterine cancer typically affects a woman after menopause. The noticeable symptoms of uterus cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, But not all abnormal bleeding is related to cancer. A doctor can examine the patient and diagnose the condition. Pelvic pain and change in bowel routine are noticed when the cancer of the uterus is at an advanced stage. Certain conditions predispose some women to developing uterine cancer. Obesity is a major factor that increases a woman's risk of developing this disease. Excessive fat cells lead to increased production of estrogen that builds up in the uterine lining. Use of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can greatly increase a woman's riks of developing cancer of the uterus. Women who have few or no children and have had a delayed menopause are also at greater risk. Birth control pills containing only estrogen puts a woman at increased risk of uterine cancer. Heredity also plays a role in whether a woman is susceptible to uterine cancer.

A doctor can examine the medical history and conduct a physical examination to check the uterus, vagina, ovaries and rectum. A pap smear is recommended annually for women over the age of 21, especially for those who have been sexually active. A few cells from the cervix and upper vagina are scraped and taken for testing. This test aids in detecting any malignant and pre-malignant changes in the cervix. Uterine cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy or hormones. Often, some of these treatment options are used in combination. Surgery involves removal of uterus and cervix. Chemotherapy involves use of drugs to treat cancer while radiation uses high-intensity rays to kill cancer cells. But women undergoing treatment may experience side effects such as diarrhea, vaginal burning sensation, pain during intercourse, loss of appetite and nausea. Chemotherapy may lead to hair loss, vomiting and drop in blood count.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Cigarette smoking is the most likely causes of lung cacner. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of carcinogenics. In fact passive smoking is also a major risk factor for lung cancer. Persons suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for developing lung cancer. Other potential causes for lung cancer include radiation and exposure to asbestos.

Usually most occurences of lung cancer are NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancers). They tend to grow slowly. A small percentage of lung cancers are of the rapidly-spreading type. Typical symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath and chest discomfort, persistent cough, loss of appetite and coughing up blood. Often symptoms of lung cancer do not show up in some people. Patients with lung cancer may also show symptoms such as cyanosis that is indicative of compromised lung functioning.

Chest x-rays and phlegm sample examination is done for patients suffering from the symptoms that may suggest lung cancer. A bronchoscopy is done to photograph and take cell samples of the lung airways. Lung cancer can be diagnosed with lung biopsy. CT scan of the chest area is done to examine any tumors. A spiral CT scan is very effective in locating even small lung cancer tumors. MRI can give deatiled imaging of tiny structural changes. If the lung cancer is likely to have metastasized to the bone, a PET scan will show that up. Thoracentesis involves aspiration of a small sample of the fluid that accumulates in the space between the lungs and chest wall. Image-guided fine needle aspiration is done to retrieve cells from tumor nodules in the lung. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used individually or together to treat lung cancer tumors.