Cancer Self Help

Breast Cancer

What causes Breast Cancer

As with many types of cancer our knowledge is far short of complete. We do know that some women seem to be at greater risk

If several members of a family have had cancer of the breast
If close members of a family have had cancers of the ovary and colon, as well as cancer of the breast
If a close relative has had cancer of the breast when under forty

The following are considered to cause a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.

Women who have not had children or had children later in life
Women whose menopause started occurred late or whose periods started at a very early age
If you take the contraceptive pill you could be at a slightly higher risk. Most women it has no effect at all as far as breast cancer goes.
Taking HRT (Hormone replacement therapy for 10 years or more may incur a slightly increased risk of breast cancer)

Their is no suggestion of evidence to associate bangs or knocks to the breast with breast cancer.

What are the symptoms?

The first thing most women notice is a lump in the breast. Other signs to look for are: -

Breast - change of size or shape. dimpling of the skin. Thickening.
Nipple - becomes inverted. Lump or thickening. Bloodstained discharge. Rash on nipple or surrounding area
Arm - Swelling in the armpit

Please note these symptoms can be caused by other, less serious conditions but always get them checked.

Breast Lumps

Most Lumps in the Breast are benign, about nine in ten. Benign lumps are usually cists or fibroadenomas and are easily treated.

If you notice a lump see a Doctor immediately

Anything unusual should be looked at to rule out the possibility of Cancer. If it should be Cancer the earlier you can get it treated the better the chance of a successful outcome.

DCIS - Ductal Carcinoma in situ

through to Stage four tumours

DCIS is when the cancer cells are completely contained within the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. It has not spread to the surrounding tissue. DCIS is almost always cured.
Stage One Tumours: Measure less than two centimetres. The lymph glands are not affected and there are no indications that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.
Stage Two Tumours: Measure between two and five centimetres, or the lymph glands in the armpit are affected or both. There are no indications that the cancer has spread further.
Stage Three Tumours: larger than five centimetres the lymph glands are usually affected, but there are no signs that there has been any further spread.
Stage Four Tumours these are of any size, but the lymph glands are usually affected and the Cancer has spread to other parts of the body This is secondary Cancer

Different treatments are used for each of these stage. Use of a suitable treatment propgram will lead to it being less likely that the cancer will go to another stage.