Contents
Breast cancer is an insidious cancer that can affect any of us, regardless of age. Find out what the worrying symptoms should make you see a doctor and how to recognize them.
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Every year in the world it is diagnosed in up to 2 million women, and over 500 people die because of it. Despite many modern therapeutic options available in our country and the growing awareness of women, both the incidence and mortality of breast cancer are still increasing [1]. In Poland, about 19 are diagnosed each year. women. This means that every day over 50 Polish women learn about this disease. That is why early diagnosis is so important, e.g. regular mammography and monthly breast self-examination [2].
Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of the cells that line the lobules or ducts of the breast. These cells grow out of control and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph vessels. Both men and women can develop breast cancer, although men are much less likely to get breast cancer – less than one percent of all breast cancer patients.
The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. There are many types of breast cancer. Breast cancer usually begins with cells in the milk ducts that transport milk to the nipple (this is called ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer can also start in a glandular tissue called lobules (lobular carcinoma) or in other tissues of the breast. Less commonly, it can arise in the stromal tissues that include the fatty and fibrous connective tissue of the breast.
Doctors estimate that about 5-10 percent. Breast cancer is associated with gene mutations passed down in the family from generation to generation. A number of inherited mutant genes have been identified that may increase the likelihood of breast cancer. The best known are the breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and the breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), the possession of which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer [3].
Live Full Breast – Breast Self-Examination That Can Save Your Life
Breast self-examination is the basic form of prophylaxis and early detection of neoplastic changes. It should be performed by women from the age of 20 until old age, every month, preferably three to five days after the end of menstrual bleeding. Women who do not have periods anymore should have their breasts checked on the same day of each subsequent month. Regularity in this case is extremely important. Although self-examination is less accurate than x-ray mammography, systematically performed it allows a woman to learn about the structure of the breast and detect even minor abnormalities.
This examination can be performed in various positions: lying down, standing in front of a mirror or, for example, in a shower. The breasts can be inspected e.g. in the morning while getting dressed. Find the position that is most comfortable for you [4]. At the beginning, it is necessary to check that the breasts have not changed their position, size and shape, and that there have been no changes in color and drawing of the skin.
This breast observation should be performed in three positions – with the arms down along the body, resting firmly on the hips, and with the arms raised up and resting on the head. Then, keeping your fingers flat with your fingers, examine the breasts in a clockwise circular motion, starting from the nipple and drawing the largest circle back to the center. An inseparable element of self-examination should also be squeezing the nipples of both breasts and checking whether there is any discharge from them [5].
The next part of the examination should be performed after lying on the back. You should put a small pillow or a towel under your shoulders and carefully examine your breasts as described above. Checking the breasts in this position makes it possible to check that the lymph nodes are not enlarged – try not to avoid the hollows in the armpits and the area from the breast to the collarbone.
How to recognize the early symptoms of breast cancer?
Possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump, lump, or swelling in the breast, upper chest, or armpit;
- enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit and supraclavicular nodes;
- changing the size or shape of the breast;
- change in skin texture, such as wrinkling or pitting in the skin (called orange peel symptom)
- nipple ulcers;
- changing the shape of the nipple;
- retraction of the nipple;
- any unusual discharge from the nipple;
- continuous pain that is not related to the menstrual cycle, which persists after this period and occurs in only one breast [6].
The presence of some of these symptoms or changes in the breast is not synonymous with the diagnosis, and most of the tumors you can feel are not malignant – even 90 percent. changes in premenopausal women are usually harmless, non-cancerous. Detecting breast cancer early is crucial in terms of treatment options for this type of cancer. Women with breast cancer diagnosed at the earliest stage before the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other locations outside the breast have 99 percent of breast cancer rates. chance of survival for at least 5 years. Find out more here.
What to do if you suspect you have breast cancer?
If you are concerned about any new changes in your breasts, see your doctor who will do a thorough history and physical examination, and assess if there is any need for further diagnosis. If in doubt, the doctor may order mammography or ultrasound, which is more important in the diagnosis of abnormal changes in young women. This is mainly due to the different structure of the breasts – in young women the breasts contain more glandular tissue than adipose tissue, which is predominant in postmenopausal women.
Don’t miss out on research!
Health is an important but not urgent topic for Poles. We all know, of course, that you have to research, but if nothing worrying happens, we postpone it indefinitely, for a “more convenient moment” – says Marta Maszewska-Danielewicz, director of marketing communication and brand at Nationale-Nederlanden.
Therefore, on February 4, on the World Day of Fighting Cancer, Nationale-Nederlanden launched the campaign “Do not sleep through the tests”, as part of which it encourages Polish women and Poles to regularly self-examine their breasts and testicles. This is because it is the first step to early detection of a possible neoplastic disease.
With this action, we want to create a strong enough impulse for Poles to translate the theoretical knowledge about the need for research into action here and now, and thus finally decide to research. It’s time to take the first step and start checking yourself regularly – adds Marta Maszewska-Danielewicz.
On the website of the campaign “Do not miss the tests” you can find practical information and tips on self-examination of the breasts and testicles, as well as a series of video guides with a psycho-oncologist that introduce the topic of preventive examinations and help tame the fear of the examination.