Breast cancer Q and A ?

Q.1) What does Breast Cancer mean?

Ans : Breast cancer means a cancerous (causing infiltration and destruction of tissue) growth that originates in breast tissue.

Q.2) Whom does it affect the most?

Ans : The risk of breast cancer increases with increasing age, mostly among females.

Q.3) How does Breast Cancer progress?

Ans : Usually an excess of estrogen stimulates the growth of the tumour.

Q.4) What are the causes of Breast Cancer?

Ans : The causes are Positive family history. Early menarche Late menopause.  First child after thirty years of age.  Excessive body fat.  Prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 10 years or more. Oncogenes

Q.5)What are the symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Ans : The symptoms are A painless lump in the breast Dimpling of the skin in the area of the lump that looks like orange peel. Inversion of the nipple. A bloodstained nipple discharge. Pain in breast. In Paget's disease: patch of dry, flaky skin on the nipple. A change in the appearance or texture of the breasts. Cachexia  General symptoms: malaise (weariness)                              loss of appetite                              fatigue                              thirst                              fever

Staging

The international TNM classification is recognized for staging: T- Extent of primary tumour       T1 to T3 shows the increase in the extent or size of the tumour. N- Involvement of nodes       N1 to N3 shows the increasing node involvement. M- Presence of metastases (distant spread)       M0 no metastases       M1 presence of metastases.

Q.6)What investigations are done?

Ans : The tests conducted are

Mammography Radiology USG CT scan MRI Lymphangiogram Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology [FNAC] Aspiration Biopsy Estrogen Sensitivity Biochemical screening

Q.7) What are the treatment measures?

Ans :  Treatment Depends on: TNM stage

Estrogen sensitivity

Includes

Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Hormone therapy, or Most often, a combination of these.

Management of pain through Oral analgesics and localized techniques of pain relief. Antibiotics, in case of presence of infection.

Q.8) What is the prognosis?

Ans : Prognosis is good, if early diagnosis is followed by prompt radical cure. Prognosis worsens with increasing stage of the cancer.

Q.9) How can the disease be prevented?

Ans : The disease can be prevented through regular self-examination of breasts for lump. If there exists a positive family history of breast cancer then regular mammography should be conducted after the age of 30 years.

Q.10) Important things one should know about Breast Cancer?

Ans : One needs to know about the complementary therapies that can help in the healing process Relaxation exercises Meditation Psychological counseling. Family and colleagues support.

Terminal care

Psychological support Appropriate nutrition Treatment of cough, pruritis and nausea Family and friend's support