Breast cancer is one of the most widespread forms of the disease out there. It forms in the tissues of the breast. Out of all the different forms, the most commonly found type of breast cancer forms in the lining of the milk ducts, which is called ductal carcinoma. Lobular carcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in the milk glands, is another common type. While it is possible for breast cancer to occur in both men, it is typically rare for men. Treatments can include both holistic options like ozone therapy, conventional treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, as well as alternative treatment for breast cancer.
Types of Breast Cancer
With so many different types of breast cancer, no wonder it is so common and destructive. Some of the types other than ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma are infiltrating types of both. There are inflammatory breast cancers, medullary carcinoma, and metastatic breast cancer. Other forms of breast cancer include mucinous carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and Paget’s disease, which is a rare type of breast cancer that forms in the ducts of the breast and spreads to the areola and skin of the nipple. There are also triple-negative breast cancer and tubular carcinoma. While it is volatile, inflammatory breast cancer is only found in a small percentage.
Breast Cancer Statistics
Cancer in the breast is the form of the disease that American women get the most. This makes it a large portion of the deaths. Around 12 percent of women develop some form of it within their lifetime and the median age for patients is 62 years old. In 2019, there were 268,600 new cases of invasive cancers, 62,930 new cases of carcinoma in situ, and 41,760 women who died from breast cancer according to the American Cancer Society.
Causes of Breast Cancer
It is, of course, difficult to find out for sure what causes breast cancer in each patient. Some of the causes include alcohol abuse, breast implants in rare cases, birth control, and a family history of cancer. Even having dense breasts with more fibrous tissue than fatty tissue, inherited genes with mutations, lack of physical activity, obesity, and being post-menopause can contribute to it. There is no real way to say what causes a particular breast cancer, and it is difficult to prevent it, but these are some of the main causes.
Early Detection
While the most known detection is a lump, there are many other signs. Some of which include pain in the breast, bloody discharge, flaking on the breast, an inverted nipple, and changes in the size of the breast. Furthermore, peeling and pitted skin, scaling, and swelling are also signs of early detection. Lumping or swelling in the armpit can also be a sign. However, you won’t know you have breast cancer unless you do an MRI, ultrasound, electrical imaging, a mammogram, or molecular imaging to find out for sure.
Stages of Breast Cancer
With four stages, breast cancer treatment depends on where the disease is at. Doctors first detect small clusters of cancer cells in the lymph nodes or a tumor smaller than 2cm in the first stage of breast cancer. Then the second stage is when the tumor grows larger than 2cm, spreading to axillary lymph nodes. The third stage of breast cancer is when the tumor grows and spreads beyond the lymph nodes to the chest wall or skin of the breast. Finally, when it spreads to other organs and areas of the body is known as stage four of breast cancer.
Treatments for Breast Cancer
Beyond the usual treatments for breast cancer, which are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and medication, there are also alternative treatments that offer natural solutions to maintain recovery while regulating the side effects of more traditional treatments. Immunotherapy provides a wide range of treatments that can be personalized to the person, their health, the stage of cancer, and more. The whole body is supported to facilitate the fight against cancer and its spread.
Breast cancer is one of the most harrowing diseases, but there are things that can be done. You can work to avoid getting it, especially if you have cancer in the family, and can also get many forms of treatment should you end up with breast cancer. It isn’t the most optimistic disease, but there is always hope.
