Breast cancer is a leading cause of death and is the most common cancer nowadays. According to WHO in 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685 000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. This cancer has no age limit and can affect the women of every age. The ratio of breast cancer is higher in every country like in PAKISTAN, one in every 9 women in Pakistan has a lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. The age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer in Pakistan is one of the highest among Asian countries.
Breast cancer arises in the lining cells (epithelium) of the ducts in the glandular tissue of the breast. Initially, the cancerous growth is confined to the duct, where it generally causes no symptoms and has minimal potential for spread (metastasis). It usually divided into stages according to severity.
Over time, cancers may progress and invade the surrounding breast tissue (invasive breast cancer) then spread to the nearby lymph nodes (regional metastasis) or to other organs in the body (distant metastasis). If a woman dies from breast cancer, it is because of widespread metastasis (progression of breast cancer).
EARLY SIGNS OF BREAST CANCERS
Following are the 5 early signs of breast cancer.
· PAINLESS LUMP IN BREAST
A painless lump in the breast is usually the first sign of breast cancer, though you may not feel it yourself. Instead, many lumps are detected by a routine screening mammogram. In fact, at the time of diagnosis, most women don’t have any apparent signs of breast cancer.
· FOR INVASIVE BREAST CANCER
It includes swelling of all part of breast even if no lump is there, nipples may appear red, scaly and think and even discharge.
It also includes breast or nipple pain and lump in the underarms.
· INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS,
It rarely causes lumps and not even detected in mammogram. Red, swollen, itchy breast that is tender to the touch. The surface of the breast may take on a ridged or pitted appearance, similar to an orange peel. Patient may feel heaviness, burning, or aching in one breast.
· SYMPTOMS OF NON-INVASIVE BREAST CANCER
Non-invasive breast cancer is sometimes called stage 0 cancer. It is an early stage of breast cancer, meaning the tumor is often very small. Given that the primary symptom of breast cancer is an abnormal lump in the breast and non-invasive breast cancer usually comes with a tumor that’s so small it’s only detectable by a mammogram, non-invasive breast cancer is unlikely to cause noticeable physical symptoms.
Breast cancer treatment can be highly effective, especially when the disease is identified early. Treatment of breast cancer often consists of a combination of surgical removal, radiation therapy and medication (hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and/or targeted biological therapy) to treat the microscopic cancer that has spread from the breast tumor through the blood. Such treatment, which can prevent cancer growth and spread, thereby saves lives.
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