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Breast cancer Written by Ivan Jurchenko on April 14th 2009 at 17:07 pm
Anatomy of breast gland The breasts are unique organs, which are located on the anterior chest wall. The breasts of an mature female are milk-producing, tear-shaped glands. The breast is made up of fatty tissue and glandular milk-producing tissues. The breast is perceptive to a complex interplay of hormones that attempt the structure to develop, amplify and construct milk. The three essential hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. Their interrelationship is most evident - and felt - during the menstrual cycle and post-natal period. They can act on the size and perception of the breasts themselves. Within each breast, there are 15 to 25 lobes formed by groups of lobules, the milk glands. Each lobe has many smaller lobules, which end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can construct milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are each and every linked by thin tubes called ducts. These ducts conduct to the nipple in the center of a darksome area of skin called the areola. Each breast besides contains blood vessels and vessels that bear lymph. Lymph is a fluid that travels by the lymphatic system and carries cells that aid the body battle infections. The lymph vessels conduct to the lymph nodes . Lymph nodes is a little , bean-shaped glands that are part of the infection - fighting lymphatic system . A group of lymph nodes are located in the armpits, above the collarbone, and in the chest. If the cancer has reached these nodes, it may mean that cancer cells have spread to more parts of the body. Lymph nodes are besides found in many other parts of the body. Arteries transport oxygen loaded blood from the heart to the chest wall and the breasts, whilst veins capture de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. The arterial supply of the breast is from: posterior intercostal arteries, lateral thoracic and thoracoacromial arteries , internal thoracic artery. Venous seepage of the breast is mostly through the axillary vein, and some seepage occurs by the internal thoracic veins . The breasts curtain a big part of the chest wall. In front, the breast structure may extend from the clavicle (collarbone) to the central of the sternum (breastbone). On the side, breast tissue may continue into the axilla (armpit) and attain as far as the latissimus dorsi. Breast cancer introduction
Risc factors of breast cancer
Signs of breast cancer Unfortunately, the young stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is essential to succeed screening recommendations. As yet the most ordinary sign of breast cancer for both men and women is a lump or thickening in the breast. Frequently, the lump is painless. Other likely signs of breast cancer contain : - lump or thickening in the breast or underarm - modify in size or form of the breast - nipple absolve or nipple turning inward - dimpling of the skin - ridges or pitting of the breast skin
Screening tests Please remember and understand that the sooner you obtain a correct diagnosis, the sooner you can begin medication, and the more effective your medication will be. Two tests are usually used by health care institutes to screen for breast cancer:
If some pathological element is found by some of this screening tests follow-up tests may be needed. If something that seems abnormal is found using one of these two tests :
Ultrasound. Ultrasound is not used by itself as a screening check for breast cancer. Breast ultrasound is a action that may be used to decide whether a lump is a cyst (sac containing fluid) or a solid lump. If it is found to be a cyst, fluid is typically withdrawn from it using a needle and syringe (a action called aspiration). If clear fluid is removed and the mass absolutely disappears, no more treatment or evaluation is desired. Ultrasound can as well be used to precisely locate the location of a known tumor in order to guide the doctor during a biopsy or aspiration action. Ultrasound helps confirm correct needle placement. This is a action in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off inner tissues or organs and create echoes. The echoes form an image of body tissues called a sonogram. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . MRI of the breast is an imaging of the breast procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a personal computer to create a sequence of multiple cross-sectional pictures of your breast gland .
Types of breast biopsy procedures contain :
Stages of breast cancer Stage 0 - is used to characterize non-invasive breast cancers, such as DCIS and LCIS. In stage 0 , there is no affirmation of cancer cells or non-cancerous aberrant cells breaking out of the part of the breast in which they started, or of getting through to or invading neighboring normal structure. Stage I - describes invasive breast cancer (cancer cells are breaking through to or invading neighboring normal structure) in which: the tumor measures up to 2 centimeters, AND no lymph nodes are involved Stage II is divided into subcategories acknowledged as IIA and IIB. Stage II A - the tumor is less than 2 centimeters(approximately an inch) and has spread up to three auxiliary underarm lymph nodes. Or, the tumor has grown bigger than 2 centimeters, however no larger than five centimeters (approximately 2 inches) and has not spread to neighbouring lymph nodes. Stage IIB - describes invasive breast cancer in which: the tumor is larger than 2 however no larger than 5 centimeters and has expand to the axillary lymph nodes, OR the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters however has not expand to the axillary lymph nodes . Stage III - is divided into subcategories acknowledged as IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. Stage IIIA - describes invasive breast cancer in which either: no tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to more structures, or cancer may have expand to lymph nodes bordering the breastbone, OR the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller and has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped as one or sticking to other structures, OR the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters and has expand to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped as one or sticking to other structures . Stage III B - the cancer has expand to tissues close the breast plus the skin, chest wall, ribs, muscles, or lymph nodes in the chest wall or above the collarbone. Stage IIIC - describes invasive breast cancer in which: there may be no sign of cancer in the breast or, if there is a tumor, it may be any bigness and may have expand to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast, AND the cancer has expand to lymph nodes upon or lower the collarbone, AND the cancer may have expand to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes close the breastbone . Stage IV - describes invasive breast cancer in which: the cancer has expand to additional organs of the body - as a rule the lungs, liver, bone, or brain "Metastatic at presentation" means that the breast cancer has expand farther the breast and nearby lymph nodes, all the more though this is the first examination of breast cancer. The cause for this is that the primary breast cancer was not found when it was only inside the breast. Metastatic cancer is considered stage IV.
Breast cancer treatment Breast carcinoma is treated in many ways. It depends on the type of breast carcinoma and how deep it has expand. Treatments contain surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, biologic treatment, and radiation. Persons with breast carcinoma frequently get more than one kind of medicine.
Breast cancer prognosis
Source : http://www.medmodern.com
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