One of the most common and the most treated types of cancer is breast cancer. While people often wear ribbons to raise awareness of breast cancer, it seems that awareness can’t possibly be higher right now. Almost everyone knows someone who either has had breast cancer or had a family member fight breast cancer. Because of the prevalence of breast cancer in our society, the amount of funding and research to eliminate this threat continues to grow to nearly unprecedented levels.
While everyone is aware of the potential dangers of breast cancer, not everyone is aware of the actual symptoms of breast cancer. Beyond that, people don’t really know what treatment options are available for breast cancer. Treatment is a vital step in helping create the breast cancer survival stories we all want to hear.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
Obviously, breast cancer can’t be treated if it can’t be diagnosed and identified. All women should be schooled in giving themselves a self check on a regular basis. In addition to that, there’s also mammograms and other screening tests that need to be completed on a consistent basis. By completing screening tests, you can often find breast cancer well before the symptoms arise. Despite this, knowing the symptoms is important. Here’s the symptoms people need to look out for:
- Breast Cancer Lumps - These are the most common signs of breast cancer. These masses don’t cause pain, but are noticable. The most common breast cancer lumps are irregular in shape. That doesn’t mean it’s the only type of lump. Symmetrical and soft lumps can also be signs of breast cancer. Any lump needs to be checked out!
- Swelling - Unexpected swelling is another breast cancer symptom. Even if there is no lump, often if one of the breasts has localized or global swelling, there may be cancerous tissue.
- Nipple Retraction - Some nipples will retract and turn inward. Inverted nipples are common, but the switch to them is a potential symptom.
- Nipple Discharge - If nipples begin to discharge liquids that are not milk for infants, that’s another sign that something is amiss and a screening should be scheduled as soon as possible.
- Skin Dimpling - If the skin on the breast changes from normal to something with consistent dimples (like the peel of a lemon), it’s possible that breast cancer is present.
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Once the breast cancer has been found, it’s time to look into treatment options. There are many different treatment options that may be pursued depending on the location and cancer. There are both “local” options which will apply to the breast specifically and “global” options will will affect the entire body. Here are some of the treatment options that are available for breast cancer:
- Surgery - Typically, surgery is one of the more common treatments, and often used in conjunction with other treatment methods. Surgery has multiple options and the type will depend on the size of the breast, the size of the cancer and if it has spread out. There are breast conserving options, but sometimes a mastectomy is required.
- Radiation Therapy - Raditiona therapy is often the next step after surgery, especially a breast conserving type of surgery. The radiation treatment is a local therapy aimed specifically at the area the cancer was located. In some cases it may be used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body as well.
- Hormone Therapy - Some breast cancers are responsive to hormone treatment. In these cases, hormone therapy can be used to keep the size of the cancerous region from growing.
- Chemotherapy - This is a very common treatment for breast cancer. Typically chemotherapy is the second step following surgery to remove the cancer from the body. This ensures that the cancer that has been removed doesn’t return.
- Alternative Options - There are also several other methods that have been coming forward. These have not shown the effectiveness of the other types of treatment here, but are alternatives for people who have found the other treatments to be ineffective.
