Breast cancer (or breast cancer) is the most common malignant neoplasm among women, in which healthy glandular tissue degenerates into malignant cells. The development of breast cancer provokes an active and completely uncontrolled division of atypical cancer cells. With untimely and improper treatment, the tumor can grow quite quickly, even grow in the chest, muscles and skin. What are the stages of breast cancer and how are they treated? Answers to these and other questions are given in this article.
Causes
During the development of this disease, it is very difficult to identify its root cause. Cancer can appear due to many factors. Here are the main ones:
- Age. The older the woman, the greater the chance of getting cancer, more than 80% of cases of cancer occur after menopause.
- Genetic factor. Cancer is most often observed in those women whose relatives also faced the same misfortune.
- If the menstrual cycle began very early (at ten to eleven years) or menopause began after fifty years, then this is very dangerous for a woman's health, since the action of the hormone estrogen lasted a very long time.
- If the woman was not able to give birth to a child. A woman who has had an abortion, childless or given birth for the first time after thirty-five years is also at risk of developing breast cancer.
- Breastfeeding is also very important. If a woman is breastfeeding her baby, then she is less at risk of developing a malignant tumor.
- Excess weight. When menopause has come, you need to monitor your weight, because extra pounds can also negatively affect your health.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the disease are determined by its stage: take into account the size, prevalence, as well as the presence of metastases. Since there are usually no obvious signs of the first two stages, breast cancer is usually diagnosed with a mammogram or x-ray, which should be performed annually.
Very indicative signs of cancer are the presence of seals, and a woman can identify them on her own, probing her chest.
At a later stage, the manifestation of other signs is possible: painful sensations and bumps in the chest, a change in the color of the skin and their structure, swelling in the armpits, discharge from the nipples and their retraction.
A tumor that grows in size can be seen with the naked eye. The breast can become hard, painful and swollen as a result of the germination of malignant cells in its tissue.
At the latest - stage 4 breast cancer - metastasis of malignant cells to the lymph nodes, as well as other organs: the brain (muscle weakness), bones (pain in large joints and back), lungs (shortness of breath and prolonged cough), kidneys and liver ( feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, bloating). The skin over the enlarged tumor may necrotic, ulcers appear on the chest, which do not heal well.
Diagnostics
In the early stage of breast cancer, self-diagnosis is very important. Self-diagnosis should be carried out more often if a woman is over 35 years old. Although at the initial stage the disease manifests itself little, do not be lazy to examine your chest for:
- seals (one or more);
- enlargement of one breast;
- the appearance of the so-called "lemon peel";
- discharge from the nipples, often bloody;
- chest pain
- retracting the nipple.
If you find any of the above at home, then immediately contact a specialist. In addition to palpation and examination of the mammary glands, the doctor can prescribe a diagnosis in the laboratory. This is a direction for such procedures as:
- ultrasound examination of the glands;
- X-ray (mammography);
- analyzes.
These are the main diagnostic methods. It is also possible to conduct MRI or biopsy of the glands. Only after a cumulative medical examination (examination and laboratory tests) does a specialist mammologist diagnose and give an opinion on the nature of the formation: malignant (cancer) or benign, and also prescribe the appropriate treatment. And even if you do not observe obvious abnormalities on the chest, an annual examination by a mammologist will not be superfluous.
First stage
The prognosis of recovery and methods of treating breast cancer depend on the stage of the course of the disease. Signs of breast cancer at an early stage are characterized by the presence of penetrating carcinomas developing from cells of the epithelial tissue of the breast. The size of malignant tumors or carcinomas at this stage does not exceed two centimeters. Breast cancer at this stage is localized within the breast, does not affect other organs or parts of the body. This disease proceeds without any manifestations, even with palpation of the affected organ, pain is not felt, only in rare cases it is possible to enlarge the lymph nodes. At the first stage, it is difficult to detect this disease, since there are no obvious signs of inflammation and organ damage.
Using methods of mammography, you can know in advance the presence or absence of malignant neoplasms. There are also self-examination methods, which include palpation of the chest in order to check for seals. According to statistics, up to 70 percent of cases of detection of breast cancer are detected independently by patients, that is, with self-examination of the breast. If the malignant tumor is localized, then it is completely removed surgically by capturing a centimeter of a healthy part of the organ.
At this stage, after surgery, the following series of procedures are prescribed: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antihormonal treatment and therapy using antibodies. The choice of one, two or a combination of methods depends on the size and properties of the tumor, as well as the direction of its distribution.
According to statistics, at the first stage of development of breast cancer, the five-year survival rate is at the level of one hundred percent, that is, all patients, when following the treatment regimen, fully recover.
Second stage
Oncology holds the championship in mortality among the female half of the population. But still, the diagnosis of breast cancer of the second degree is not the end.
The cause of breast cancer of the 2nd degree is the ongoing development of the disease, an increase in the number of pathogenic cells, their spread over tissues and organs. Symptoms of breast cancer are usually observed as follows: the formation of tightness in the chest, discomfort, unreasonable pain in the chest, change in shape, swelling, asymmetry of the chest, skin changes in the chest area, armpits and armpits in the clavicle, lymph nodes become inflamed, lymph nodes become inflamed, the shape of the nipple changes and discharge from it appears.
The second degree of cancer is considered initial. Main signs: carcinoma from 2 to 5 cm. Divided into 2 substages:
- 2A - on this substage, the malignancy reaches 2 cm.
- 2B - the formation of up to 5 centimeters, the process can affect from 1 to 3 lymph nodes.
For early diagnosis of cancer, you must independently monitor your health. Feeling the mammary glands, make sure that there are no seals. Breast cancer of the second degree has obvious signs that a gynecologist or mammologist can detect without problems. The doctor can make a diagnosis while feeling, and additional ultrasound examinations, a mammogram, a urinalysis and a blood test, a biopsy, a lymph node examination for metastasis, and so on are prescribed for the woman. Such breast cancer is treated through surgery. Specialists determine whether to keep the breast or not. After surgery, tissue samples are sent for histological examination. If the malignancy has reached 5 cm or metastases have been found in the lymph nodes, then chemotherapy is prescribed. This procedure before surgery reduces the size of the neoplasm, and then reduces the risk of metastasis and relapse of the disease. Timely prescribed chemotherapy, surgery in combination with radiation therapy in the second stage in most cases lead to complete recovery.
Third stage
Stage 3 breast cancer is divided into several subparagraphs:
- 3A stage is characterized by the detection of a tumor of any size or its absence, but the presence of cancer cells in 4-9 axillary and thoracic lymph nodes, or the detection of a tumor of 5 centimeters in size and the presence of a small number of cancer cells in the axillary and sternal lymph nodes, or the presence of a tumor larger than 5 centimeters and the detection of cancer cells in 1-3 axillary and sternal lymph nodes.
- 3B stage. This stage is characterized by the detection of a cancerous tumor of any size or the detection of cancer cells in the mammary gland that caused the appearance of edema, as well as the detection of cancer cells in 9 or less axillary and sternal lymph nodes.
- 3C stage. This stage differs from the 3B stage by the detection of cancer cells in 10 or more axillary and sternal lymph nodes.
Treatment of stage 3A and operable 3B is possible both with preservation of the mammary gland, and with its partial or complete removal. Depending on the results of a lymph node biopsy, radiation in the chest area may be prescribed. After surgical treatment at these stages, chemotherapy is mandatory.
Treatment of stage 3B and inoperable 3C stage is possible only with the complete removal of the mammary gland and part of the infected axillary or sternal lymph nodes with subsequent irradiation. Depending on the results of a lymph node biopsy, their exposure to the thoracic region can be prescribed. As with stage 3A and operable 3B after surgical treatment, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy is mandatory at these stages. After a positive result of treatment of the 3rd stage of the disease, breast reconstruction is possible, aimed at restoring the shape and size of the breast.
Fourth stage
The most severe stage of breast cancer is the fourth. With it, neither the size of the tumor nor the number of damaged lymph nodes matters. Breast cancer (BC) metastasizes to the bones of the skeleton, with a slightly lower probability - to the lungs and brain. Other organs and tissues are affected much less frequently.
Treatment
When it comes to 4 stages of breast cancer, then operations on it can be performed. Their goal is changing. First of all, surgical interventions are aimed at eliminating various complications of the underlying disease. Also, with stage 4 breast cancer, radiation therapy can be used as a treatment, the main purpose of which is palliative, that is, the elimination of pain with metastatic damage to the skeleton bones.
Thus, the main method of therapy is chemotherapy and hormone therapy (in the event that the neoplasm is hormone-sensitive). Of course, that at any stage of the patient is always interested in the prognosis of life expectancy. It should be understood that the prognosis for 4 stages of breast cancer (as well as for 4 stages of cancer of any other organ and tissue) is negative. The vast majority of patients die within the first year after confirmation of the diagnosis. Moreover, death can occur not only from the tumor process itself, but also from the problems that it creates. Most patients die from a common cold. The exhaustion of the patient, as well as pain, greatly accelerates death. If we talk about how much they live with stage 4 breast cancer, then about 10-15% of patients survive the one-year milestone.
Risk factors
When a mutation occurs in DNA cells, they become dangerous. In an altered cell, cancerous ones begin to be activated. Often, tumor formations appear in the area of the mammary gland. The increased likelihood of developing a malignant tumor is called a risk factor. Each type of cancer has its own level of mutation, which leads to the activation of its development. There are such risk factors, the development of which a person contributes to his behavior:
- Smokes.
- He consumes a lot of alcoholic drinks with a high alcohol content.
- Sits on diets that do not bring health benefits, but only worsen it.
- Uses narcotic substances of various variations (inhaling, intravenously, other option).
In addition to the acquired risk factors, there are also those that are of an innate nature, and a person cannot influence them in order to improve their DNA cells:
- Racial affiliation.
- Age.
- Family medical history.
Scientists have not found which specific risk factors affect the transformation of a healthy DNA cell into an altered one. When and how cancer cells in the mammary glands are activated is unknown, it is impossible to foresee the disease. There is an assumption that hormones have an effect, but this version is still at the stage of scientific research.
Complications
Cancer cells are transported through the lymphatic vessels and begin to develop in the nearest lymph nodes. Blood flow carries malignant cells to all tissues and organs, which often causes the formation of new tumors - metastases. In most cases, breast cancer metastasizes to the bones, liver, lungs, and brain. The collapse of the tumor and associated organ damage can cause a woman's death.
Prevention
Cancer is one of the most serious diseases. It is not so simple to cure him, and sometimes it is absolutely impossible. But there are ways that can help prevent the development of the disease.
- Eat cruciferous vegetables more often. This is cabbage, radish. They will make the body healthy.
- Try turmeric. This product will help strengthen the body's defenses. Mix it with pepper and take 1/8 teaspoon every day.
- Include gooseberries in the diet. It has many benefits. Firstly, a large amount of antioxidants, and secondly, it is rich in vitamins. This is the main thing.
- Eat soy.
- Vacuum more often at home.
- Use only regular soap. Instead of antibacterial, it is better to buy a toilet. This will help get rid of toxins.
- Eat more mushrooms. It is a source of nutrients. Useful for the prevention of this disease.
- Give up sugar. There is nothing useful in it. Firstly, the risk of cancer increases; secondly, sugar affects the growth of the tumor; thirdly, it stimulates metastases.
- Sweets are best replaced with berries. You can try strawberries or raspberries. These berries contain antioxidants. They play a major role in the treatment of this disease.
In order to prevent the development of breast cancer or “catch” only a nascent disease in time, it is necessary to regularly visit a mammologist and gynecologist, as well as an X-ray examination. After all, how many stages of breast cancer, so many treatment options for each of them. It is also important to do an independent examination of the chest.