Breast Cancer Awareness - Caring Village

Breast cancer diagnosis can bring feelings of anxiety, depression, confusion, and even fear of the unknown. This is especially true if you know someone or have a relative who has had breast cancer (a risk factor).

The good news is that most breast cancer is curable if caught in time. In addition, exciting new technology and drug therapies are being tested with promising results.

What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer

According to the CDC, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women.
It is estimated one in 8 women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives.
Each year in the United States, more than 240,000 women get breast cancer, and more than 40,000 women die from the disease.
Women under 50 account for 25% of all breast cancer cases, and they tend to have higher mortality rates.
On average, every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.
Men also get breast cancer, but it is not very common. Less than 1% of breast cancers occur in men.

Types of Breast Cancer

There are several types of breast cancer. The most common is a type of carcinoma. Carcinomas are tumors that start in the epithelial cells (lining of the organs and cells). When carcinomas form in the breasts, it is called adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas can either start in the glands that make breast milk or in the milk ducts.

Adenocarcinomas are classified as either in situ or invasive cancer.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

Twenty percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers fall into this category. This is an early-stage cancer listed as stage 0. This type of cancer is not invasive, which means that the cells that line the ducts are cancerous and have not spread through the walls into nearby breast tissue.

Options for DCIS are usually either breast-conserving surgery or simple mastectomy. This is usually followed up by radiation therapy. In some cases, if breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive, it may be treated after surgery with tamoxifen or other medication.

Invasive or Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma

This is cancer that has spread outside of the ducts. It is the most common type of invasive breast cancer.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

This is a type of breast cancer that has spread outside of the lobules.

Three Subtypes of Breast Cancer (Diagnosed by Obtaining Tissue Biopsies)

Hormone Receptor-Positive

Breast cancers expressing estrogen receptors and/or progesterone receptors are called hormone receptor-positive. These receptors are proteins found in cells. Only one of these receptors needs to be positive for a cancer to be called hormone receptor-positive. This type of cancer is more common after menopause. About 2/3 of breast cancers fall into this category.

HER2 Positive

15 to 20% of breast cancers are called HER2-positive breast cancers. This type of cancer depends on the gene called human epidermal growth factor receptor to grow. They grow more quickly and can be either hormone receptor-positive or triple-negative.

Triple-Negative

This type of invasive breast cancer affects between 10 and 20% of women. It tends to be more common among younger women, especially younger black and Hispanic women. It is also more common in women with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. It is often recommended now women with this type of breast cancer be tested for BRCA gene mutations.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

Over the age of 50 increases the risk of breast cancer
Relative with ovarian, metastatic prostate, pancreatic, or breast cancer
Ashkenazi or Eastern European Jewish heritage (more likely to have inherited the BRCA1 gene)
Obesity
Excessive alcohol intake

Signs & Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Many women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have any obvious symptoms or signs when first diagnosed. However, some signs and symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.

A thickening in the breast or under the arm or a lump that feels like a hard knot. Check with the other breast to make sure the change is not part of healthy breast tissue.
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Nipple discharge, especially if it is bloody or occurs in only one breast
Puckering, dimpling, scaliness, or new creases in the breast
A warm, red, swollen breast with or without a rash with dimpling resembling the skin of an orange called “peau d’orange”
Pain in the breast, particularly breast pain that does not go away.

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Getting a screening mammogram can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer by 30-40% among women ages 40 to 70.
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray exam of the breasts to look for changes that are not normal.
If you are a woman aged 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them.
If you are a woman aged 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every two years. You may also choose to get them more often.
Regular mammograms for women who have breast implants.

Breast Cancer Prevention

While some genetic factors involving breast cancer can’t be changed, there are several lifestyle choices that can help prevent and increase survival rates.

Genetic testing for gene mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 through either saliva or blood if a family member has had a history of this type of cancer
Monthly self-breast checks. Ask your doctor or care provider to show you how to do this.
Regularly scheduled mammograms to catch early breast cancer
Exercise at least five times a week for 30 minutes. If able, take a brisk walk. If unable, talk with your doctor about an exercise program adapted to your physical ability
Eat a high-fiber, fruit, and vegetable rich diet (consult with your doctor for guidance)
Eliminate all forms of sugar from your diet

Breast Cancer Treatment & Prognosis

The National Cancer Institute statistics reveal a very promising five-year survival rate of 90.8% for breast cancer survival rate.
Treatment options for breast cancer depend on the type and stage of the cancer. Surgery, mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and drug (hormone) therapy are standard treatment options.
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer will determine the prognosis. Early diagnosis and intervention dramatically increase the survival rate.

Promising Results for the Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Cutting-Edge Technology

Merging with ultrasound, robotic and AI-enabled breast cancer diagnosis and lump detection device is showing promising results. This device can detect lumps deeper in the tissue compared to standard ultrasound. Hopefully, this device will be available soon.