Breast cancer
Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue become abnormal and grow in an uncontrolled way. If not treated, the cancer may continue to grow and spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer affects both men and women, although it's less common in men.
Some breast cancers, known as 'pre-invasive' or 'carcinoma in situ' appear inside the milk ducts or milk-producing lobules of the breast and do not spread into other tissues. Other 'invasive' breast cancers start in the milk ducts or lobules and spread to surrounding tissues. They may also spread to other parts of the body. Pre-invasive or in situ cancers can change into invasive cancers if left untreated.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females in Australia. One out of every 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection through breast screening saves lives by finding breast cancers early when they're more easily treated.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of breast cancer can include:
- a new lump or lumpiness, especially if it's only in 1 breast
- a change in the size or shape of your breast
- a change to the nipple, such as crusting or redness, or the nipple is pulled in
- nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing the nipple
- a change in the skin of your breast, such as redness, puckering (pulling in) or dimpling (like orange peel)
- an unusual pain that doesn't go away.
You should learn what your breasts normally look and feel like so you can identify changes. See your doctor if you notice any of these changes, or any others that may not be on this list.
Cause
There is no specific cause for breast cancer, but there are some factors that could increase your risk of breast cancer.
Lifestyle factors include:
- unhealthy weight
- drinking alcohol
- smoking.
Other factors include:
- gender—being female is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer
- age—most breast cancers occur in women over 50
- family history—defined by having a female first degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) diagnosed before 50, or a male first degree relative (father, brother or son) diagnosed at any age
- breast density—the reasons are not well understood, but women with higher breast density are at increased risk of breast cancer
- previous diagnosis of breast cancer.
Diagnosis
To find the cause of a breast change, or after receiving a breast screen result that needs further testing, follow-up tests may be conducted, which include:
- medical history and clinical breast exam
- imaging tests, such as a detailed breast x-ray, mammogram or breast ultrasound
- a needle biopsy, which takes a small sample of breast tissue for testing.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor or nurse counsellor will talk you through your results and discuss what will happen next.
Treatment plans can include:
- Surgery—there are 2 types of surgery:
- lumpectomy (breast conserving treatment) which removes the cancer and some healthy tissue but keeps the breast intact
- mastectomy which removes the entire breast
- with either type of surgery some lymph nodes under the arm may also be removed.
- Radiation therapy—given as a course of treatment after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back in the same breast, especially after lumpectomy.
- Chemotherapy—may be used either before or after breast surgery to reduce the size of the breast cancer or to treat cancer cells that may have spread outside of the breast.
- Hormone therapy—tablets to block or reduce the stimulating effects of hormones on breast tissue.
- Palliative care—supportive treatment to manage symptoms of breast cancer/
Prevention
Adopting a healthy lifestyle and regular screening can help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Maintain a healthy body weight—for most women, a waistline measurement of less than 80cm or body mass index (BMI) less than 25 significantly decreases your risk of breast cancer.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet—enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods each day, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Be active—regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer. You should aim for 30 minutes or more of physical activity every day.
- Avoid or limit alcohol intake—if you choose to drink, try to limit your alcohol intake to 1 or less standard alcoholic drink per day.
- Participate in breast cancer screening, which is strongly recommended for women aged between 50 and 74 years.