October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For a month, you should wear the pink ribbon to show your support on the horrendous condition. I didn't know about this until last night. But, cancer is a topic that is important to me. I, like so many people, know countless people who have had cancer or been effected by it. And it's horrible. Cancer just cuts through family. Though, I wasn't involved with this campaign this year. I have done fundraising events in support of beating Cancer. One that comes to mind is that the 5km Cancer Research's Race For Life. I ran and completed the 5km run just after 30 minutes. It was a brilliant day. One which I'll probably never forget. I was very proud of my time, it is one of the best times that I've managed to complete 5km. Plus, the medal is proudly on view in my parent's house.
The reason why I've made this post is that breast cancer is that most common cancer which is affecting women within the UK is Breast Cancer. As a female, it's one of my fears - that'll I get in one day. It doesn't help that the statistic of people who will get cancer stands at 1 in 2. Quite high in my opinion. Out of that statistic, 1 in 8 women get diagnosed with Breast Cancer yearly. That's accounts to an approximately 54,800 women a year!
It not just women though who get breast cancer - Men can get this type of Cancer too. Yes, I know that it's rare for men to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the rarity, 390 men will get this diagnosis in the UK this year.
Both male and female breast cancer have similar features. The most common type of breast cancer experienced by both is known as Invasive Breast Cancer. However, males develop much more rarer types such as Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Or they have conditions which relate to breast cancer such as Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Paget's disease of the breast.
I want to inform those who are not aware of the science of breast cancer. Along with the symptoms, staging and the treatments available to us.
Risk Factors for Men
BRCA 1 and 2 faults are rare. Although, if they are faulty there is a high risk of breast cancer. 70% of woman with these faults will get breast cancer before 80 years old. BRCA 1 and 2 also is proven to cause ovarian cancer. While BRCA 2 can cause prostate cancer in men.
TP53 and PTEN faults can be even rarer. TP53 is meant to be the gene that controls when the cell divides. It's known in genetics as the tumour suppressor gene, I guess you can workout it's purpose. Breast cancer stems from an uncommon syndrome known as Li Fraumeni Syndrome. When PTEN goes wrong, it also causes an infrequent syndrome called Cowden Syndrome.
PALB2 is a very rare gene to go faulty. But, quite like the others, it causes a high risk to breast cancer. It could be also linked to ovarian, though no one knows how much yet.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
For those who are not aware, there are four stages to all types of cancer. Funnily, the number run from 1 to 4. Stage one is the earliest stage of Cancer and Stage 4 is the most advanced stage. Treatments get progressively harder as the staging goes higher due to the tumour being more aggressive.
Stage 1: The tumour is situated within the lymph nodes that are close to the breast tissue. The tumour is tiny, no bigger than 2cms at this point.
Stage 2: The tumour is still in the lymph node, moved to the breast tissue or even in both places. The tumour will be no larger than 5cms.
Stage 3: The tumour has spread by this stage. It can be in 10 lymph nodes now. The tumour has either grown from the tissue to the lymph nodes. Or from the lymph nodes to the tissue at the chest wall/skin.
Stage 4: This means that the tumour has spread to another part of the body. The cancer is now referred to as advanced/secondary or metastatic breast cancer. The tumour can be any size now.
Treatment
There are many treatments for breast cancer now. They can range from different circumstances and a team of doctors have probably made the decision on the best one for the particular case. It depends on the stage of cancer and how accessible it is to get.
For example, stage 1 would probably be treated by just removing the cancer. A lumpectomy/wide local excision could be untaken to surgically remove the cancerous part of the breast tissue along with a border of normal tissue (to make sure everything is taken out). Or Mastectomy could be done to remove all of the breast tissue. You don't usually need radiotherapy after a mastectomy. Doctors will also check the lymph nodes by sential lymph node biopsy. There are other treatments such as hormone therapy for 5 years, chemotherapy and targeted cell therapy using trastuzumab A.K.A Herceptin (which targets the Her2 proteins).
Stage 2 will have the same treatment as Stage 1. Just patients will have to undergo radiotherapy after the surgery as there is a risk that the cancer cells are still there.
Stage 3 treatment sees chemotherapy being used first to shrink the tumours. Then surgery might be recommended to preform a mastectomy. Reformative surgery, to reconstruct the breast, can be given later.
Treatment for stage 4 is difficult. Doctors try to shrink and limit the tumours that have spread. They mostly used chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
The reason why I've made this post is that breast cancer is that most common cancer which is affecting women within the UK is Breast Cancer. As a female, it's one of my fears - that'll I get in one day. It doesn't help that the statistic of people who will get cancer stands at 1 in 2. Quite high in my opinion. Out of that statistic, 1 in 8 women get diagnosed with Breast Cancer yearly. That's accounts to an approximately 54,800 women a year!
It not just women though who get breast cancer - Men can get this type of Cancer too. Yes, I know that it's rare for men to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the rarity, 390 men will get this diagnosis in the UK this year.
Both male and female breast cancer have similar features. The most common type of breast cancer experienced by both is known as Invasive Breast Cancer. However, males develop much more rarer types such as Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Or they have conditions which relate to breast cancer such as Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Paget's disease of the breast.
I want to inform those who are not aware of the science of breast cancer. Along with the symptoms, staging and the treatments available to us.
Risk Factors for Men
- Getting Older (Sadly) - Most breast cancer is diagnosed between 60 to 70 in men
- High Oestrogen Levels - All men produce this hormone known as oestrogen, it's perfectly normal. Though higher than normal can cause problems. This can happen in men who are obese, have liver problems and a genetic problem
- Klinefelter's Syndrome - This is a really rare genetic condition where males is born with an extra X chromosome - so they are XYX. Therefore, they make less testosterone.
- Radiation - This one is simple. It's a common risk factor for most cancers. Having exposure to radiation over a long period of time cause people to be have a higher risk.
- A family member with Breast Cancer - Males with a family member who has breast cancer have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Especially so when if the female member is the mother or sister. Sadly, the risk increases if the female member gets in before their 40th birthday.
BRCA 1 and 2 faults are rare. Although, if they are faulty there is a high risk of breast cancer. 70% of woman with these faults will get breast cancer before 80 years old. BRCA 1 and 2 also is proven to cause ovarian cancer. While BRCA 2 can cause prostate cancer in men.
TP53 and PTEN faults can be even rarer. TP53 is meant to be the gene that controls when the cell divides. It's known in genetics as the tumour suppressor gene, I guess you can workout it's purpose. Breast cancer stems from an uncommon syndrome known as Li Fraumeni Syndrome. When PTEN goes wrong, it also causes an infrequent syndrome called Cowden Syndrome.
PALB2 is a very rare gene to go faulty. But, quite like the others, it causes a high risk to breast cancer. It could be also linked to ovarian, though no one knows how much yet.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
- A lump - this is usually the first symptom of breast cancer. It is painless normally. Although, if you find one, don't panic. 90% of lumps within breast tissue are benign, meaning that they are not serious. Always good to check them out with your GP though.
- Change of size, shape and feel of the breast - See your doctor if things are different for you
- Skin Changes - Dimples, rashes, redness or puckering of the skin around them. Could be down to other conditions though. Like all of these, it'll be good to have a check up with the doctor.
- Fluid for the nipple - Discharge from the nipple either male or female (who isn't pregnant) is a bad sign for many conditions. Please check with your GP.
- Lumps under the arm
For those who are not aware, there are four stages to all types of cancer. Funnily, the number run from 1 to 4. Stage one is the earliest stage of Cancer and Stage 4 is the most advanced stage. Treatments get progressively harder as the staging goes higher due to the tumour being more aggressive.
Stage 1: The tumour is situated within the lymph nodes that are close to the breast tissue. The tumour is tiny, no bigger than 2cms at this point.
Stage 2: The tumour is still in the lymph node, moved to the breast tissue or even in both places. The tumour will be no larger than 5cms.
Stage 3: The tumour has spread by this stage. It can be in 10 lymph nodes now. The tumour has either grown from the tissue to the lymph nodes. Or from the lymph nodes to the tissue at the chest wall/skin.
Stage 4: This means that the tumour has spread to another part of the body. The cancer is now referred to as advanced/secondary or metastatic breast cancer. The tumour can be any size now.
Treatment
There are many treatments for breast cancer now. They can range from different circumstances and a team of doctors have probably made the decision on the best one for the particular case. It depends on the stage of cancer and how accessible it is to get.
For example, stage 1 would probably be treated by just removing the cancer. A lumpectomy/wide local excision could be untaken to surgically remove the cancerous part of the breast tissue along with a border of normal tissue (to make sure everything is taken out). Or Mastectomy could be done to remove all of the breast tissue. You don't usually need radiotherapy after a mastectomy. Doctors will also check the lymph nodes by sential lymph node biopsy. There are other treatments such as hormone therapy for 5 years, chemotherapy and targeted cell therapy using trastuzumab A.K.A Herceptin (which targets the Her2 proteins).
Stage 2 will have the same treatment as Stage 1. Just patients will have to undergo radiotherapy after the surgery as there is a risk that the cancer cells are still there.
Stage 3 treatment sees chemotherapy being used first to shrink the tumours. Then surgery might be recommended to preform a mastectomy. Reformative surgery, to reconstruct the breast, can be given later.
Treatment for stage 4 is difficult. Doctors try to shrink and limit the tumours that have spread. They mostly used chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
...
I hope that no-one has to go through cancer, no matter what the type. It's a cruel disease and cuts through families. More treatments are being discovered through research. I hope with the £24million that Stand Up To Cancer raised on Friday night that more research can be funded.
Comments
Post a Comment