Breast cancer is the type of cancer that grows in the breast. Breast cancer in women is the second most common type of cancer in the US. Although the disease can appear in both men and women, it’s more common in women. Every year in October, breast cancer awareness is celebrated so that more and more women are aware of this disease and how to catch it on time.
What causes breast cancer in women?
Breast cancer in women can be due to a variety of reasons. Every woman faces different types of risks in breast cancer. Therefore, it’s important to consult a doctor as soon you witness the symptoms.
From a set of causes, here are some of them that cause breast cancer in women.
Aging: Breast cancer in women becomes more common at or after the age of 50. Although it can be detected at younger ages, they are less susceptible to catch the disease.
Genetics: Mutations to certain genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 can lead to the development of ovarian and breast cancer in women. Even though it’s not a clear sign, but such women can be at a higher risk.
Dense Breasts: Women who have dense breasts have more connective tissue in their breasts. Such breasts make it harder for the disease to become clear in mammography screening or ultrasound. Women with dense breasts are more at risk of developing breast cancer.
Personal History of Cancers: If a woman once had breast cancer or any other type of cancer, then they are more on the verge of developing it the second time. Apart from it, some non-cancerous diseases of the breast such as lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia increase the risk of breast cancer in women.
Reproductive History: Women who had their periods before the age of 12 and menopause after 55 are more exposed to the hormones. Thus they are more at the risk of developing the disease.
Family History of Cancers: If any of the first-degree relatives of a woman, especially a mother, daughter or sister had breast cancer, then the risk of developing ovarian or breast cancer increases in the women. Even if the relative is a male, it also increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
History of Radiation Therapy: If a woman has a history of receiving radiation therapy before 30 then she’s at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
What are the types of breast cancer?
There are multiple types of breast cancers in women with different levels of severity. Some breast cancers are more aggressive than others.
Here are a few types of breast cancers.
Ductal carcinoma in situ: It’s non-invasive, and the most common type of cancer found in women. The cancer cells in this type of cancer are found in the ducts where they stay and do not spread to the other parts of the breast.
Lobular carcinoma in situ: These cancer cells are found in the milk-producing glands of the breast. Cancer remains non-invasive if it has not affected the surroundings of the breast.
Invasive ductal carcinoma: It’s the most common type of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts and spreads to the tissues outside the milk ducts. If not treated on time, this type of cancer can spread to organs and other tissues as well.
Invasive lobular carcinoma: This cancer begins in the breast lobules and spreads to the other tissues in the breast.
Paget disease of the nipple: It’s a less common type of breast cancer in women that starts in the ducts of the nipples and spreads to other tissues. It further affects the nipple’s areola and skin.
Phyllodes tumor: It’s another rare form of breast cancer that starts in the connective tissue. This tumor is often benign but can be cancerous as well.
Angiosarcoma: These cancer cells grow in the lymph vessels and blood vessels in the breast.
How does mammography help to deal with breast cancer in women?
Once a doctor is suspicious of the disease in the patient, they run multiple tests to confirm the diagnosis. There are several symptoms of breast cancers, but the disease cannot be confirmed without laboratory diagnosis.
One of the most necessary tests in breast cancer diagnosis is mammography that is non-invasive and gives out good results. Mammography for breast cancer is done at any stage to confirm the diagnosis, so the doctor can start the treatment.
Here’s how mammography services can help you in dealing with breast cancer in women.
- Digital mammography in NJ helps in reducing the risk of death by breast cancer as it helps in identifying the disease.
- Mammography gives out important information regarding the presence of small tumors in the breast that is helpful for the doctor to start treatment.
- Mammography is a great option to look for abnormal tissue growths in the milk ducts, i.e., ductal carcinoma in situ.
- The radiation from the mammography does not stay in the body for a long time. S
- It’s non-invasive with no side-effects.
Although mammography offers a lot of benefits, it certainly comes with some risks. Almost 5-15% of the mammograph results come as false positives, which can raise an unnecessary alarm for the patient. Once it happens, then only a proper biopsy can confirm if there was a presence of any cancer cells or not.
What’s the Take?
Breast cancer can be treated if it’s detected on time depending on the stage of the disease. Although some breast cancers are more harmful than the other ones, chemotherapy and radiation have shown some great responses as their treatment.
Your doctor may ask you to run a few tests including mammography and ultrasound or in some cases, a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Make sure to opt for an exceptional diagnostic center to get the right results for your condition. Don’t rush in choosing a diagnostic center and take as much time as you need. Always look for a place with the good doctor, supportive staff, and state-of-the-art equipment.