Symptoms of breast cancer and basic approaches to treating the disease

Breast cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the breast. Local manifestations: change in the shape of the mammary gland, retraction of the nipple, wrinkling of the skin, discharge from the nipple (often bloody), palpation of lumps, nodules, enlargement of the supraclavicular or axillary lymph nodes. The most effective treatment is surgical treatment in combination with radiation or chemotherapy in the early stages. In later stages, tumor metastasis to various organs is noted. The prognosis of treatment largely depends on the extent of the process and the histological structure of the tumor.

C50 Malignant neoplasm of the breast

According to WHO statistics, more than a million new cases of malignant breast tumors are diagnosed every year worldwide. In Russia this figure reaches 50 thousand. One in eight American women will develop breast cancer.

Mortality from this pathology is about 50% of all cases. The reduction of this indicator is hampered by the lack of organized preventive screening of the population in many countries for the early detection of malignant neoplasms of the mammary glands.

An analysis of breast cancer screening methods among the population shows that the mortality rate of women who took part in the preventive program is 30-50 percent lower than in groups where prevention was not carried out.

A dynamic decrease in mortality rates from malignant tumors of the mammary glands is observed in those countries where preventive measures are carried out (training women to self-examine the mammary glands, medical examination) at the national level.

In many regions of Russia, there is still an increase in incidence and mortality from breast cancer due to insufficient coverage of the population with preventive measures.

Currently, breast cancer is divided into more than 30 forms. The most common are nodular cancers (unicentric and multicentric) and diffuse cancers (including edematous-infiltrative and mastitis-like forms). Rare forms include Paget's disease and breast cancer in men.

Certain factors contribute to the occurrence and development of breast cancer:

• Floor . The vast majority of breast cancer occurs in women; the occurrence of malignant tumors in men is 100 times less common;
• Age . Most often, breast cancer develops in women after 35 years of age;
• Complicated gynecological history : menstrual irregularities, hyperplastic and inflammatory pathologies of the genital organs, infertility, lactation disorders;
• Genetic predisposition : malignant tumors in close relatives, milk-ovarian syndrome, cancer-associated genodermatoses, combination of breast cancer with sarcoma, malignant tumors of the lungs, larynx, adrenal glands;
• Endocrine and metabolic disorders : obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, chronic arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, pathologies of the liver, pancreas, immunodeficiency.
• Nonspecific carcinogenic factors : smoking, chemical poisons, high-calorie unbalanced diet, rich in carbohydrates and poor in proteins, ionizing radiation, work in conflict with biorhythms.

It must be remembered that existing factors of increased carcinogenic risk will not necessarily lead to the development of a malignant breast tumor.

Breast cancer is classified according to its stages of development.

• At stage I, the tumor does not exceed 2 centimeters in diameter, does not affect the surrounding tissue, and there are no metastases.
• Stage IIa is characterized by a tumor of 2-5 cm that has not grown into the tissue, or a smaller tumor that has affected the surrounding tissue (subcutaneous tissue, sometimes skin: wrinkling syndrome). There are also no metastases at this stage. The tumor acquires 2-5 cm in diameter. Does not grow into the surrounding subcutaneous fatty tissue and breast skin. Another type is a tumor of the same or smaller size that grows into the subcutaneous fatty tissue and adheres to the skin (causing symptoms of wrinkling). There are no regional metastases here.
• At stage IIb, metastases appear in regional lymph nodes in the armpit. Metastasis to intrathoracic parasternal lymph nodes is often noted.
• stage IIIa tumor has a diameter of more than 5 centimeters, or grows into the muscle layer located under the mammary gland. Characterized by the symptom of “lemon peel”, swelling, retraction of the nipple, sometimes ulcerations on the skin of the gland and discharge from the nipple. There are no regional metastases.
• Stage IIIb is characterized by multiple metastases of the axillary lymph nodes or single supraclavicular ones (or metastases in the parasternal and subclavian nodes).
• Stage IV - terminal. Cancer affects the entire mammary gland, grows into surrounding tissues, disseminates to the skin, and manifests itself as extensive ulcerations. The fourth stage also includes tumors of any size that have metastasized to other organs (as well as to the second mammary gland and lymph nodes of the opposite side), formations that are firmly fixed to the chest.

CT OGK. Massive soft tissue tumor of the right breast (red arrow) with metastasis in the right lung (blue arrow).

In the early stages, breast cancer does not manifest itself in any way; upon palpation, a dense formation in the gland tissue can be detected. Most often, a woman notices this formation during self-examination, or it is detected during mammography, ultrasound of the mammary glands, and other diagnostic methods during preventive measures.

Without appropriate treatment, the tumor progresses, enlarges, and grows into the subcutaneous tissue, skin, and chest muscles. Metastases affect regional lymph nodes. Through the bloodstream, cancer cells travel to other organs and tissues. Breast cancer most often metastasizes to the lungs, liver and brain.

Necrotic decay of the tumor and malignant damage to other organs leads to death.

Breast cancer is prone to rapid metastasis to regional lymph nodes: axillary, subclavian, parasternal.

Then, with the flow of lymph, cancer cells spread through the supraclavicular, scapular, mediastinal and cervical nodes. The lymph system of the opposite side may also be affected, and the cancer may spread to the second breast.

By hematogenous route, metastases spread to the lungs, liver, bones, and brain.

It is advisable to perform self-examination for women at risk for breast cancer, as well as all women over 35-40 years old, every month. The first stage is to examine your breasts in front of a mirror.

Deformations and a noticeable enlargement of one breast compared to the other are detected. Determination of the “lemon peel” symptom (skin retraction) is an indication for immediate contact with a mammologist.

After the examination, a thorough palpation is performed, noting the consistency of the gland, discomfort and soreness. Press on the nipples to identify pathological discharge.

In the diagnosis of breast cancer, examination and palpation make it possible to detect a neoplasm in the gland tissue.

Instrumental diagnostic methods make it possible to examine the tumor in detail and draw conclusions about its size, shape, and the degree of damage to the gland and surrounding tissues. if breast cancer is suspected, the following is carried out:

• X-ray examination : mammography, ductography.
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands. Ultrasound examination is complemented by examination of regional lymph nodes and Doppler ultrasound.
• Thermography.
• MRI of the breast.
• Breast biopsy. Subsequent cytological examination of tumor tissue shows the presence of malignant growth.
• Additional diagnostics. Among the newest methods for examining the mammary glands, scintiomammography and microwave RTS can also be noted.

MRI of the mammary glands. Multinodular mass formation of the left breast.

Breast cancer is one of the most treatable solid malignancies. Small tumors localized in the tissues of the gland are removed, and, often, cases of recurrence of non-metastasized removed cancer are not observed.

Treatment for breast cancer is surgical. The choice of surgery depends on the size of the tumor, the degree of damage to surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.

• Mastectomy . For a long time, almost all women diagnosed with a malignant breast tumor underwent a radical mastectomy (complete removal of the gland, nearby lymph nodes and chest muscles located underneath it). Nowadays, a modified analogue of the operation is increasingly being performed, when the pectoral muscles are preserved (if they are not affected by the malignant process).
• Breast resection. In cases of early stages of the disease and small tumor sizes, a partial mastectomy is currently performed: only the area of ​​the gland affected by the tumor with a small amount of surrounding tissue is removed. Partial mastectomy is usually combined with radiotherapy and shows cure results quite comparable to radical surgery.

Removal of lymph nodes helps reduce the likelihood of recurrence of the disease. After removal, they are examined for the presence of cancer cells.

If metastases are found in the lymph nodes removed during surgery, women undergo radiation therapy.

Among other things, patients with a high risk of malignant cells entering the bloodstream are prescribed chemotherapy treatment.

After surgical removal of a malignant breast tumor, women are registered with a mammologist-oncologist, regularly observed and examined to detect relapse or metastases to other organs. Most often, metastases are detected in the first 3-5 years, then the risk of developing a new tumor decreases.

The most reliable measure for preventing breast cancer is regular examination of women by a mammologist, monitoring the condition of the reproductive system, and monthly self-examination. All women over 35 years old should have a mammogram.

Timely detection of pathologies of the genital organs, hormonal imbalances, metabolic diseases, and avoidance of carcinogenic factors help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Source: https://www.KrasotaiMedicina.ru/diseases/zabolevanija_mammology/breast_cancer

Modern methods of treating breast cancer

Currently, in oncology there are three basic types of treatment for tumors in the mammary gland:

• radical - in which complete removal of the tumor is achieved;
• palliative – carried out when it is impossible to radically get rid of the pathology, but there is a practical effect on the tumor (surgical, radiation, chemotherapy).
• symptomatic – aimed at maximizing the elimination of symptoms and improving the patient’s well-being.

Treatment for breast cancer is most promising in the early stages of the disease, in which a complete recovery can reasonably be expected.

The main areas of treatment for breast cancer include:

1. Surgical intervention in the form of resection (partial removal) or complete removal of gland tissue (mastectomy).
2. Systemic therapy that affects the entire body as a whole. The regimen includes: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy. In recent years, new methods have emerged, developed on the basis of advances in immunology and genetics - immunotherapy and gene therapy.
3. Radiation therapy.

Before choosing a treatment method, the stage of the disease is determined.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy

This is a component of treatment aimed at reducing the number of tumor relapses (after surgery), reducing the volume of the tumor mass (before surgery) and suppressing the potential development of cancer cells.

When the diseased area (tumor bed) is treated with X-ray irradiation or gamma rays, the atypical cells remaining after the operation are completely destroyed. Treatment is carried out in courses with breaks, so that during this time healthy cells can recover from exposure to radiation.

In practice, 2 types of radiotherapy are used:

• Contact, in which the tissue is exposed to an external source (linear ion radiation accelerator).
• Remote (brachytherapy), which involves the delivery of a radioactive substance directly into the tissue. Moreover, its amount is calculated separately for each patient in exact doses.

Indications:

• as part of complex therapy after organ-conserving surgery;
• risk of tumor re-development after mastectomy (large size, involvement of lymph nodes in the process);
• multiple cancerous foci;
• invasion (introduction) of atypical cells into microscopic blood and lymphatic vessels;
• swelling beyond the boundaries of the lymph nodes;
• spread of atypical cells to the area of ​​the nipple, areola, skin, pectoralis major muscle;
• tissue necrosis, intense bone pain at any stage as part of palliative treatment to relieve pain.

You can read more about radiation therapy for breast cancer by clicking on the link.

Chemotherapy

The essence of the method is to prescribe special drugs (cytostatics, anticancer antibiotics and other drugs) that inhibit tumor aggression and destroy atypical cells. They are used as a separate method and in combination with others, before and after surgical treatment.

There are 2 forms:

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which is given before surgery. The growth of the tumor stops, which allows the tumor to be removed as accurately as possible without damaging healthy tissue.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy is given after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells, particularly if the metastatic process has already begun.

Indications taking into account individual characteristics:

• Stage III of oncopathology;
• lack of cellular receptors sensitive to estrogen and progesterone (the neoplasm does not respond to treatment with hormones);
• high rate of cancer cell division (poorly differentiated cancer);
• Primary unresectable tumors for which surgical intervention is not possible.

Common drugs in this group, used more often, in combinations to mutually enhance the therapeutic effect:

Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexad, Fluorouracil, Adriblastine, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin, Epirubicin (significantly less effect on the myocardium), Vinorelbine, Gemzer (new).

The doctor selects treatment regimens individually. In some cases, drugs are combined with targeted agents (Bevacizumab).

As a result of proper use of chemotherapy regimens, improvement is observed in 50–70 patients out of 100.

Contraindications:

Pregnancy, breastfeeding;

• Individual intolerance to drugs with the development of acute allergic reactions;
• Intoxication;
• High blood bilirubin.

Hormone therapy

Hormonal drugs are used in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.

Prescribed drugs:

• Antiestrogens: Tamoxifen (Nolvadex). It is prescribed before menopause, and mainly in the early stages of cancer.
• Aromatase inhibitors, including Anastrazole (Arimidex), Exemestane (Aromasin), Letrozole (Femara), Aminoglutethimide (for metastatic breast cancer that is resistant to other hormonal agents), used in postmenopausal patients.
• GnRH analogs: Leuprorelin, Gozorelin (Zoladex) in premenopausal women. Moreover, their combination with Tamoxifen is more effective than each of them separately.

Hormonal treatment of breast cancer is indicated for the development of hormone-dependent tumors to reduce the risk of relapse, usually after chemotherapy and removal of the malignant focus.

Targeted therapy

Molecular or immune “targeted therapy” drugs specifically target atypical cells without negatively affecting normal tissues. Used separately and in combination with traditional methods.

• Indications: breast cancer with active HER2 protein at stages II - IV.
• Drugs that suppress the activity of a special oncoprotein HER2, which affects the growth of carcinoma: Trastuzumab (Herceptin), Rituximab, Neratinib, Lapatinib (Taykerb)
• Other drugs: Faslodex (an anti-estrogen), Iressa, the PARP inhibitor Iniparib and Olaparib are being tested.

Surgery

Surgical removal of a mass of cancerous tissue is the main method of getting rid of a cancerous tumor in the breast.

Most patients undergo breast-sparing surgery, when only the tumor and surrounding tissue are excised, but the mammary gland is preserved (lumpectomy).

In case of metastases or a large tumor, a mastectomy (complete removal of the gland) is required.

Contraindications:

• Tumor growth into the chest wall.
• Severe insufficiency of the myocardium and vascular system.
• Serious disturbances in the blood supply to the brain.
• Diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation, severe kidney and liver failure.

Therapeutic tactics are determined by the stage of carcinoma development:

• Treatment for stage 1 breast cancer involves resection of the organ, plus a short course of radiotherapy to prevent relapses, and, if necessary, the prescription of hormones and chemotherapy.
• Treatment for stage 2 breast cancer involves mastectomy (for large tumors) or resection of the gland and adjuvant therapy. Today, oncologists perform resection more often.
• Stage III involves chemotherapy followed by mastectomy and radiation.
• At stage IV, treatment is considered symptomatic, when the main goal is not to eliminate the cancer process, but to eliminate symptoms and prolong life.

Treatment of primary unresectable tumors

For primary unresectable carcinoma, the treatment program includes:

Polychemotherapy, which is carried out for the purpose of:

• reducing the volume of the primary lesion;
• reducing the aggressiveness of malignant cells;
• reduction in the size of the affected lymph nodes;
• creating conditions for the possibility of performing radiation and surgical intervention;
• reducing the likelihood of relapses and metastases.

Radiation exposure for the purpose of maximum destruction of tumor tissue.

Combined chemoradiation therapy enhances the local effect on the tumor, providing the possibility of surgical intervention in almost 70%

Palliative treatment

The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of a patient with a low probability of curing cancer in an advanced form, in the later stages, when it is not possible to use a radical method. This treatment reduces the patient’s suffering and allows one to prolong life.

Palliative treatment includes:

Palliative surgery

In oncology, palliative surgery is understood as an intervention in which not all tumor masses are removed, but only those that can be removed. The purpose of such an operation is to eliminate not the disease, but the consequences of the tumor process. The need for such operations occurs in almost 40% of women in stages III - IV.

1. This involves removing the primary tumor, but leaving cancerous foci, for example, for breast cancer - metastases in bone tissue.
2. Mastectomy, resection of adjacent tissues, affected lymph nodes, and excision of non-viable tissue around the tumor ulcer (necrectomy) can also be performed.
3. Such operations create favorable conditions for subsequent antitumor drug therapy, the effectiveness of which depends on the volume of the remaining tumor.
4. Chemotherapy

Infusion of chemotherapy drugs in reduced doses (suppressive chemotherapy) makes it possible to quickly stop the active division of abnormal cells and destroy existing ones. Most often used in combination with surgery.

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy in palliative mode is carried out:

• if 4 or more lymph nodes are affected;
• when the cancer is widespread, which sometimes makes it possible to transform an unresectable tumor into a form in which surgery is possible.

Used to reduce the intensity of pain when metastases spread to the bones of the spine and pelvis.

Hormone therapy

Suppresses the activity of sex hormones that can accelerate the growth of carcinoma. The basic indication for prescribing hormonal drugs is increased sensitivity of cancer cells to estrogen. As a rule, hormone therapy is prescribed after radiation or chemotherapy, except in cases of aggressive cancer development.

Timely palliative treatment often prolongs life by several years. A pronounced positive reaction to palliative therapies is observed in 60 - 80% of patients, while almost 30% of patients report a significant improvement in their general condition.

Symptomatic treatment

Aimed at eliminating or mitigating symptoms from the development of the cancer process and the use of radiation and chemical therapy.

Symptomatic treatment for breast cancer is necessary:

• at the terminal stage, or when the patient is for some reason denied radical and palliative treatment and is unable to survive surgery and anesthesia due to exhaustion (cachexia) and concomitant pathology;
• during the spread of the metastatic process in order to relieve pain.

Use:

• medications to combat pain, nausea, fever, shortness of breath;
• radiation exposure carried out to eliminate pain and compression of nerve nodes;
• symptomatic operations that are performed to eliminate disorders caused by the spread of metastases.

As part of medical care, the patient is prescribed the following groups of drugs:

• Non-steroidal painkillers.
• Narcotic analgesics.
• Psychotropic drugs, tranquilizers, antidepressants, necessary in the treatment of neuralgia, tics, pain with a low sensitivity threshold and enhanced by an emotional component, excessive excitement.
• Medicines for nausea and vomiting, which are often used in combination to enhance their effect.
• Antipyretics for tumor fever, which help to avoid sudden changes in temperature and rapid exhaustion of the patient. Therapy begins with maximum single doses, selecting the optimal ones.

Source: https://RosOnco.ru/rak-molochnoj-zhelezy/metody-lecheniya

Breast cancer: photos, first symptoms and signs, types, causes, stages, treatment, diagnosis

Free consultation on treatment in Moscow. Call 8 (800) 350-85-60 or fill out the form below:

Breast cancer is a generalized name for a group of low-quality tumors that are localized in the mammary glands and differ in their course.

At the same time, in Russia, up to 54 thousand new cases of breast cancer are recorded every year.

As you age, your risk of cancer increases. In 75% of cases, the disease is detected in women over 60 years of age; in girls under 30 years of age, malignant tumors are diagnosed 150 times less often.

In men, breast cancer also occurs in 1% of the total incidence rate. Every year, in approximately 400 thousand cancer patients, the disease leads to death.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the mortality rate.

In fact, cancer is not a death sentence. It is quite possible to be cured of breast cancer; the main thing is to approach the choice of the attending physician and oncology clinic responsibly, and also not to neglect preventive diagnostics.

If you or your loved ones need medical assistance, contact us. The site’s specialists will recommend a clinic where you can get effective treatment:

What is breast cancer

The mechanism of the cancer process is based on mutation and accumulation of abnormal cells, which leads to rapid growth of the tumor and its spread to the lymph nodes and nearby organs.

In this case, some cancer cells break away from the cancer focus and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, resulting in the formation of distant metastases in the brain, liver and other organs.

In such cases, treatment for breast cancer is a longer and more complex process.

Cancer is divided into several dozen forms, among which the most common are diffuse and nodular forms of cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer

At an early stage, breast cancer does not cause women discomfort or pain. At the beginning of the development of the disease, it can only be detected through self-diagnosis or during mammography. The first clinical signs often appear closer to the 3-4 stages of development of a malignant tumor.

Breast cancer can be suspected based on the following signs:

• Seals. In the vast majority of cases, breast cancer is discovered after a woman or her partner notices a lump in the mammary gland, which prompts an early visit to a specialist.
• Nipple retraction. A pathological process is often indicated by a change in the natural shape of the nipple. If the tumor is localized near the nipple and grows into the skin, this causes retraction of the areola or deformation of the nipple.
• Discharge from the nipple. Discharge is normal during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In other cases, the presence of fluid from the nipples indicates a pathological process. Depending on the course of the disease, the discharge may be yellow, purulent, or bloody.
• Enlarged lymph nodes. Regional lymph nodes enlarge during the pathological process. At the same time, pain and discomfort are felt.
• Asymmetry of the mammary glands. Since cancer attracts healthy tissue, when you lift your arm up, a depression forms in the cancer-affected areas of the chest.

Oncopathology may be indicated by the occurrence of redness, peeling of the skin on the chest, pain in the armpit, as well as visible asymmetry and causeless soreness of the mammary glands.

Some clinical signs may indicate benign neoplasms, mastopathy, mastitis, mastodynia.

In any case, each of the listed symptoms is a serious reason to contact a mammologist for differentiated diagnosis.

Diagnosis of breast cancer

The first signs of breast cancer can be detected independently at an early stage, significantly improving the prognosis. Self-examination should be performed monthly on the 10th day of the menstrual cycle.

To do this, you need to prepare a mirror and first of all evaluate visual changes in the breast: the condition of the nipples, skin, symmetry and shape of the mammary glands.

If self-diagnosis reveals suspicious changes in the breasts or nipples, this serves as an alarm, after which an urgent visit to a specialist is necessary.

In the clinic, after collecting an anamnesis and physical examination, doctors prescribe a set of diagnostic procedures:

• Blood test for tumor markers.
• Analysis of urine.

• X-ray examination (mammography), which allows you to accurately identify atypical neoplasms using X-rays in two projections.
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands - a detailed assessment of identified formations, allows you to differentiate a tumor from a cyst.
• Biopsy is the removal of affected tissue for cytological and histological analysis.
• PET-CT is carried out to determine tumor characteristics (location, size, extent of spread).

If metastasis is suspected, MRI, X-ray of the lungs, scenography of bones, and radioisotope study are prescribed. To draw up a treatment regimen and decide on the advisability of chemotherapy, a genetic analysis is performed for an oncogene that provokes a relapse of oncological pathology.

Causes of breast cancer

The development of the oncological process is caused by a disruption in the process of division and death of breast cells. There is no clear cause of breast cancer, but experts put forward a number of endogenous and exogenous factors that increase the risk of developing a malignant tumor.

Endogenous (internal) causes of breast cancer:

• genetic causes: breast cancer is characterized by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes;

• long-term use of contraceptives;
• early menarche or late menopause;
• gynecological diseases of a chronic nature;
• miscarriage, abortion;
• hormonal and metabolic disorders;
• late labor or absence thereof;
• irregular sex life.

In addition, mastopathy and fibroadenoma, as well as a history of blood relatives of a similar disease, increase the risk of developing pathology. Exogenous (external) causes are still a matter of debate. According to experts, external factors can stimulate the development of a cancer focus together with other possible catalysts for cancer.

External risk factors include:

• alcohol abuse, smoking;
• exposure to chemicals;
• chest injuries with damage to glandular tissue.

The trigger mechanism for carcinogenesis may be the action of ionizing radiation, after which the molecular structures of cells are destroyed.

Classification of breast cancer

The following types of breast cancer are classified according to histological type:

• Ductal invasive carcinoma is the most common form of cancer, accounting for about 80% of all breast cancer cases. The pathology develops inside the milk ducts, involving healthy tissue in the oncological process. The prognosis at the first and second stages is favorable in 80% of patients.
• Lobular infiltrating carcinoma - develops in the lobules that produce milk, occurs in 5-10% of cases. It responds effectively to hormone therapy and is characterized by slow growth.
• Inflammatory (mastitis-like) cancer is similar to the clinical manifestations of mastitis. A rare type of breast cancer that progresses rapidly.

Oncopathology is also classified according to the TNM system, which determines tumor size, the degree of tumor growth and the presence/absence of metastasis.

Stages of breast cancer

The severity of oncopathology can be determined by the volume of the malignant tumor and the degree of damage. To determine, classification is used in 4 stages:

• Stage I - tumor formation does not exceed 2 cm in size, there are no lesions of the lymph nodes.
• Stage II - tumor size no more than 2.5 to 5 cm, the lymph nodes surrounding the mammary gland are involved in the oncological process, distant metastases are possible;
• Stage III - the size of the malignant focus is +/- 5 cm, germination is detected in the lymph nodes of the armpits and nearby tissues.
• Stage IV - any size of atypical formation, the presence of nodules, ulcerations on the skin, there are multiple secondary cancer foci in distant organs and tissues.

Breast cancer prevention

To prevent breast cancer, experts recommend that you take the following preventive measures:

• If you have a significant medical history or genetic predisposition, undergo regular examinations, including mammography at least once a year. For women 35-55 years old, X-ray examination is indicated 2 times a year. It is also recommended to conduct self-diagnosis, which contributes to the early detection of pathology and a favorable prognosis.
• Control your body weight. According to statistics, obesity is one of the main predisposing factors to this cancer (up to 40%). Therefore, you should exercise more often, as well as adhere to a balanced diet, and eat more natural foods.
• Stop smoking and do not abuse alcohol. It is tobacco and the components of alcoholic beverages that contain a lot of carcinogens and harmful substances that provoke cellular mutations.

In addition, in order to prevent breast cancer, doctors recommend drinking coffee in limited quantities, avoiding stressful situations, not giving up breastfeeding, and regularly taking vitamin D, which actively suppresses the growth of cancer cells.

Breast cancer treatment methods

The leading treatment method for breast cancer is surgery. In any case, treatment tactics depend on the general condition of the patient and the stage of the disease.

Oncological treatment includes the use of the following methods:

• Surgical intervention. It involves the use of three techniques: mastectomy - removal of the gland with lymph nodes, adipose tissue, quadrantectomy - resection of a quarter of the breast and lumpectomy - organ-preserving surgery, in which only the cancer-affected area of ​​the breast is excised, not exceeding 4 cm in size. After a mastectomy, breast volume can be restored using plastic surgery.
• Chemotherapy. Suppresses cancer with chemotherapy. Helps prevent relapses, and also allows you to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery. Sometimes used instead of surgery.
• Radiotherapy. It will also reduce the likelihood of relapse. Used to effectively kill residual cancer cells after lumpectomy or mastectomy.
• Targeted therapy. Often used in combination with chemotherapy or after surgery. The method consists of using monoclonal antibody drugs that effectively block the oncogene and slow down the growth of the lesion.

Immunotherapy is also prescribed, during which drugs are administered that activate the immune system to effectively destroy fast-growing cancer cells.

Treatment of breast cancer with folk remedies

Traditional medicine is not an alternative to officially recognized treatment in an oncology clinic.

Refusal of qualified medical care for the sake of using folk remedies, as a rule, leads to death. Therefore, you cannot waste time on “magical” healing infusions and decoctions.

After all, it is the timely detection and adequate treatment of malignant tumors that contributes to a favorable prognosis.

Today, breast cancer treatment in Moscow is carried out by world-famous oncologists and mammologists, who, thanks to their vast experience and the use of ultra-modern diagnostic and treatment equipment, achieve the best results of oncology therapy even in severe cases.

How long do you live after breast cancer treatment?

Survival depends largely on the stage of the disease and comprehensive, effective treatment. Ten-year survival rate at stages 1-2 is 50-80%. After cancer treatment, up to 30% of patients live for 10 years after diagnosis at stage 3 pathology, and no more than 5% at stage 4. Relapses occur in 22% of cases after radical excision of the mammary gland.

Source: https://med-kvota.ru/medical_articles/rak_grudi

Breast cancer: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Oncologists consider breast cancer to be the most common malignant pathology in women.

Every year, about 1 million new cases of this serious disease are registered in the world, which often leads to death without timely diagnosis and adequate treatment.

We talked with Alexander Pavlovich Seryakov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the SM-Clinic Oncology Center, about how to detect a breast tumor in time and how to get rid of it.

— Alexander Pavlovich, please start with the causes of breast cancer.

— Many types of tumors have a hereditary predisposition. Breast cancer is no exception. According to modern data, the risk of its occurrence increases significantly if a person has mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

We believe that when this mutation is detected, a woman simply requires very careful monitoring. And then, even if a tumor appears, we diagnose it at a very early stage, which practically guarantees a complete recovery.

In addition, some risk factors can be identified:

• pregnancy at a late age;
• absence of pregnancy or birth of a child under 35 years of age;
• the appearance of menstruation before age 12;
• the onset of menopause after 55 years;
• pathologies of the reproductive organs;
• breast injuries;
• diseases of the endocrine glands (diabetes mellitus, etc.);
• excess body weight;
• alcohol abuse;
• persistent increase in blood pressure;
• long-term uncontrolled use of drugs containing female sex hormones.

Symptoms and signs of breast cancer

— Alexander Pavlovich, how can one suspect the presence of a tumor?

• discharge from the nipples of any nature and did not appear during pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• compaction in the thickness of the breast tissue;
• any changes in the areola or nipple (wrinkling, retraction, swelling, thickening, appearance of crusts, ulcers, erosions);
• change in shape or swelling of the mammary glands;
• an increase or decrease (especially asymmetrical) in their size;
• enlargement, especially unilateral, of lymph nodes located in the axillary region, under or above the collarbones;
• redness, tenderness, peeling, or lemon peel syndrome on the skin of the breast;
• contoured saphenous veins;
• pain in the mammary glands not associated with the menstrual cycle.

All these symptoms are easy to detect visually if you are careful enough. By the way, often the first manifestations of mammary gland pathology are noticed not by the woman herself, but by her partner. So the role of a man in the early detection of a tumor is also very important.

Diagnosis of breast cancer

— The examination begins with an examination by a mammologist. X-ray mammography and ultrasound are then usually used. Using these inexpensive techniques, you can quickly and accurately make a conclusion about the condition of the mammary glands.

When signs of breast cancer are detected, a woman is referred to undergo more complex, more expensive and more informative examinations. These are magnetic resonance, positron emission and computed tomography. Additional diagnostic methods may also be prescribed: examination of tumor markers, examination of the mammary glands in infrared light, etc.

The diagnosis is finally established by puncturing the suspicious area and taking a tissue sample. He heads to the laboratory where he is examined under a microscope. This gives a clear answer about the presence or absence of cancer cells.

Due to the widespread prevalence of breast cancer, the Russian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization recommend that all women undergo preventive mammography. From 35 to 45 years of age, this examination, even in the absence of disturbing symptoms, should be done annually. And after 45 years - at least twice a year.

Breast cancer treatment

— Alexander Pavlovich, let’s now move on to treatment methods.

— The decision on treatment tactics is made by a council of 3 specialists: an oncologist surgeon, a chemotherapist and a radiologist. At the SM-Clinic Oncology Center, all types of modern treatment for this dangerous disease are used. Among the main approaches are:

Surgical intervention

This is the most effective way to treat breast cancer. Removal of the tumor focus and its metastases gives the patient the highest chance of a complete recovery. Most often in our clinic we perform two types of operations to remove breast cancer:

• lumpectomy, during which only the tumor itself and a certain amount of surrounding healthy tissue are excised;
• mastectomy is a total resection of the breast affected by a malignant neoplasm, as well as regional lymph nodes.

One of the tasks of the clinic’s surgeons is always to maximize the preservation of healthy breast tissue. To this end, our oncologists strive to perform organ-saving operations whenever possible.

The indication for surgical intervention is the presence of one tumor focus in the gland tissue, as well as the absence of metastasis to surrounding organs and tissues. That is, surgery is the main method of treating stage 1 and 2 breast cancer. A total mastectomy may be performed if the tumor is at a later stage of development.

Large-scale operations on the mammary glands cause significant damage to their appearance. Therefore, specialists at the Oncology Center always offer patients breast reconstruction, which will restore their beauty and self-confidence.

Reconstruction of the shape and volume of the breast can be carried out either simultaneously, directly after removal of a cancerous tumor, or after some time, for example, after the patient has undergone courses of radiation or chemotherapy. Doctors at our clinic use a wide range of postoperative mammoplasty techniques:

• installation of silicone implants that completely replicate the anatomical shape of the mammary gland;
• breast reconstruction using autotransplantation;
• oncoplasty;
• fat tissue injections.

Chemotherapy

Traditional oncological drugs—platinum derivatives—are widely used in the treatment of breast cancer. The disadvantage of this treatment is the high incidence of side effects. However, chemotherapy is used for almost all stages and sizes of tumors.

In the preoperative period, its task is cytoreduction (reducing the number of tumor cells in the body), and in the postoperative period, it is to combat possible metastases and relapses of the disease.

The number and duration of chemotherapy courses for breast cancer are determined by the consultation individually for each patient.

Radiation therapy

This type of treatment is often prescribed along with chemotherapy after surgery.

Ionizing radiation is used mainly in cases where the tumor has confirmed metastases in the so-called “sentinel” lymph nodes in the axillary region.

Modern methods of radiotherapy provide high precision, and therefore a relatively small radiation load on the patient’s body.

Targeted therapy

The effectiveness and minimal risk of complications with this type of treatment are explained by the fact that targeted drugs act directly on the genetic mechanisms of growth and reproduction of tumor cells, practically without affecting healthy tissue.

Targeted therapy also serves as part of a comprehensive treatment, complementing and enhancing radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery. It can be used for all sizes and stages of development of pathology. But it will only be effective if the tumor cells have specific markers.

To find them, specialized tests are carried out at the Oncology Center.

Hormone therapy

More than 75% of breast tumors are sensitive to the level of sex hormones (estrogens) in the patient’s blood.

Reducing the concentration of these hormones with the help of pharmacological drugs inhibits the growth of the tumor and inhibits its spread to surrounding organs and tissues.

But before prescribing hormonal treatment, it is necessary to ensure the presence of estrogen receptors on tumor cells. As with targeted therapy, we perform histochemical examination of tissue samples.

Immunotherapy

The immune system should normally detect and destroy malignantly degenerated cells. But tumor tissues are able to “hide” from the attention of the immune system.

Immunotherapeutic drugs deprive cancer cells of such camouflage, which allows the immune system to begin actively fighting the tumor.

This type of treatment is considered the most modern to date and research into its possibilities is still underway.

— Alexander Pavlovich, what is the prognosis for breast cancer?

— The prognosis is determined primarily by the stage at which tumor treatment was started. In the early stages of cancer development, the probability of completely curing it approaches 100%.

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Source: https://www.oncology-centr.ru/patiens/articles/rak-grudi-simptomy-diagnostika-i-lechenie/

Symptoms of breast cancer and methods of treating this disease

The fact that every year the number of cases and the mortality rate from the disease is rapidly increasing attracts more and more attention to the problem. However, the efforts of scientists alone in developing new treatment methods are not enough; an important factor is the timely detection of signs of breast cancer in patients and high-quality diagnosis.

What is the disease

Cancer is a malignant neoplasm (tumor) that arises as a result of abnormal and uncontrolled division of mutated cells. The danger of such a neoplasm is that it does not remain localized in one place: the tumor grows rapidly and affects healthy cells of neighboring tissues, gradually spreading to all major organs.

Based on the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, it is divided into four stages, these are:

1. (initial): the tumor is just beginning to form, the affected area does not exceed 2 cm, it is localized only at one point and does not affect neighboring tissues;
2. the tumor begins to increase in size, now it can be more than 2 cm, but does not exceed 5 cm, the first lesions of neighboring tissues begin;
3. the tumor quickly increases in size, exceeding 5 cm; at this stage, malignant spread affects the lymph nodes of the axillary region;
4. (the most severe stage) the tumor is large, and the cells continue to divide dynamically - as a result, distant metastases appear (for example, in liver tissue).

Main symptoms

Most often, at the first stage, breast cancer does not show symptoms, is not accompanied by pain and does not cause inconvenience, so this disease is not always diagnosed in a timely manner.

Fact! Especially, late detection of breast cancer is typical for men (they, as a rule, do not assume the possibility of damage to this area in the male body).

Further growth of the breast tumor and transition to the next stages of the disease may be accompanied by the following manifestations:

• changes in the nipple (it can thicken, become heavier, lengthen), in addition, some types of malignant neoplasms can manifest themselves as a flaky coating around the nipple, its deformation, the formation of ulcers with dense crusts);
• the appearance of pain;
• changes in the position of the gland, its swelling;
• changes in the structure of the skin over the site of tumor formation (looseness, appearance of bumps and depressions);
• discharge of fluid from the chest (brown, transparent with blood specks);
• redness of the surface, often accompanied by elevated temperature (in the case of mastitis-like cancer);
• exhaustion of the body;
• increased fatigue;
• loss of appetite.

The last three symptoms are characteristic of the last stage of breast cancer.

Many women who have had breast cancer discuss their symptoms on forums, often noting obvious changes in character: some become melancholic and apathetic towards everything that happens around them, others become nervous and irritable.

Causes of the disease

According to many experts involved in the study of malignant neoplasms, there is no single reason for the appearance of symptoms of the disease, but there is a genetic predisposition and there are a number of dangerous factors that together can trigger the development of the disease. These include:

• exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet);
• radiation exposure;
• microtrauma of the nipple, bruises;
• hormonal imbalance (especially during menopause in women);
• presence of chronic diseases;
• traumatic damage to the nipple, bruises;
• entry of carcinogens into the body;
• immunodeficiency;
• internal injuries and disorders (for example, when foreign bodies (implants) are placed in the chest);
• long-term use of hormonal drugs for contraception (for women).

Diagnostics in clinics

• mammography;
• ultrasonography;
• MRI (detects breast cancer in the early stages, even without symptoms, and photos can be obtained in different planes);
• tissue biopsy of the affected area;
• blood analysis.

Types of treatment for the disease

The main and most effective method is surgery. Based on the diagnostic results, photos, and symptoms of breast cancer, treatment is selected between the following options:

• lumpectomy - removal of only the tumor (applicable in the early stages);
• mastectomy - complete removal of the mammary gland with the lymph nodes of the armpits).

To prevent recurrence of breast cancer symptoms, treatment is complemented by one of the following methods: radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy.

Preventive measures

The best prevention of the disease is regular self-examination, which includes: examination of the nipples (their symmetry, shape and color, absence of plaque and peeling), examination of the skin (absence of lumps, depressions, redness), checking the discharge from the nipple (there should be no brown or bloody ), palpation of the breast area for the absence of compactions.

The next step is to review your diet in order to increase the body’s immunity (eat more vegetables, fruits, grains, fish, avoiding GMOs, carcinogens, and harmful fats from your food) and changing your lifestyle.

Attention! The most important preventive measure for women, especially over 40 years of age, is an annual gynecological examination and consultation with a mammologist.

Source: http://assuta-agency.ru/zabolevaniya/rak-grudi-simptomy

Treatment of breast cancer: modern approaches and methods

According to the World Health Organization, every year one and a half million women are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Like many other diseases, breast cancer is “getting younger”—in recent decades, it has affected increasingly younger women. Diagnosing breast cancer in the early stages is the key to successful treatment.

This is a very dangerous disease, but it is curable, and treatment methods are becoming more perfect every year.

Breast cancer: there is a way out!

The statistics on the incidence of breast cancer in our country are alarming - mammologists identify about 50,000 new cases every year. The average age of patients is 59 years, but this does not mean that younger women are not at risk. On the contrary, as already mentioned, this disease increasingly affects women in the prime of life.

The reasons for the development of breast cancer are still unknown to doctors, but it is obvious that genetics and ecology play a key role here. Residents of rural areas suffer from breast cancer 30% less often than urban women.

However, when breast cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, the prognosis is favorable - if the cancer was detected at the first stage, the 5-year survival rate is 94%, at the second stage - 79%.

Stages of breast cancer

Oncologists distinguish 4 stages of breast cancer:

• In the first, the tumor is small, does not exceed 2 cm in diameter, there are no metastases.
• At the second stage of breast cancer, the size of the tumor is from 2 to 5 cm in diameter. At this stage, cancer cells are present in 4-5 lymph nodes.
• The third stage of cancer is characterized by large tumor sizes, from 5 cm, and the cancer spreads to the base of the organ.
• The fourth is dangerous because the tumor metastasizes to different organs, most often to the liver, lungs, bones and brain.

Breast cancer accounts for 20-25% of all cancer cases in women.

Treatment methods for breast cancer

Today, there are several methods of treating breast cancer. The choice of the appropriate one depends on many factors: the size of the primary tumor, the condition of the regional lymph nodes, the presence of distant metastases and receptor status, that is, sensitivity to hormones.

Surgery

During surgery, the doctor’s main task is to preserve the life and health of the patient, even if this means the loss of the mammary gland. However, now doctors are trying not only to remove the tumor, but also to preserve the gland.

In cases where this is not possible, breast prosthetics are performed - usually plastic surgery is performed six months after the mastectomy.

Although, for example, in Israel, breast reconstruction is carried out in one operation: immediately after removal.

If the size of the tumor does not exceed 25 mm, organ-preserving surgery is used. Often, several nearby lymph nodes are removed, even if no metastases are found - this helps prevent relapse of the disease.

It should be noted that surgeons in advanced countries in the treatment of oncology have unique surgical instruments. For example, Israeli clinics successfully use the Margin Probe device, which, according to doctors, makes it possible to remove absolutely all cancer cells.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, or radiation therapy, is part of the supportive treatment for breast cancer and is given to women before or after tumor removal. Radiation therapy reduces the chance of cancer coming back by killing tumor cells. In radiation therapy, the tumor is irradiated using powerful X-rays or gamma radiation.

Intrabeam

Innovative technique of intraoperative irradiation. Allows you to avoid postoperative radiotherapy and reduce the risk of relapse. This procedure is performed during surgery and relieves the woman of postoperative treatment.

Unlike traditional radiation therapy, radiation is directed only to the areas where cancer cells are thought to be located.

The use of the method allows you to reduce the duration of treatment by 6 weeks, while reducing the risk of relapses and causing minimal harm to healthy tissues.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, or drug treatment for breast cancer, is used before, after, and even instead of surgery in cases where surgery is not possible. Chemotherapy is the introduction of special toxins that affect tumor cells.

The course of chemotherapy can last from 3 to 6 months and usually begins immediately after surgery.

Various drugs are used for chemotherapy - some destroy proteins that control the development of tumor cells, others are integrated into the genetic apparatus of the cancer cell and cause its death, and others slow down the division of affected cells.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy is effective, but only in half of the cases, since not all types of breast cancer are sensitive to this treatment.

Targeted therapy

Or targeted therapy is the most gentle type of treatment for breast cancer. Drugs for targeted therapy affect only the affected cells, without affecting healthy ones, so such therapy is much better tolerated.

Features of treatment of breast cancer at different stages

• Stage zero If the disease is diagnosed at this stage, then the chances of recovery tend to 100%. To cure, a lumpectomy is performed - a gentle operation in which only the neoplasm itself and a small part of the adjacent tissue are removed, although in some cases removal of the entire gland followed by plastic surgery is indicated. However, this method of treatment is used less frequently. After surgery, a course of chemotherapy, targeted and hormonal therapy is indicated.
• First stage The prognosis is also favorable: approximately 94–98% of patients fully recover after lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy, targeted and hormonal therapy. Sometimes a course of radiotherapy is indicated.
• Second stage At this stage, the tumor is already too large, and it is most likely impossible to get by with a lumpectomy - complete removal of the mammary gland is indicated - mastectomy with removal of the axillary lymph nodes and mandatory subsequent radiation therapy. It is worth saying that in foreign clinics, for example Israeli ones, they resort to this method only in extreme cases, making every effort to preserve the breast.
• Third stage At this stage, numerous metastases form. For recovery, it is necessary to remove not only the tumor itself, but also the metastases. A mastectomy with removal of lymph nodes and radiotherapy is required, as well as hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy to destroy all cancer cells.
• Stage four This is advanced breast cancer with a large number of metastases. Radiation and chemotherapy are indicated, as well as surgery, the purpose of which is not to remove the tumor, but to eliminate life-threatening complications, as well as, in some cases, hormonal therapy. It is almost impossible to cure cancer completely at this stage, but you can prolong life and improve its quality.

Early diagnosis of breast cancer is the key to effective treatment. Recently, this topic has often been raised in the media, which makes many women think more often about their health and regularly visit a mammologist.

Source: https://www.pravda.ru/navigator/rak-molochnoi-zhelezy.html