A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Complementary therapies include acupuncture, herbs, meditation, and vitamins. Some women find them helpful, but they are not scientifically proven and may not be covered by insurance. Discuss with your doctor before starting any complementary approach.

You should have the lump or change evaluated by a doctor, who may recommend a biopsy to determine if it is cancerous or not, as most lumps are not cancer but it’s important to be sure.

Common types include fine needle aspiration (FNA), core biopsy, needle localization biopsy, stereotactic needle biopsy, incisional biopsy, and excisional biopsy.

A lumpectomy removes only the cancerous lump and a small amount of surrounding tissue, preserving most of the breast, while a mastectomy removes the whole breast, nipple, and sometimes surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.

The exact cause is not known, but risk increases with age, and most women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors or family history. Breast cancer is not caused by stress, injury, or any ‘wrong’ life choices.

Breast cancer is most common in women but can also affect men. It affects all ages and races, with varying lifetime risk according to ethnic and demographic factors.

Staging classifies breast cancer based on size and spread, from Stage 0 (very early) to Stage IV (spread to other body parts). The stage helps determine treatment options and prognosis.

When detected early (Stages 0 or I), five-year survival rates are very high, up to 95% for Stage I. Survival is lower for higher stages but treatments continue to improve outcomes.

Higher risk is linked to larger tumor size, cancer present in more lymph nodes, and rapidly growing/aggressive cancer cells. These are not absolute predictors, but indicators.

'In situ' cancers are noninvasive and confined to the ducts (DCIS) or lobules (LCIS) of the breast. DCIS may potentially develop into invasive cancer if not treated; LCIS is a warning sign of increased cancer risk.

Diagnosis often involves a physical exam, imaging tests (mammography or ultrasound), and a biopsy which is analyzed by a pathologist.

The main treatments are surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and possibly breast reconstruction.

Radiation therapy is commonly used after lumpectomy to kill any remaining cancer cells in the breast tissue, and sometimes after mastectomy if there is a high risk of recurrence.

Chemotherapy uses drugs, often intravenously, to destroy cancer cells that may have spread beyond the breast. It is given in cycles and tailored to individual patient and tumor characteristics.

Hormone therapy is used if cancer is found to be sensitive to hormones like estrogen or progesterone. Drugs such as tamoxifen block the effect of hormones to help prevent recurrence.

Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild a breast after mastectomy, using implants or tissue from another part of the body. It can be performed at the same time as mastectomy or later.

Side effects can include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, skin irritation, hot flashes, and changes in breast or arm appearance. Some treatments increase risk of infection or lymphedema.

Lymphedema is swelling of the arm due to fluid build-up after lymph node removal or radiation. Risk can be reduced by protecting the arm from injury and infection, and managed with sleeves, therapy, exercise, and prompt treatment.

Yes, second opinions are your right and commonly sought, especially if you want to confirm diagnosis, have treatment concerns, or feel uncomfortable with your current doctor.

It is normal to feel fear, anger, denial, confusion, depression, or isolation. Many women also worry about their self-image, future priorities, relationships, and mortality.

Women can access support groups, counseling, patient education materials, national hotlines (such as 1-800-4-CANCER), and breast cancer organizations for emotional, practical, and medical assistance.

Complementary therapies include acupuncture, herbs, meditation, and vitamins. Some women find them helpful, but they are not scientifically proven and may not be covered by insurance. Discuss with your doctor before starting any complementary approach.

You should have the lump or change evaluated by a doctor, who may recommend a biopsy to determine if it is cancerous or not, as most lumps are not cancer but it’s important to be sure.