Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis

Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops within breast cells and progresses in many stages, and different types of breast cancer depend on the type of cells in the breast that become cancerous. It is highly common and can affect the lives of the people diagnosed with this type of cancer greatly. Statistic-wise, it is more common in females, and other factors such as family history may increase its likelihood. But if the cancerous cells were identified early, then the more severe symptoms and the chances of fatality would be much lower. This article will describe some methods that people can use to identify possible early symptoms of breast cancer.

Self-Examination: Possible Early Signs

       Without professional equipment, it is often quite difficult to pinpoint whether or not a person has breast cancer. But there are some actions, like self-examinations, that would allow people to notice some possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Types of self-examination include:

1)  There is a change in how the breast/nipple feels or looks.

• The nipple may become tender and there is a lump near or underneath the breast/underarm area, or the lump is within the breast itself.

• Discomfort or pain around the breast or underarm region

• There may be a change in skin or texture of the breast, and many people describe this to feel like an orange’s peel.

2)  There is a change in the breast/nipple’s appearance.

• There may be signs of dimpling/swelling/shrinking on the breast

• Recent asymmetry of the breast or specific symptoms appearing on only one breast and not the other

• Nipple turns slightly inward or becomes inverted

• Skin of the region near the breast becomes scaly, red, swollen, or may have ridges

3)  Signs of nipple discharge (liquid flowing out of the nipple)

• Signs of particularly clear/milky/bloody discharge happening when a woman is not breastfeeding

Clinical Breast Exams

       If a person’s breasts were shown to have multiple symptoms stated above, then there is a possibility that the person may have breast cancer. It is best if a person finds a professional to perform clinical breast exams to determine whether or not the person has breast cancer. Common tests and procedures of clinical exams include:

1)  Physical examination

• The doctor or professional checks both of the breasts and lymph nodes around and in a person’s armpit physically, feeling for any possible lumps or abnormalities.

2)  Mammogram

• An x-ray for the breast. It is able to screen for abnormalities and lumps in a person’s breast.

3)  Breast Ultrasound

• Ultrasound waves that can produce some images of the structures within a person’s breast. It may be used to determine whether the breast lump is a solid mass or fluid-filled cyst.

4)  Biopsy

• This is the only definite way to diagnose breast cancer.

• A specialized needle device guided by X-ray or another imaging test performed on the region is poked into the suspicious area and extracts a core of tissue.

• Samples are then sent to laboratories to determine whether it contains cancerous cells. It can also identify the grade or stage of the cancer, finding whether or not the cancer has affected some receptors of the body, and it determines the options of treatment for the patient.

5)  MRI

• Uses a magnet and radio waves to create images of the breast’s interior. It is also able to find the size, shape, and position of the breast cancer.

Staging Breast Cancer

      Breast cancer is split to four stages, ranging from stage 0 to stage 4 (IV), with stage zero being the least serious and stage four being the most severe, in which the cancer has already spread to other areas of the body. Early breast cancer is usually just within the breast and has only spread to the lymph nodes of the breast or perhaps the underarm area (which is also called axillary lymph nodes). At this point, the breast cancer may only be in stage 1 or stage 2.

If treatment has not been performed on the breast by this point, the cancer would spread to become locally advanced breast cancer. This describes the moment in which breast cancer becomes a larger tumor that has spread beyond the breast to perhaps the chest wall and maybe up to the skin. This is described to be stage 2 or 3 of breast cancer, and patients would have to be aware of continuous worsening conditions as it may progress to become more serious.

 Works Cited

“Breast Cancer Early Detection.” National Breast Cancer Foundation, www.nationalbreastcancer.org/early-detection-of-breast-cancer/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.

“Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms.” National Breast Cancer Foundation, 27 June 2023, www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-symptoms-and-signs/.

“Breast Cancer.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Dec. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352475.

“Treatment of Early Breast Cancer.” Susan G. Komen®, 22 Sept. 2023, www.komen.org/breast-cancer/treatment/by-diagnosis/early-stage/.