Lets first look at what cancer is. Swelling or enlargements of abnormal cells located within a tissue or organ are called tumours. Malignant tumours, or cancer, have the ability to invade normal cells and spread throughout the body." As such, malignant tumours can become life threatening. Unlike malignant tumours, benign tumours do not invade adjacent tissues and do not spread throughout the body. As such, benign tumours generally are not life threatening. However, cells in some benign tumours can acquire additional changes and become malignant or cancerous. Thus, tumours can be either benign or malignant, and some benign tumours can progress over time to become malignant tumours, or cancer. Breast cancer is the growth of these tumour cells in the breast.
Source : Cancer Society of Malaysia
Breast cancer is considered a heterogenous disease, meaning that it is a different disease in different women, a different disease in different age groups and has different cell populations within the tumor itself. Generally, breast cancer is a much more aggressive disease in younger women. Autopsy studies show that 2% of the population has undiagnosed breast cancer at the time of death. Older women typically have much less aggressive disease than younger women.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest possible clinical diagnosis of breast cancer and is frequently diagnosed with screening mammography that has detected small areas of calcification in the breast. Patients rarely suspect that they have breast cancer with this stage cancer. Generally divided into comedo (blackhead, the cut surface of the tumor demonstrates extrusion of dead and necrotic tumor cells similar to a blackhead) and non-comedo types. The distinction between comedo and non-comedo types is important as comedocarcinoma in-situ generally behaves more aggressively and may show areas of microinvasion (small areas of invasion through the ductal wall into surrounding tissue). If DCIS is untreated, approximately 30% of patients will develop invasive breast cancer an average of 10 years from the initial diagnosis
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is the most common invasive breast cancer, accounting for 78 percent of all cases. A very hard lump that has irregular borders and seems anchored in surrounding tissues. These lesions can be stellate (star like in appearance on mammography) in appearance or well circumscribed (rounded). The skin over the nipple area may be inverted or appear to be pulled in. These are characteristics of infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) accounts for about 5 percent of all malignant, invasive cancers. It occurs most frequently in women between the ages of 45 and 56. The tumor grows in the terminal (last part) of the lobules where milk is produced and is difficult to diagnose by mammography. It may feel like a thickening upper outer quarter of the breast (from nipples to underarms). Infiltrating lobular can be bilateral (involve both breasts). In about 30% of the cases, this cancer is frequently found on the opposite breast as well. Late signs of a large tumor area may be the retraction or puckering of the skin over the area. Infiltrating lobular carcinoma sometimes has an increased incidence of spreading to the uterus and ovaries.
LCIS is thought to be an indicator for an increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer, but may not be a direct precursor to invasive breast cancer. This abnormality is generally widely distributed throughout the breast and frequently occurs in both breasts simultaneously. From long-term retrospective studies, it is estimated that approximately 25% of patients with LCIS will develop invasive breast cancer within 25 years of diagnosis.
Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that also involves the skin of the breast. A particularly aggressive type of breast cancer the presentation is usually noted in changes in the skin of the breast including redness (erythema), thickening of the skin and prominence of the hair follicles resembling an orange peel (peau d' orange), swelling of the breast. In some cases, a lump may be present.
a. Change in breast texture -- skin which is red or appears dimpled like an orange
b. Breast size increases over a short period of time
c. Change in nipple -- becomes flattened or inverted, possibly with a discharge
d .Breast area becomes itchy over long periods of time
e. Sudden appearance of a large lump in the breast
f. Pain in the breast
g. Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or above the collar bone
All of the symptoms may also be present with benign breast disorders. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your healthcare provider.
The Minister of Health, YB Dato’ Chua Jui Meng highlighted the NCR (National Cancer Registry) report that one in four Malaysians can be expected to suffer from cancer in his or her lifetime. He described that the trend was alarming and had instructed that a memorandum be submitted to the cabinet regarding the findings and strategies to combat the disease. He hoped that the Cabinet will support steps for the improvement of facilities for comprehensive cancer care and to preserve skilled manpower, especially within in the government sector.
The report showed that breast cancer was the most common cancer in females while lung cancer was the most common among men. Chinese had the highest risk of getting cancer, followed by the Indians and Malays, the risk being 1 in 4, 1 in 5 and 1 in 7 respectively. The report also found that Malaysian men were most likely to get cancers of the lung, nasopharyx, colon, leukemia, rectum and prostate while women would be vulnerable to cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, ovary, leukemia and lung.
- 85% of the patients diagnosed with having breast cancer have got no family history of the disease, meaning that they did not inherit it from their parents or grandparents. This goes to show that everyone is at risk of developing breast cancer.
- Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women, second to lung disease. In America, in every 2 and a half minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer and in every 13 minutes someone dies of breast cancer. One out of nine persons will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes. The rates are higher in Malaysia, one out of seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes.
- Although its incidence is low, men can develop breast cancer too. In 2003, 1,300 cases of male breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, and 400 men will die from this disease. These rates are not accurate as there are more cases that go unreported due to certain reasons. Reasons why men develop breast cancer:
a. Age
b. Genetics
c. Smoking
f. Estrogen pills consumed for sex change
g. Naturally some men have higher female hormones
- Breast cancer afflicts both young & old. Breast cancer incidence increases with age, rising sharply after age 40. About 77 percent of invasive breast cancers occur in women over age 50. The average age at diagnosis is 62.
Anybody from as young as 18 could develop breast cancer. The older you are the higher your risk of developing breast cancer but the survival rate for breast cancer in younger patients is lower than in older patients. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages 20 & 59.
- Age 20 – 59 : 1 week to 2 years (life-span)
- Age 59 upwards : 2 years upwards
Why the survival rate in younger people is lower; because breast cancer spreads easily throughout the lymphatic system (hormonal system), bone, soft tissue, lungs, etc. of younger people who are more active & have a more efficient lymphatic system (hormonal system). Another reason is that younger people are less concerned (naïve) about diseases and do not go for breast examinations. When diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s normally at the advanced or metastatic stage.
- Survival rate is 95% if detected in early stage & drops to 20% & lower in later stages. This is why it is recommended that you do a “breast self examination” every month to familiarize yourself with your breasts. This will allow you to identify abnormalities that could be symptoms of breast cancer. Early detection & fast action is a key in saving your life.
1. Any lump or thickening in or near the breasts & under arms.
2. Change in breast size.
3. Dimpling or puckering on breasts
4. Redness & swelling in breast or around breast area
5. Discharge from nipple sometimes in brown or dark colors.
Although every woman is at risk for breast cancer, the majority of breast cancer cases occur in women with no identifiable risk factors. Risk factors include:
a. Personal or family history of breast cancer
b. Not having children or having a first child after age 30
c. Radiation therapy (RT) to the chest or upper body to treat Hodgkin’s Disease, thyroid conditions or cancer
d. A history of previous breast biopsies and benign (not cancerous) breast disease with certain findings [such as atypical hyperplasia (cells that are both abnormal and increased in number) or LCIS – lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells in the lining of the milk-producing tissue of the breast)] indicate cell changes that could progress to pre-malignant (pre-cancerous) or invasive breast cancer.
e. Smoking
f. Excessive intake of alcohol. Greater than two alcoholic beverages per day.
g. Stress
h. Another factor that appears to increase breast cancer risk is being overweight or obese (especially after menopause). Women who maintain a healthy weight or lose excess weight have a lower risk of breast cancer than overweight women. Breast cancer research also suggests that women should maintain a diet low in fat, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and smoking.
i. Early onset of menses and late menopause: Onset of the menstrual cycle prior to the age of 12 and menopause after 50 causes increased risk of developing breast cancer.
j. Diets high in saturated fat: The types of fat are important. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil and olive oil do not appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer like polyunsaturated fats; corn oil and meat.
k. Estrogen replacement therapy: Most studies indicate that taking estrogen longer than ten years may lead to a slight increase in risk for developing breast cancer. However, these studies indicate that the positive benefits of taking estrogen as far as reducing the risk for osteoporosis, heart disease and now more recently Alzheimer's and colon cancer, far outweigh the slight increase in risk that may be associated with estrogen replacement therapy.
a. Manage your weight. BMI (Body Mass Index) below 25
b. Reduce alcohol consumption
c. Stop smoking
d. Lower stress
e. Increase your intake of fiber (25 grams or about 1 kilograms of a variety of fruits & vegetable) & take fiber supplements. Rec. FDA.
f. Take whole food antioxidants
g. Take phytoestrogens 30-40mg isoflavones
h. Lymphatic System cleansing
i. Take B-complex vitamins
Remember, detecting breast cancer at an early age gives you a 95% success rate.
a. By doing a monthly breast self examination starting at the age of 20. Doing a monthly breast self examination will allow you to familiarize yourself with your breast. This will help you identify any abnormalities in your breast.
BSE Pad
*Breast cancer is a killer. It is important to perform breast examination at least once a month. BSE (Breast Self Examination) pad will help you to do just that by making your fingers more sensitive to lumps.*
c. Annual screening mammography should begin at age 40, or as directed by a medical professional, and continue as long as a woman is healthy and able to undergo the test. A screening mammogram (a simple, low-dose x-ray) can detect breast cancer at its earliest stage, when it is most treatable, up to two years before it is large enough to be felt by a medical professional.
a. In the United States, over 80 percent of biopsied breast abnormalities prove to be benign, but any breast lump or symptom must be evaluated by a medical professional. New, less invasive biopsy procedures (such as stereotactic core needle biopsy) permit removal and evaluation of breast tissue in a surgeon’s or radiologist’s office, and require no special preparation or recovery period.
b. If detected early, breast cancer can be treated effectively with surgery that preserves the breast, followed by radiation therapy. This local therapy is often accompanied by chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Currently, 63 percent of breast cancers are discovered at an early, “localized” stage, and five-year survival after treatment for early-stage breast cancer is 95 percent.
c. If breast cancers are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stages surgical removal of breasts will have to be done with a 20% five year survival rate.
For more information on Breast Cancer Prevention Nutraceuticals (nutrition products) & to order nutrition products, call me; Phil at 012 270 8119.
Images of Breast Cancer –Warning! – Not a pretty sight.
Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Risk Factors
Steps to Managing Risk - 3 Steps System
1. Prevention.
2. Early Detection.
3. Intervention - Diagnosis, Treatment and Survivorship
How To Do a Breast Self Examination
