Breast Cancer

TYPES OF CANCER

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and accounts for about 1/3 of all cancers in women. Although the incidence of breast cancer has increased rapidly in recent years, thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, it has become a type of cancer that can be completely curable with early diagnosis. Therefore, we can say that the most important factor in breast cancer treatment is early diagnosis.

Who is More Commonly Affected by Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that can also be seen in men, although not as often as in women. Breast cancer in men progresses much faster and has a worse prognosis than in women.

The incidence of breast cancer increases with age. Although it is most common in the 50-70 age range, breast cancer is diagnosed even in the 20s today.

Breast cancer is a genetically inherited cancer and the presence of breast cancer in a mother or sister increases the risk of cancer 3 times. Breast cancer in second-degree relatives also increases the risk of breast cancer. Again, the more people in the family have breast cancer and the earlier the age of onset, the higher the risk.

What Are the Chances of Getting Breast Cancer?

People with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a very high risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer.
Taking hormone medication for more than 5 years after menopause is also thought to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Radiotherapy (radiation) applied to the chest wall during other cancer treatments such as lymphoma is known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
The duration of menstruation is also an important risk factor in breast cancer. Early menstruation (especially before the age of 11) and late menopause are at higher risk for breast cancer.
Since breastfeeding is known to be protective against breast cancer, those who do not breastfeed and those who have their first pregnancy after the age of 30 are also at increased risk.
Alcohol consumption, being overweight and never having exercised are also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

If we briefly look at the risk factors of breast cancer in order to know the risk of breast cancer, to take precautions accordingly and not to interrupt the controls;

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Female gender (10 times more common in women than in men)
Presence of breast cancer in the family
Age (the risk of breast cancer increases with age)
White skin (less common in brunettes than in white-skinned people)
Genetic mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. For family members with the BRCA mutation, the risk is 80%.
Having undergone radiotherapy for another cancer
Early age at first menstruation and late onset of menopause
Smoking and Alcohol consumption
Obesity, a sedentary life, far from physical activity and regular sports
Never breastfed and/or first pregnancy after age 30

As I mentioned at the beginning of our article, since the most important criterion for recovery in breast cancer is early diagnosis, it is very important to know the symptoms of breast cancer as well as breast cancer risk factors.

The most important and most common symptom of breast cancer is a palpable lump in the breast. The palpable mass may be in the breast or in the armpit outside the breast. If the mass is enlarged, it may cause the nipple to be pulled inwards and this is also a sign of breast cancer. Although very rare, bloody or bloodless discharge from the nipple may also indicate breast cancer. Again, if the mass in the breast is very large and involves the breast skin, edema and swelling of the breast skin may be observed.

If we briefly look at the symptoms of breast cancer in order to know the symptoms of breast cancer and to consult a physician immediately when these symptoms are encountered;

Breast Cancer Symptoms

A hard, usually painless, hard mass in the breast that you thought had not been there before
Change in breast size or shape.
Redness, bruising, scarring, vasodilation, depression or orange peel appearance on the breast skin
Depression or eczematous rash on and around the nipple
Breast discharge (especially discharge from one breast and from a single point)
Palpable swelling in the armpit

I would like to emphasize here that the presence of one or more of the symptoms of breast cancer listed above does not necessarily mean that it is breast cancer, there are also benign masses that give these symptoms but are not cancer. The most common benign masses in the breast, which we call fibroadenoma and fibrocyst, can also give these symptoms.

Eight out of every ten masses in the breast are benign. Nevertheless, if there is a condition in the breast that causes the symptoms mentioned above, you should definitely consult a doctor and find out what is causing it.

Breast examination is very important to prevent breast cancer and to catch breast cancer at an early stage. Since breast cancer can be successfully treated when it is detected and intervened at an early stage when it is limited to the breast, it is recommended that even patients with no complaints should undergo cancer screening tests after a certain age.

To briefly list what should be done to make an early diagnosis of breast cancer;

Routine manual self-examination
Annual medical examination
Annual Mammography
Breast USG and further examinations in the presence of symptoms

Breast Cancer Treatment

The most important thing for a patient diagnosed with breast cancer is to start treatment without wasting time and to return to daily life in a healthy way. Therefore, the priority in breast cancer treatment today is treatment methods aimed at preserving the breast. While breast cancers caught at an early stage can be treated without surgically removing the breast and preserving its shape by directly intervening in the cancer, in advanced breast cancers the breast may have to be surgically removed. Today, even in patients who require surgical removal of the breast, a new breast (reconstruction) can be performed with plastic surgery if desired.

In breast cancer, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CT), hormone therapy (HT) and drug treatments may be required after surgery. In very early breast cancers, only RT is sufficient after surgery, while a combination of all these drugs may be required in patients who are caught later.

Who Are We?

Founded in 2018, Pharmackt operates in the Turkish pharmaceutical and genetic markets. In oncology, hematology and rare diseases, “Pharmackt” sees it as a priority to be useful in every field with its innovative approaches in order to produce common solutions to the search of physicians and patients.