| Because of the social changes, which has brought | | | | The findings that denote a cancer are single, |
| increased number of workingwoman and hence | | | | non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined |
| delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in | | | | margins. This can be later confirmed by |
| the number of breast cancer patients in the last few | | | | mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has |
| decades. But as the incidence of the patients has | | | | been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best |
| risen so has raised the modality of treatments and | | | | treatment option as well as the prognosis. |
| the success rates. Also scientists have devised | | | | The management of breast cancer rests basically on |
| methods by which the cancer can be detected in an | | | | two things. The first is the treatment and second is |
| early stage and it has been convincingly proved that | | | | the counseling. The treatment can further be divided |
| early detection and treatment bears a better | | | | into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical |
| prognosis than the later stage. | | | | treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, |
| There are many myths attached to breast cancer. | | | | which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such |
| Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer | | | | as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such |
| but to the contrary most of them are benign. | | | | as trastuzumab. |
| Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that | | | | But similar to other drugs they have their own side |
| breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but | | | | effects profile. The side effects associated with |
| that has been now found to be untrue. Some say | | | | tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial |
| that mammography makes the breast cancer | | | | cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have |
| widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many | | | | the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight |
| other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the | | | | gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause |
| general mass for the proper detection and | | | | sterility or certain birth abnormalities. |
| management of the tumor. | | | | Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, |
| Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if | | | | which are needed for the treatment to ward off the |
| women are taught to self-examine their breast. In | | | | body of the cancerous growth. |
| case of detection of any breast lump or of any | | | | This is one of the most important parts of the |
| slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to | | | | treatment both before and after the surgery. The |
| rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to | | | | patients are to be taught that this is only another |
| diagnose this type of cancer. | | | | disease, which has treatment available, and persons |
| The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an | | | | can lead a normal life after that. |
| alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one | | | | Latest research is being done on both the surgery |
| American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer. | | | | and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are |
| Although the cause is not fully understood but it is | | | | trying to find out the best way of surgery so that |
| hypothesized that there are various factors such as | | | | post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. |
| genetic and environmental. The environmental factors | | | | Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being |
| are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the | | | | researched. |
| first child at late age. | | | | |