Symptoms
Early breast cancer
usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer
grows, symptoms may include:
- Breast lump
or lump in the armpit
that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
- Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast
or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin
of an orange
- Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody
, clear-to-yellow, or green, and look like pus
Men get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump
and breast pain and tenderness.
Symptoms of advanced breast cancer
may include:
- Bone pain
- Breast pain
or discomfort
- Skin ulcers
- Swelling
of one arm (next to breast with cancer)
- Weight loss
Exams and Tests
The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and risk factors, and then perform a
physical exam, which includes both breasts, armpits, and the neck and chest area. Additional tests may include:
If your doctor learns that you do have breast cancer, additional tests will be done to see if the cancer
has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up and gives you some idea of what to expect in the future.
Breast cancer
stages range from 0 to IV. In general, breast cancer that stays where it has started is called in situ or noninvasive
breast cancer. If it spreads, it is called invasive breast cancer. The higher the number, the more advanced the cancer
.
Treatment
Treatment is based on many factors, including type and stage of the cancer, whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones, and whether or not the cancer overproduces (overexpresses) a
gene called HER2/neu.
In general, cancer treatments may include:
Other treatments:
- Hormonal therapy to block certain hormones that fuel cancer growth
- Targeted therapy
to interfere with cancer cell grow and function
An example of hormonal therapy is the drug
tamoxifen. This drug blocks the effects of estrogen, which can help breast cancer cells survive and grow. Most women
with estrogen sensitive breast cancer benefit from this drug. A newer class of medicines called aromatase
inhibitors, such as exemestane (Aromasin), have been shown to work just as well or even better than tamoxifen
in post-menopausal women with breast cancer.
Targeted therapy, also called biologic therapy, is a
newer type of cancer treatment. This therapy uses special anti-cancer drugs that identify certain changes in a
cell that can lead to cancer. One such drug is trastuzumab (Herceptin). For women with stage IV HER2-positive breast cancer, Herceptin plus chemotherapy
has been shown to be work better than chemotherapy alone. Studies have also shown that in women
with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, this medicine plus chemotherapy cuts the risk of the cancer coming back by 50%.
Cancer treatment may be local or systemic
.
- Local treatments involve only the area of disease. Radiation and surgery
are forms of local treatment.
- Systemic treatments affect the entire body
. Chemotherapy is a type of systemic treatment.
Most women receive a combination of treatments. For women
with stage I, II, or III breast cancer, the main goal is to treat the cancer and prevent it from returning. For women
with stage IV cancer, the goal is to improve symptoms and help them live longer. In most cases, stage IV breast cancer cannot be cured.
Stage 0 -- Lumpectomy
plus radiation or mastectomy is the standard treatment. There is some controversy on how best to treat DCIS.
Stage I and II -- Lumpectomy
plus radiation or mastectomy with some sort of lymph node removal is standard treatment. Hormone therapy, chemotherapy
, and biologic therapy may also be recommended following surgery.
Stage III -- Treatment involves surgery
possibly followed by chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biologic therapy.
Stage IV -- Treatment may involve
surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or a combination of such treatments.
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