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Breast cancer
Symptoms of breast cancer recurrence
The symptoms of recurrent breast cancer are related to the location and form of recurrence. For example, if breast cancer recurs at the chest wound site, the symptoms typically manifest as local lumps or localized ulcers, erosion, and bleeding. If the recurrence is in the lungs, liver, or brain, it usually appears in the form of tumors. Early lung tumors do not show symptoms, but if it invades the pleura and causes pleural effusion, it can lead to shortness of breath or chest pain. If a tumor grows too large on the liver, it can cause abdominal pain or symptoms like loss of appetite, unwillingness to eat, and other complications associated with liver diseases. If it metastasizes to the head, symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and a feeling of pressure in the eyes may occur. If it spreads to the bones, it can cause pain in the affected bone or fractures.
What should I do if I have advanced breast cancer with breast necrosis?
Firstly, radiotherapy can be used, localized radiation therapy, which will achieve certain local control effects. It can also provide surgical opportunities for some breast cancer patients who are otherwise inoperable. Additionally, it can relieve pain, reduce compression symptoms, and stop bleeding in ulcerated cancer lesions, thereby improving the patient's quality of life. If chemotherapy is possible, it should be pursued as it can reduce distant and extensive metastases. Then, if surgery is feasible, the ulcerated or already healed surgical incisions can be excised and sutured to improve the patient's quality of life.
Does breast mammography detect breast cancer?
Mammography primarily checks for any issues in a woman's breast, such as space-occupying lesions, which can be simply understood as a method specifically for screening breast cancer. Mammography is generally performed in the radiology department, where each breast is compressed using a flat panel, and then images are taken to look for any suspicious nodules. Generally speaking, it is adequate to perform this examination once a year. If one prefers not to undergo mammography, breast ultrasound can also be used to screen for breast cancer. If performed annually, it can effectively detect early cancerous changes or suspicious nodules, and if necessary, further treatment or assessment can be undertaken.
What should not be eaten with breast cancer?
There are specific considerations regarding foods that should be avoided for breast cancer patients. Foods, medications, or health supplements containing sex hormones are absolutely prohibited. The most common source of sex hormones in food is the use of placenta for nourishment, which is a common practice among the Chinese populace but is strictly forbidden in this case. Medications typically involve contraceptives, so it is crucial, especially in younger breast cancer patients, to consider non-medication-based contraception and avoid unplanned pregnancies — these are absolute taboos. Additionally, foods low in fats and cholesterol are not entirely prohibited but should be consumed in moderation.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer in the nipple?
Breast cancer typically results in bloody nipple discharge. If the condition progresses, it can cause the breast to shrink, harden, and the nipple to elevate. Due to the pulling of the milk ducts, the nipple may flatten, retract, or even become inverted. Over several months, there may also be significant enlargement, causing the affected breast's volume to increase and protrude. Breast cancer can invade the chest muscle fascia and muscles, causing the tumor to fix to the chest wall and become difficult to move. Cancer cells block the subcutaneous lymphatic vessels, leading to lymphatic retention and resulting in dermal edema. The skin will then exhibit an orange peel-like texture.
How is breast cancer treated?
The treatment of adenocarcinoma is a systematically planned treatment, involving five major types of treatments in the field of Western medicine. The first is surgical treatment, the second is chemotherapy, the third is endocrine therapy, the fourth is biological targeted therapy, often referred to as targeted therapy, and the fifth is radiation therapy, commonly known as radiotherapy. These are the five major treatments in Western medicine. However, not every patient with breast disease will need all five treatments; it depends on their specific conditions. Additionally, there are treatments from Chinese medicine, which primarily serve as supportive care. Of course, there is also psychological support therapy from a psychological perspective, which is part of this so-called systematic treatment.
Can being angry cause breast cancer?
Frequent anger in women is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. The causes of breast cancer are not yet fully elucidated, but recent research suggests that its development may be related to various factors. These include familial factors, reproductive factors, levels of sex hormones, and relevant genes. Frequent anger in patients can cause instability in the body's hormones, leading to exacerbated breast hyperplasia. Increased breast hyperplasia can then lead to the formation of small nodules in the breast. Due to the stimulation of estrogen in the body, these breast nodules are more likely to become cancerous. Therefore, it is important to maintain a cheerful mood, minimize anger, and eat more foods containing vitamins, as Vitamin A plays a role in protecting breast cells.
Is IDC breast cancer easy to treat?
Breast cancer IDC refers to invasive ductal carcinoma. Its treatments currently include surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and biological therapy. However, the specific treatment plans and prognoses are influenced by many factors. These factors include pathological causes, hormone receptors, as well as the patient's age, pregnancy or lactation period, tumor grading and staging, specific pathological types, and other factors. Therefore, it is essential to visit the breast surgery department of a reputable hospital for systematic and comprehensive treatment to achieve the best therapeutic effects.
Can breast cancer be cured?
Breast cancer is one of the few curable solid malignant tumors; a solid tumor refers to one that forms a mass or has a tangible tumor body. However, the prerequisite is that the breast cancer must be in its early stages, as advanced breast cancer is currently difficult to cure, and not all early-stage breast cancers can be cured. With standardized systematic treatment in modern medicine, about 60% to 70% of early-stage breast cancers can be completely cured. However, 30% to 40% of early-stage breast cancers still develop into advanced-stage breast cancer. This is one of the reasons why long-term monitoring, close follow-up, and regular re-examinations are necessary for breast cancer management later on.
Clinical manifestations of breast cancer
The clinical manifestations of breast cancer mostly present as painless lumps in the breast. Many early-stage breast lumps are found during physical examinations or screenings. Lumps commonly develop in the upper outer quadrant and are typically solitary on one side, though occasionally there are multiple lumps, or they may appear bilaterally. The size of the clinically observed lumps varies, with diameters of up to 5 centimeters being common. Generally, the lumps are hard in consistency, have unclear boundaries, and are not easily movable within the breast. Sometimes, the nipple may be inverted and there may be bloody discharge. Enlarged lymph nodes may also be present under the armpit.