Imagine your life getting impacted by a disease that is going to change up your whole life in a negative way. Not knowing how the outcome is going to be. Going to the doctor after feeling the big lump forming on your left breast and the doctor tells, “You have Breast Cancer…” Breast Cancer is the second most you death related disease in America. Many aspects are involved in this disease like your age, your gender and many more. Doctors all around the world are trying to find any kind of procedure, scheme to get this disease known to everyone. As well, doctors all around the world are looking for that one cure to help end this disease. You yourself get knowledgeable about the history of breast cancer, the treatments and the way to cope with breast cancer.
History of Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer has been around for many centuries in the world of medical field.
The first case of breast cancer was found in 1600 BC in Egypt. “The Edwin Smith Papyrus, an ancient text found in 1860 in an Egyptian tomb, described eight cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast.” Doctors at the time who first pursued to treat the breast cancer wrote, “There is no treatment!” If today’s modern day research, technologies, physicians were not around in the past, it was thought that “the possible causes of breast cancer: humoralism, divine punishment, lack of (or too much) sexual activity, physical injuries, fear of breast cancer.” The First treatments were established to cure this disease
The first treatment of breast cancer was done by “a number of surgeons, including Jean Louis Petit, Henri Le Dran, Claude-Nicolas Le Cat and Benjamin Bell, began performing breast cancer surgery removing lymph nodes and underlying muscle along with breast tissue.” Around the 1750s.Surgeon William Stewart Halsted around 1882 completed the first Mastectomy. As time progressed, “By the 1970s, researchers began to develop the lumpectomy, a less invasive surgical option that removes only the cancerous tumor and any surrounding tissue affected by the tumor.”1 There are many ways to detect breast cancer with symptoms and signs. Changes in how the breast or nipple feel.
“Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area.”
“A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast.”
“A lump in the breast .”
Changes in how the nipple or breast appear.
Change of the shape and/or size, Unusual swelling occurs ,
“Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted”
“Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange.”
The other symptoms that may be experienced. Discharge that is clear and/or bloody, itchy breasts, pain near or around the nipple, in some cases stiffness in neck and shoulders.
The stage of your breast cancer is determined by how big it is how much of cancer has spread throughout your body. The stages range from “stage 0 describing non-invasive cancers that remain within their original location and stage IV describing invasive cancers that have spread outside the breast to other parts of the body.”
These stages are serious for the doctor to know how to treat the tumor, what treatments to use and how early the tumor was found.
Tumors are “scored and divided into stages by something called the TNM system.”
“T stands for tumor size. T0 means that a tumor cannot be detected in the breast.
- T1 includes tumors that have a diameter of 2 cm or less (an inch or less).
- T2 includes tumors that are between 2 cm and 5 cm in diameter.
- T3 includes tumors larger than 5 cm in diameter.”
“N stands for lymph node involvement.
- N0 (N-zero) would mean that cancer has not spread to any lymph nodes.
- N1mi describes cancers that have spread to lymph nodes but the spread can only be detected under a microscope (micrometastases).
- N1 is used to describe tumors that have spread to at least one lymph node near the tumor.
- N2 refers to cancers that have spread farther away from the tumor.”
“M stands for metastasis.
- M0 means that no metastases are present.
- M1 means that breast cancer has spread to other regions of the body such as the bones, brain, liver, or lung.”
The stages are known as: Stage zero through Stage IV. Stage zero has two types of Cancer
“Noninvasive Paget’s disease” which is a rare case that forms cancer in the nipple.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is another breast cancer stage zero which “means the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast have become cancer, but they have not spread into surrounding breast tissue” DCIS is often treated as “non-invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer.”Non-invasive means that the cancer will not spread. Pre-invasive not yet involved with other cells. Most cases don’t require the breast to be removed but rather have a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy not only removes the cancer itself but it also takes the healthy tissue around it. The lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation. Stage I the cancer is noticeable, but has been contained only in one area, which is where the tumor is forming. Stage I breast cancer is divided into 2 stages 1) being Stage 1A 2) being Stage 1B.“Stage 1A describes invasive breast cancer in which: the tumor measures up to 2 centimeters (cm) and the cancer has not spread outside the breast; no lymph nodes are involved.” “Stage 1B describes invasive breast cancer in which there is no tumor in the breast; instead, small groups of cancer cells — larger than 0.2 millimeter (mm) but not larger than 2 mm — are found in the lymph nodes or there is a tumor in the breast that is no larger than 2 cm, and there are small groups of cancer cells — larger than 0.2 mm but not larger than 2 mm — in the lymph nodes.” Stage 2- the tumor has grown to be from 2-5 cm and may be contained through the breast.The treatment for this stage would be surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.Stage II is also divided into 2 categories.Stage IIA- the cancer is invasive, but it is not classified as a tumor but it has spread to the lymph nodes or the tumor is less than the 2cm and has spread throughout the lymph nodes or, the tumor is between the 2-5 cm but has not spread through the lymph nodes.Stage IIB- the tumor is 2-5 cm and has spread through the lymph nose, or the tumor is bigger than the 2-5 cm range but not spread through the lymph nodes. Stage 3- “Cancer means the breast cancer has extended to beyond the immediate region of the tumor and may have invaded nearby lymph nodes and muscles, but has not spread to distant organs”
Stage 3 is divided into 3 groups: Stage 3A,3B,3C.Stage 3A- the tumor is less than 2 cm and has spread through 4-9 lymph nodes or Tumor is bigger then 5 cm, and cluster of cancer is found in the lymph node or the tumor is bigger than 5 cm and as spread through the lymph node to the underarm or breast bone. Stage 3B –“ The tumor may be any size, AND cancer has invaded the chest wall or breast skin. “Stage 3C- is known as no tumor but he cancer spreading throughout the lymph nodes, breast bone area, shoulders, collar bone. Stage 4-“ Stage 4 breast cancer means that the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the brain, bones, lung and liver.” Stage 4-breast cancer is often times incurable. However, with treatments can help extend your life for many years.
Treatment
Chemotherapy is one of the most used treatments to help with this disease.
“Chemotherapy medicines prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading by destroying the cells or stopping them from dividing.”
Chemo prevents the growth of cancerous cells. Chemo is highly effective for invasive cancers that have spread from the original locations. Depending on the case of breast cancer, chemotherapy is given either before or after surgery. “Chemotherapy medicines are given in combination, which means you get two or three different medicines at the same time. These combinations are known as chemotherapy regimens.” “Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) or particles that destroy cancer cells.” There are two types of radiation. External beam radiation: This type of radiation comes from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation (brachytherapy): For this treatment, a radioactive source is put inside the body for a short time. Not all cases of breast cancer need radiation. Radiation is used necessary to reduce chances of reoccurrence. Radiation is crucial in the recovery process as it is highly effective and safe compared to other treatments. Surgery is often used for breast cancer patients. There are two types of surgery for breast cancer.
Mastectomy is the removal of the whole breast. There are five different types of it.
- “Simple” or “total” mastectomy: the entire breast is removed, lymph nodes in the are not removed but sometimes necessary, not muscles are removed under the breast.
- Modified Radical: the entire breast is removed, lymph nodes under the arm are removed, and no muscles under the breast are removed.
- Radical: The entire breast is removed, levels I, II, III of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed, the chest wall muscles are removed. Partial: “removal of the cancerous part of the breast tissue and some normal tissue around it.”
- Nipple Sparing: “all of the breast tissue is removed, but the nipple is left alone.” You qualify for mastectomy if the tumor is bigger than 5 centimeters.
- “Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is an operation to remove the cancer while leaving as much normal breast as possible.” This surgery takes about 15 -40 minutes.
Coping with Breast Cancer
Share how you feel when dealing with breast cancer.During breast cancer, it is normal to feel a sense of depression, sadness. So sharing how you feel will help you feel relived.American Cancer Society has a lifeline that there is there for you for all needs. Breast Cancer support groups to share experiences, thoughts and feelings with others who have been touched by this sickness. Be around loved ones. “It truly takes a village to support someone living with metastatic breast cancer”
Recovery of breast cancer.
Take everything slowly; do not rush into heavy activities or things that will make you tired. Regular follow-ups with your physician to make sure everything are going well.
My Aunt Armine found a lump in her breast while doing her routine check up at the age of 37.She did not waste anytime. She immediately saw the doctor, who referred her for a mammogram. Within a few days, her doctor called her and told her she will need to have a biopsy done. A week later, the doctor asked her to come in. Immediately she knew it was bad news. Conversation with the doctor was a blur, she could not comprehend anything, and she was in utter shock. The next several months she would undergo many Different treatment plans. First, she would undergo a double mastectomy, and A few weeks after that she began the grueling process of chemotherapy. She was miserable, aching, tired and depressed. She worked hard to try to feel better, and put herself in a better place. She prayed, went to church, had a great support system from her family and friends. In addition, the American Cancer Society was very helpful, they provided her Makeup, wigs, and group counseling. Dr. Kim, her oncologist had a plan of certain, to fight the cancer she was to have 6 rounds of aggressive chemo, 12 rounds of a lighter dosage chemo. Then 23 rounds of radiation. Miraculously, after six rounds of the aggressive chemo Dr. Kim called my aunt and said “she does not need to have any further chemotherapy she will continue with the radiation, rest and have reconstructive surgery” she was so excited, the whole family was extremely happy. She received. 32 rounds of radiation, then was ready for the reconstructive surgery. After a long recovery and many painful and sad days, on her birthday her doctor called and said she was “Cancer Free.” Thankfully with much support, she fought and overcame this horrible disease. Now been almost 9 years that she is cancer free and not a day goes by she is not grateful that her prayers have been answered.
20.02.2019