What are the symptoms of 'breast cancer'? Introducing 3 self-check methods!

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In 2018, more than 90,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer, and age and lifestyle are also risk factors, so it is not passed on to others. If left untreated, breast cancer can spread from the breast to lymph nodes or distant organs. This time, we explain in detail the contents that can deepen your knowledge about breast cancer, such as symptoms and causes of breast cancer, typical diseases, and tests.

What is breast cancer?

The breast consists of subcutaneous tissue of skin and fat and ductal and lobular mammary gland tissue. The duct spreads radially from the nipple, and there are small leaves like clusters of grapes at the end of the duct. The small leaves make milk and carry it through the ducts to the nipples. Breast cancer is cancer that develops in the mammary gland tissue. Most breast cancers develop in the ducts, but there are also cases of small leaves. Cancer that stays only in the mammary gland tissue is called non-invasive cancer, and cancer that enters the lymphatic vessels and blood vessels around the breast is called invasive. Breast cancer can spread through lymphatic vessels or blood vessels to lymph nodes under the armpits away from the breast or organs such as bones, liver, lungs, and brain.

breast cancer symptoms

What symptoms can you see in breast cancer?

The main symptom of breast cancer is a lump in the breast or under the armpit. Other than the lump, the following symptoms are seen:

• Changes in the breast skin and nipples, such as dents, wrinkles, wrinkling, wrinkling, and dents in the nipples
• Changes in breast size and shape, left and right asymmetry
• Brown, bloody discharge from the nipples

How do breast cancer symptoms progress?

Breast cancer is classified into stage 0, stage I, stage II (A, B), stage III (A, B, C), and stage IV according to the degree of progression. The characteristics of each weapon are as follows. Stage 0 is a noninvasive cancer where the cancer can only be seen in ducts or small leaves and does not spread to the surrounding area.

1. the size of the lump is less than 2 cm, and metastasis to lymph nodes or other organs is not recognized.
2. A seaweed, the core is 2 cm or less and metastasis to the lymph nodes under the armpit is recognized. Otherwise, if the mass is 2-5 cm and metastasis to lymph nodes or other organs is not recognized, it is also classified as this stage.
3. B refers to a condition in which the mass is 2-5 cm long and metastasis to the lymph nodes under the armpit is recognized. Otherwise, the lump is larger than 5 cm and has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
4. A Kim, the core is 5 cm or more and metastasis to the lymph nodes under the armpit is recognized.
5. B is a condition in which breast changes and arm swelling and tingling appear regardless of the size of the lump or metastasis to the lymph nodes. Breast lumps appear on the skin surface, dents in the breasts, and crushing of the nipples and areolas are recognized.
6. C recognizes metastasis to lymph nodes under the armpit and medial sternal lymph nodes regardless of the size of the lump. Otherwise, it will admit metastasis to the lymph nodes above and below the clavicle.
7. The ear recognizes metastasis to organs other than the breast.

Causes of breast cancer

What are the causes of breast cancer?

It is caused by genetic factors and environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle.

genetic factors

What are the characteristics of genetic factors?

5-10% of all breast cancers are hereditary breast cancers. More than half of hereditary breast cancers are hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), which recognizes changes at birth with the BRCA gene. According to HBOC, the risk of breast cancer by age 70 is 50-60% and the risk of ovarian cancer is 20-40%. HBOC is an autosomal dominant inheritance with a 50% chance of passing from parent to child regardless of gender.

environmental factors

What are environmental factors?

Breast cancer is closely related to the female hormone estrogen. Replenishing female hormones outside the body for a long period of time may increase the risk, not only when the concentration of estrogen in the body is high, but also when taking oral contraceptives for a long time, or taking female hormone replacement therapy after menopause for a long time. Age over 40, old childbirth, postmenopausal obesity, following alcohol, smoking, diabetes, high-dose and frequent radiation exposure, early menarche and late menopause, no childbirth, no lactation, and a history of benign mammary gland disease etc. are also factors. There is data showing that a higher BMI, a measure of obesity, is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. It is important to avoid high-fat, high-calorie food intake and a biased diet, and to maintain moderate exercise to promote weight control.

Types of breast cancer

Please tell us about the types of breast cancer.

Breast cancer can be divided into non-invasive, invasive, and page-fighting.

non-invasive rock

What kind of breast cancer is non-invasive cancer?

Breast cancer in which cancer cells remain only in the ducts and lobules. In most cases, it is not aware that there is a lump even when touched, but it is discovered during examination or discharge from the nipples. Noninvasive ductal ducts (DCIS), also called early-stage breast cancers, tend to spread like fine threads within the mammary gland.

invasive rock

What type of breast cancer is an infiltrating child?

It is a breast cancer that has also spread around the milk ducts and small leaves. Most of the invasive cancers are lumps that can be detected by touch.

Commonly seen in infiltrates is infiltrative ductal mammary glands. Papillary glandular and cervical cancer, which are representative of infiltrating ductal glands, and medial gland and cancer, are commonly seen breast cancers. Subtypes of breast cancer include mucinous charm, invasive lobular cancer, and apocrine cancer.

battling paje

What kind of breast cancer is Paget's disease?

Breast cancer that is found with reddish nipples, has spread to the skin of the nipples suggestive of ducts. If the nipple eczema or looseness lasts for a long time, there is a possibility of battling the disease.

Breast cancer examination subject

If symptoms suggestive of breast cancer appear, which department should I see?

Breast cancer is diagnosed and treated in mammary gland surgery. In large hospitals, a mammary gland surgeon may be enrolled in surgery, but private mammary gland surgery clinics are increasing recently, too, and it becomes easy to have a consultation. Since cancer often progresses after symptoms thought to be breast cancer appear, it is important to receive regular breast cancer screening and to detect and treat it at an early stage.

What tests are done for breast cancer?

Conduct a physical examination, examination, palpation and mammography examination, and ultrasound examination. Breast cancer is a cancer that can be found even through self-checks.

Questionnaire/Inspection/Promotion

What does the questionnaire, examination, and palpation do?

The questionnaire answers questions such as menstrual status such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy, delivery, and lactation history, and a history of cancer in the family.

The examination observes the presence or absence of depressions in the breast, the difference in shape between the left and right, and the presence or absence of secretions from the nipples.

For palpation, check the presence, size, and hardness of lumps by touching under the armpits in the breast.

mammography inspection

What is a mammography test?

Mammography is a breast-only X-ray examination. The breast is placed flat with two boards and pressed to take a picture. This is a test done to check for lesions or spread of the breast. It helps to find small lesions that are difficult to find on examination or palpation, or small calcifications that are difficult to find with ultrasound. In high-density breasts where the overall breast appears white, the lesions that appear equally white are hidden and may be difficult to find.

ultrasound examination

What is an ultrasound scan?

This is a test that uses an ultrasound-generating device against the surface of the breast to check it with an image. Ultrasonography checks for lesions within the breast, the detailed condition and size of the lump, and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes under the armpit. Because the mammary glands appear white and most breast cancers are black, ultrasound examination is sometimes useful for high-density breasts that are difficult to determine by mammography. Ultrasound examination can be performed even during pregnancy because there is no concern about exposure to radiation.

What is breast cancer self-check?

How do I self-check?

Breast cancer is one of the cancers you can find on your own. Make it a habit to check the shape of your breasts, check the difference between the left and right sides, check the core, etc. when taking a bath or changing clothes on a daily basis. The self-check method is as follows.

1. Raise and lower your arms in front of the mirror, and visually check if there are any abnormalities such as polka dots.
2. Lie on your back and place your four fingers together and lightly press with your fingers to touch the breast evenly and check if there are lumps.
3. Get up and check if there is a lump under the armpit and check if the secretions are not coming out by picking up the nipple.

Breast cancer sex and age differences

Is there a sex difference or age difference in breast cancer?

In 2018, a total of 94,519 cases were diagnosed with breast cancer, including 661 men and 93858 women. It is the overwhelming majority of cancer in women, but it also occurs in men. In 2018, breast cancer ranked first in the number of cancer patients by region in women. When looking at the morbidity by age group, the morbidity rate is increasing in the age group between 40 and 70 years of age.

How to treat breast cancer

What are the treatment options for breast cancer?

The basis of breast cancer treatment is to remove the cancer by surgery. In addition to surgery, there are drug therapy and radiation therapy. The type of treatment is decided in consideration of the condition of cancer, physical condition, age, and associated diseases. In some cases, a combination of several treatments is used. Hospitalization for surgery varies depending on the type of surgery and post-operative progress, but is generally within 1 week. After discharge from the hospital, the condition of the wound and future treatment policy are checked at an outpatient clinic. In some cases, radiation therapy or drug therapy may be continued over time. Radiation therapy is usually given five times a week. The duration varies depending on the cancer condition or the purpose of treatment, and treatment may be continued for 6-8 weeks or if it is completed only once. In drug therapy, the drug and method of use suitable for the individual are selected. After surgery, hormone therapy lasts 5 to 10 years. If you wish to take commercially available medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist in advance as it may have an effect on drug therapy.

organize

Breast cancer is one of the cancers in women.

It is the most common cancer. In addition to genetic factors, age, menarche and menopause, birth experience, and obesity are also related. It is also important to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet, moderate exercise, and establish a lifestyle so as not to become obese.