Breast cancer in the early stages now well treated. Mammologists doing their utmost to bring this fact to the attention of all women. In order to detect cancer at an early stage, it is required to conduct a survey on a regular basis - the only way to avoid the tragedy, because in the later stages, the cancer is more difficult to treat.

The incidence and detection of breast cancer

The increased incidence of breast cancer is celebrated today throughout the world. Unfortunately, the detection of breast cancer in the early stages is still insufficient. More than half of the cases, women seek help, having already advanced stage of cancer. This is very disappointing, as identified in the early stages of breast cancer can be cured almost completely, while the advanced stages of cancer are treated with difficulty.

In this regard, the issue of detection of breast cancer in the early stages is very serious. Carry out preventive examinations of women in enterprises, explains the importance of regular visits to the doctor for preventive purposes, methods used skrinningovye (allowing to identify the disease among a large number of women by "screening"), detection of breast cancer. Such diagnostic methods other than medical examination includes ultrasound (US) and X-ray (mammogram) methods. Breast ultrasound recommended annually for women to 40 years, mammography - after 40 years.

The causes of breast cancer

The causes of breast cancer are not definitively established, but experts are known factors that predispose to the development of this disease.

First of all, it's family history - breast cancer in close relatives (identified a gene responsible for the development of breast cancer), hormonal disorders Hormonal disorders: causes and the most frequent disease , Long flowing inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, abortion, injuries and diseases of the breast (including mastitis Breast when breast hurts   and benign tumors), stress, smoking and alcohol abuse, a sedentary lifestyle, eating disorders.

Preventing breast cancer today is based on reducing the impact of these factors and early detection of precancerous diseases.

Classification of Breast Cancer

In accordance with the international system TNM, in the diagnosis of breast cancer affects the magnitude and extent of the primary breast tumor (the letter T - 7 divisions), the state of the regional lymph nodes (the letter N - has 5 subsections) and the presence of distant metastasis (the letter M - 3 sub-section) .

There are also the following stage breast cancer:

• Stage 0 breast cancer - preinvasive cancer (cancer in situ - carcinoma in situ), in which the tumor is a cluster of malignant transformed cells, bred in the breast tissue or ducts, and do not penetrate the surrounding tissue;
• Stage I - formation of tumors up to 2 cm in diameter, which does not extend to the surrounding tissue and prevents metastasis;
• Stage II is divided into stages IIA and IIB; Stage IIa - the tumor is less than 2 cm in diameter, have metastasized 1-3 axillary lymph node or tumor up to 5 cm without metastases in the axillary lymph nodes; Stage IIb - swelling up to 5 cm in diameter with metastases in 1-3 axillary lymph nodes, or more than 5 cm in diameter without lymph node metastases;
• Stage III stage lasts - IIIA and IIIB; Stage IIIA - the tumor less than 5 cm in diameter, plus metastases in 4-9 axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes in the chest cavity on the same side where the tumor; Stage IIIB - the cancer has grown and reached the front of the skin or chest wall, as well as cancer as mastitis Mastitis - what to do with the inflammation of the breast? ;
• Stage IV - tumor metastasis in distant organs.

How can I find breast cancer

It is often asymptomatic breast cancer, which is why women are often too late to seek medical help. The doctor at the examination can detect a tumor of uncertain form, merged with the surrounding tissues, dense, painless. In identifying such tumors woman appointed additional tests: ultrasound, mammography, ductography (X-ray of the breast and its ducts). If necessary, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and aspiration biopsy (by puncture of the tumor cells are taken out of it on research).

How is breast cancer

In breast cancer treatment is prescribed, which depends on the stage of the disease. In the early stages, treatment is initiated with removal of the tumor, if necessary, is coupled chemo - or radiation therapy. Even at an early stage during the operation attempt to remove all tissue which could be cancer cells, i.e. remove all breast (mastectomy) and surrounding (usually axillary, but sometimes more, depending on the location of the tumor) lymph nodes. In the later stages of surgical treatment is carried out not always to suppress tumor growth often chemotherapy.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the stage, which was diagnosed and treated breast cancer.

Galina Romanenko

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