Breast cancer (the most frequent form of cancer) is a malignant disease of the breast gland. Annually, it is diagnosed in several million women all over the world. It is the second most frequent cause of death from malignant disease in women. Its incidence increases with age. Most women are diagnosed after the age of fifty, but young women are also at risk. As this malignant tumour is relatively rare in young women, it is often diagnosed late and early on may be misdiagnosed as a benign tumour or another more probable disease of the breast. . In the vast majority of cases, breast cancer is a female affliction, but this does not mean that men are spared. They are affected in one percent of cases.
Symptoms
In the early phases of the disease, breast cancer need not have any symptoms. Later on, it most frequently presents as a palpable mass of various size in the breast or its vicinity. The tumour may deform the shape of the breast and change its outline. It often causes changes in the appearance, consistence and sensitivity of the breast. Some types of tumours may also present as a milky white or bloody discharge from the nipple. Changes may also affect the skin. The regions above the tumour may be reddish and wrinkled. Once the tumour extends, lymph nodes in the armpits become palpable along with the mass in the breast. Further symptoms may appear, reflecting distant metastases in the liver, bones or brain.
Causes
Malignant transformation of cells arises when several various adverse conditions act concomitantly. In the case of breast cancer, genetic predispositions, hormonal effects and the influence of diet play a predominant role. The incidence of breast cancer in a family increases the risk of the disease in other female relatives. Those at greatest risk are the mother, sisters or daughters. Two genes, for example, are responsible for the development of breast cancer. These are called BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, and their presence increases the probability of developing breast cancer very significantly.
Prevention
In the hands of a specialist, the drug tamoxifen may decrease the risk of developing breast cancer in women with a genetic predisposition by as much as 50%. One tablet daily is taken for the duration of five years and the protective effect lasts for the rest of the patient’s life. Its useful side effect is the preservation of bone density (prevention of osteoporosis). It’s certain negative effects include an increased risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism and endometrial carcinoma. In view of these adverse effects, tamoxifen may be administered by a physician only in cases where the risk of breast cancer greatly exceeds that associated with the drug’s side effects.
Treatment
Treatment of breast cancer depends on many circumstances. Before initiating treatment, the physician takes into consideration the type of tumour, its responsiveness to hormones, the size of the tumour mass, the extension of the tumour, patient age and general state of health.
Several basic methods are applied in treatment of breast cancer. In some cases a combination of these is also suitable. The gaol of surgical treatment is the complete excision of the tumour along with a section of healthy tissue. The procedure involves the removal of a section of the tissue along with the tumour, or the removal of the whole breast along with the regional lymph nodes. This reduces the risk of late relapse.
How can GenScan reveal the risk of developing breast cancer?
GenScan analysis reveals the most serious mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as serious mutations in genes responsible for the correct repair of damaged DNA that lead to the development of breast cancer. If a risk of developing breast cancer is uncovered, the physician will inform the client about the need for more frequent preventive examinations and for other preventive measure.