BREAST
CANCER
INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men.Breast cancer usually begins with the formation of a small, confined tumor (lump), or as calcium deposits (microcalcifications) and then spreads through channels within the breast to the lymph nodes or through the blood stream to other organs. The tumor may grow and invade tissue around the breast, such as the skin or chest wall. Different types of breast cancer grow and spread at different rates -- some take years to spread beyond the breast while others grow and spread quickly.
Some lumps are benign (not cancerous), however these can be premalignant. The only safe way to distinguish between a benign lump and cancer is to have the tissue examined by a doctor through a biopsy
Prognosis
1) To rid the body of the cancer as completely as possible.
2) To prevent cancer from returning.
Local treatments are used to remove or destroy the disease within the breast and surrounding regions, such as lymph nodes. These include:
You may have just one form of breast cancer treatment or a combination of treatments, depending on your needs.
ROLE OF PHARMACIST
INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men.Breast cancer usually begins with the formation of a small, confined tumor (lump), or as calcium deposits (microcalcifications) and then spreads through channels within the breast to the lymph nodes or through the blood stream to other organs. The tumor may grow and invade tissue around the breast, such as the skin or chest wall. Different types of breast cancer grow and spread at different rates -- some take years to spread beyond the breast while others grow and spread quickly.
Some lumps are benign (not cancerous), however these can be premalignant. The only safe way to distinguish between a benign lump and cancer is to have the tissue examined by a doctor through a biopsy
Men can get breast cancer, too, but they account for one percent of all breast cancer cases. Breast cancer in men is uncommon. This is possibly due to their smaller amount of breast tissue and the fact that men produce less hormones such as estrogen that are known to affect breast cancers in women
Among women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer.
Prognosis
Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know the main risk factors. Among the most significant factors are advancing age and a family history of breast cancer.
A link between breast cancer and hormones is gradually becoming clearer. Researchers think that the greater a woman's exposure to the hormone estrogen, the more susceptible she is to breast cancer.
The link between diet and breast cancer is debated. Obesity is a noteworthy risk factor, and drinking alcohol regularly
Symptoms & Types
Breast lumps aren’t the only
possible sign of breast cancer, and most breast lumps aren’t cancerous.
In its early stages, breast cancer usually has no symptoms. As a tumor
develops, you may note the following signs:- A lump in the breast or underarm that persists after your menstrual cycle. This is often the first apparent symptom of breast cancer. Lumps associated with breast cancer are usually painless, although some may cause a prickly sensation. Lumps are usually visible on a mammogram long before they can be seen or felt.
- Swelling in the armpit.
- Pain or tenderness in the breast. Although lumps are usually painless,pain or tenderness can be a sign of breast cancer.
- A noticeable flattening or indentation on the breast, which may indicate a tumor that cannot be seen or felt.
- Any change in the size, contour, texture, or temperature of the breast. A reddish, pitted surface like the skin of an orange could be a sign of advanced breast cancer.
- A change in the nipple, such as a nipple retraction, dimpling, itching, a burning sensation, or ulceration. A scaly rash of the nipple is symptomatic of Paget's disease, which may be associated with an underlying breast cancer.
- Unusual discharge from the nipple that may be clear, bloody, or another color. It's usually caused by benign conditions but could be due to cancer in some cases.
- A marble-like area under the skin.
- An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.
Diagnosis
The earlier breast cancer is
detected, the better it may be for the patient’s long-term health. Get a brief
overview of the tests that can help detect breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Screening:
For women at normal risk of breast
cancer, self-exams, clinical exams, and mammography starting at 40 may screen
for breast cancer. Abnormal results or high-risk women may need earlier
screening or additional tests.
Tests
Do you do regular breast self-exams?
While some cancers are too tiny to feel, and most lumps aren’t cancer,
self-exams are a proactive way to help take care of yourself.
A clinical breast exam is a breast
exam performed by a health care professional. It’s a basic part of women’s
check-ups, starting at age 20.
A mammogram is a special type of
X-ray taken to look for abnormal growths or changes in breast tissue. It’s a
key tool in breast cancer detection, though no test is perfect.
Most abnormal mammogram results
aren’t breast cancer. But more testing is needed to make sure. The bottom line:
Don’t panic, but do get the follow-up tests.
Do you find mammograms
uncomfortable? Don’t skip the test; just learn how to handle it better.
Doctors sometimes use ultrasound
images to check whether a breast lump is a cyst (a fluid-filled sac that is not
cancer) or a solid mass.
MRI stands for magnetic resonance
imaging.
When doctors perform a biopsy, they
remove cells from a suspicious mass to see if it’s cancer.
This type of breast biopsy generally
uses a needle, not surgery.
In a sentinal node biopsy, doctors
check a few lymph nodes under the arm to see if cancer has spread into the lymph
system.
Ductal lavage checks cells from the
milk ducts for precancerous cells.
Treatment
There are two major goals of breast
cancer treatment:1) To rid the body of the cancer as completely as possible.
2) To prevent cancer from returning.
How Is the Type of Breast Cancer Treatment Determined?
The type of breast cancer treatment recommended for you will depend on the size of your tumor, the extent of disease in your lymph nodes and/or throughout your body (the stage), and the presence of the HER2 oncogene and endocrine receptors (estrogen and progesterone receptors). Age, menstrual status, underlying health issues, and personal preferences play a role in this decision making process as well.What Are the Types of Breast Cancer Treatment?
Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.Local treatments are used to remove or destroy the disease within the breast and surrounding regions, such as lymph nodes. These include:
- Surgery, either mastectomy or lumpectomy -- also called breast-conserving therapy. There are different types of mastectomies and lumpectomies.
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Side effects can include nausea, hair loss, early menopause, hot flashes, fatigue, and temporarily lowered blood counts.
- estrogen, from promoting the growth of breast cancer cells that may remain after breast cancer surgery. Side effects can include hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- Biological Therapy such as Herceptin, Perjeta, or Tykerb, which work by using the body's immune system to destroy cancer cells. These drugs target breast cancer cells that have high levels of a protein called HER2.
You may have just one form of breast cancer treatment or a combination of treatments, depending on your needs.
ROLE OF PHARMACIST
Pharmacists may want to encourage patients to talk about
their treatment and side effects. Someone outside the family is the individual
to whom they will likely tell the real truth. Patients are busy putting up a
front to ease the distress of their family and close friends. Pharmacists are
in an ideal position to encourage them to get problems out for discussion.
Pharmacists also can reassure their cancer patients that they have or will order any medication the patients need. In addition, patients can benefit from knowing they can depend on their pharmacist when they need to ask medical questions; often they feel they are imposing on their physician’s time if they ask during their appointments. Pharmacists should be ready with knowledgeable information
Pharmacists also can reassure their cancer patients that they have or will order any medication the patients need. In addition, patients can benefit from knowing they can depend on their pharmacist when they need to ask medical questions; often they feel they are imposing on their physician’s time if they ask during their appointments. Pharmacists should be ready with knowledgeable information
Pharmacists should always encourage their cancer patients to
be treated by an oncologist as their primary physician. This is a time when no
one but the most well-trained will do. When every decision can be a matter of
life and death, it is necessary to have a physician who spends all day, every
day, working with this disease state. An oncologist can help the patient make
the best decisions.
Pharmacists can also help patients find the best treatment centers in their area. Institutions with the highest certification offered by NIH (National Institutes of Health) are known as comprehensive cancer centers.
Pharmacists can also help patients find the best treatment centers in their area. Institutions with the highest certification offered by NIH (National Institutes of Health) are known as comprehensive cancer centers.
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