Breast cancer - Symptoms, Causes, Cure, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast cancer

The very thought of breast cancer strikes terror into most women. Any lump that is irregular in size, shape and consistency needs further investigation. Often a small piece of tissue will be removed under anaesthetic and the tissue analysed in the laboratory.

Prevention of Breast cancer

In the UK the government has funded a national screening service, offered to all women between the ages of 50-64. Many women fail to be screened by mammography for many reasons: ‘It hurts' (it is uncomfortable but a very small price to pay to pick up a cancer when it is curable); ‘I don't want to know' (not knowing won't make it go away but knowing may put you in a position to save your life and lots of suffering); and ‘I don't need to go as cancer doesn't run in the family' (you may be the first).

Self-examination of the breasts is very important. Your practice nurse or doctor will show you how to do this and helpful leaflets are available. Ideally, check your breasts once a month.

Treatment for breast cancer

•  The earlier a lump is found, in general, the more likely the treatment is to be successful. This is why it is essential to seek medical advice as soon as possible when any lump is found in the breast. Treatment may involve simply removing the lump with a small operation. Removing the breast (particularly if there is a large lump, or more than one, or if it is difficult to be sure that the whole lump has been removed) and sometimes removing the lymph nodes up into the armpit may be advised. Nowadays, in some cases, reconstruction of a new breast, using tissue from the back, is done at the same time as surgery or shortly after.

•  Some patients will need the lump removed and/or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is very carefully planned to do maximum damage to cancerous cells and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. This usually means daily visits over several weeks so that short, sharp bursts of radiation are given, and so that side-effects may be minimal. Sometimes there will be redness or nausea but generally radiotherapy is not too distressing.

•  With some cancers of particular types, or if it has spread outside the breast, chemotherapy will be needed, usually with surgery and maybe radiotherapy, too. This to enable the maximum chance of obliterating all the cancer cells from the body before they do damage elsewhere. Chemotherapy involves giving toxic medicines to try to kill the cancer cells. Almost inevitably there are some effects on the normal cells of the body. Side-effects maybe minimal or very severe and distressing. Hair loss, nausea and generally feeling unwell are not uncommon. However, no doctor will suggest this treatment unless it is necessary and offers a considerable chance of helping beat the disease.

•  Diet may be helpful with breast cancer and suggestions include eating lots of broccoli, cabbage, beans, soya, oily fish, wheat bran and tomatoes.

•  Being of strong and determined mind has always been thought to increase the chances of recovering from breast cancer. The cancer clinic in Bristol pioneered this idea and has been very successful in helping many people.

•  Right fresh fruit and vegetables contain anti-oxidants that counteract free radicals, which damage cells. Pulses and whole grains are high in fibre, helping to move food though the bowel so that toxins are not absorbed.

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