Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women. This year, nearly 213,000 women and 1,700 men, yes, men, will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer can often be cured and 80 percent of all patients with a breast cancer diagnosis will be disease free 10 years after their diagnosis.
More then 75 percent of the women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50. A family history of breast cancer in your mother or sister also plays a big part in a woman’s chance of developing cancer.
By the age of 40 women should begin to have regular mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer your doctor may send you for earlier screening mammograms. If your mammogram is abnormal and shows a lump your physician will do a biopsy to remove a bit of tissue to see if it is cancerous.
The main treatment for breast cancer is surgery, which is often followed by radiation therapy. The surgeon may perform a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy removes just the lump. Your doctor may also remove some surrounding lymph nodes to check them for breast cancer cells. Some patients will need chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells that may have traveled elsewhere in the body. Hormonal therapy may also be prescribed by a medical oncologist to counter the effects of hormones that may be helping the tumor grow.
Radiation therapy is a painless treatment that is delivered in a series of treatments given five days a week. A radiation oncologist oversees the treatments. The radiation only treats the breast that has been diagnosed with cancer.
Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue, skin irritation that is similar to moderate sunburn, and mild to moderate swelling. These side effects are temporary and easily treated.
If you notice a lump in the breast or underarm you should have it checked by your doctor. Some other signs of cancer are swelling of the breast, skin discoloration, dimpling of the breast and any discharge from your nipple. If you have a family history of breast cancer you should discuss it with your doctor. Remember that breast cancer can be beat if caught early. Any specific concerns you have should be discussed with your physician.
For more information of if you have any questions, please call us at Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center 661-288-5965, or come by and access our Cancer Education Center with free use of a computer with internet access located at 26357 McBean Parkway, Suite 150.