Breast cancer

Breast Cancer European Portuguese or Brazilian Portuguese breast cancer is cancer of breast tissue. Worldwide, it is the most common form of cancer in women - affecting, at some point in their lives, approximately one in Deco one in thirteen women who reach the ninety years in the Western world. It is the second leading cause of fatal cancer in women (after lung cancer), and the number of cases has grown significantly since 1970, a phenomenon partly blamed for the modern lifestyle of the western world. Once the breast is composed of identical tissues in men and women, breast cancer also occurs in men, although these cases are less than 1% of diagnoses.

Treatment
 Breast cancer has various possible forms of treatment according to the type of tumor and the stage of the disease, which distinguishes it from tumors of other organs, which unfortunately few therapeutic weapons to respond. These various options will be presented to you by your doctor in order to elucidate it and be able to opt in situations involving treatment choice, as in the case of so-called conservative surgery (keeping the breast). We therefore various weapons for the treatment of breast cancer, such as surgery and, within this, the Modified Radical Mastectomy and Lumpectomy, Radiation therapy to the Hormone and Chemotherapy. Other forms of treatment are currently being developed, although still at the experimental field. These various forms of treatment can be used "per se" or, more commonly, in association, so as to be able to achieve a greater chance of healing. With the advent of new forms of therapy for breast cancer, are on their way to a treatment individualized for each breast cancer, since there are multiple factors that may differ between patients.
The process of therapy for breast cancer is a staged process in accordance with the information that we have obtained. So when making your aspiration cytology of a nodule will have access to information such malignant / benign (and possibly one or more other information) that will give us information in order to move to a proper staging. In cases of malignant cytology tests may be ordered intended to exclude the presence of metastases in other organs such as the liver, lungs and bones, basically. According to the dimensions of the tumor with the presence clinically and radiographically disease in lymph armpit or the distance (liver, bone, lung) as well as factors related to the characteristics of the nuclei of tumor cells and even of their possible subtype will be presented to the initial patient treatment options. After curative resection of the tumor and axillary lymph any of these are sent to complete analysis, based on which to take the final decisions, there may be a need to readjust therapy. They will also be given so that the cases will have to perform additional therapeutic.
Surgery - It is one of the forms of treatment available. It is considered the primary treatment for breast cancer. Usually take place modified radical mastectomy (excision of breast tissue and skin, keeping the underlying muscles and ganglia excision of the axilla) or Lumpectomy (tumor excision with a safety margin of healthy tissue, around the same, and as possible excision of axillary lymph nodes). The Mastectomy Radical Classical (unmodified), only very rarely be used. Depending mainly on the type of tumor and the stage of your disease senologista can tell you that you can make a breast conserving surgery (Lumpectomy). Accompanying this Lumpectomy will in almost all cases, the breast radiotherapy. Knows that, in this case chosen to be equal to the survival of patients who excises the entire breast (lumpectomy), although the risk of re-occurrence of disease in the breast is slightly larger, no influence, however, their survival. As stated above, are usually removed lymph nodes in the armpit, in order to better diagnose the extent of disease and thus decide if any further treatment. Also, in some cases fewer nowadays may be proposed call surgical castration (removal of the ovaries) in order to be able to better control certain types of breast cancer, who are dependent on hormones produced by the ovaries in premenopausal women.
Radiation therapy - is usually a complementary therapy to another and only rarely will be used "per se". Involves the application of localized radiation to the affected areas, unlike Chemotherapy Hormone and affecting all body cells. This is based on the principle that high doses of radiation can destroy the ability of cells to grow and multiply. Both normal and malignant cells are affected, normal cells having the ability to regenerate, while malignancies are permanently assigned, not regenerating. It's a painless process, with few side effects (some fatigue and a possible transient darkening of irradiated skin) and can be performed on an outpatient basis, so no need for hospitalization. May be initiated 3 weeks after surgery. It is applied daily from 2nd to 6th Fair for periods of time that vary depending on the desired effect (eg 6 weeks). Will usually carried out a simulation of necessity markings and creating the computer model that will be used in the sessions. We should not miss the sessions previously marked as successful treatment may depend on the frequency of sessions.
Hormone - Depending on the type of tumor may be necessary to add anti-hormonal treatment. Hormone therapy is based on the fact that some tumor types require the female hormone (estrogen and progesterone) to grow. Thus we can use drugs that lower levels of female hormones and so shall we fight tumor growth. Not all tumor types are amenable this treatment. Through an analysis performed to tumor tissue can be detected characteristic of this tumor. This treatment nowadays is conducted with tamoxifen (anti-estrogen) at a dose of 20 mg / day during 5 years routinely. There are other drugs under study (particularly Raloxifene) but whose application to breast cancer is not yet fully established. Side effects may exist as menopausal symptoms in pre-menopausal women as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and menstrual abnormalities. It may also increase the risk of cancer of the endometrium (uterine tumor), so you should regularly (6/6 months) perform ultrasound scans. Note that this risk is relatively small compared to the benefit it will obtain with regard to breast disease. Despite periods vary with the use of tamoxifen, can become pregnant, so that additional measures must be taken for anti-conception (never called pill, since it contains hormones which the combat are Tamoxifen). Another side effect, this most beneficial is the reduction of blood cholesterol and preventing osteoporosis.
Chemotherapy - Unlike surgery and radiotherapy, which are locoregional treatments, this is a form of systemic treatment, affecting the whole body and not just a restricted area. The basic idea is to kill cells that may already have reached the bloodstream and passed to target organs such as the liver, lungs or bones. This therapy may be advised in accordance with evidence of distant disease or even without this evidence, in this case according to certain factors present in the tumor or the actual patient, such as age. As a general rule should be more aggressive in terms of treatment in younger women.
Chemotherapy acts by inhibiting the multiplication of tumor cells or inhibition of repair mechanisms of these cells. Usually consists of the combination of several drugs that can be used a single drug. It is usually administered intravenously in cycles interspersed with one another 3-4 weeks, a total of 4 to 8 cycles depending on the drugs used and response.
Can be used as initial therapy usually in cases of advanced disease or in cases where one wants to reduce the size of the tumor in order to make a breast conserving surgery. In most cases it is used as adjunctive therapy to surgical procedures in accordance with various factors indicators of their need.
By infamous side effects that usually accompany it (any nausea, vomiting, hair loss, etc..), Is a key part in the treatment of breast cancer. As will be "created" new cytostatic drugs, it is becoming increasingly evident that this therapy will be part of the treatment of breast cancer, as are being obtained cases of complete remissions with some drugs, in some cases.
When you get closer to the origin and cause of breast cancers, as well as the particular characteristics of each, we will move towards individualized therapy, case by case.
The future therapy of breast cancer will therefore increasingly by drugs, which are progressively less toxic, with fewer side effects, replacing gradually surgery this field, while no primary prophylaxis or eventual vaccine.
Other
Do not correspond to actual treatment of breast cancer, but at times may be presented as such. Here are enumerated in order to demystify some current data and some pre-conceived ideas.
Diet - There is still much controversy about the involvement of diet in breast cancer. As a general rule, one should keep the call balanced diet. You should avoid excessive consumption of fats and tobacco use, as measures of a general nature and not specific measures to combat breast cancer.
Vitamins and trace elements - the intake of vitamins, especially vitamins A, C and E, anti-oxidants as they are, may be important in patients receiving chemotherapy in order to facilitate the neutralization of some toxic metabolites. Selenium and Copper may also be used. However, the results of these substances are to be demonstrated. The preparations of shark cartilage has no influence on the course of disease according to studies conducted in the U.S.
Acupuncture - can serve to analgesia or to fight nausea or vomiting. Has no influence on the course of disease, possibly only on the quality of life.
 Homeopathy - No influence proved in the course of the disease.
Mood - It is normal some degree of depression in the face of newly discovered disease or face the various therapies. You have to make the so-called "fight breast", a situation that usually involves depression often fleeting. What can no longer be considered normal will maintain this state of depression since the stimulus passed "evil." It must therefore be out of this situation and face life with hope and positive thinking. Know that patients who remain depressed have lower survival rates, according to several studies. Make your life as normal as possible and try to laugh as much as possible, since that laughter causes the release of certain chemicals in the body that can help fight pain, p. ex.
Prevention
Impossible to avoid, all our actions are centralized in its prevention, diagnosis increasingly early and new forms of treatments.
To prevent breast cancer, it is necessary to know their risk factors. These factors should be known to users
Not all of these risk factors are likely to change but many of them are possible to avoid contributing to the prevention of this disease.
Known risk factors, it is for doctors (GPs and gynecologists) annually conduct clinical observation with anamnesis, inspection and palpation of the breast.
They must decide whether the diagnostic exams whose choice should be made based on age and the reality of clinical abnormalities observed.
These exams are the "key" Senology diagnostic mammography and has a key role here.
The whole breast pathology based on a mammography. Hence the need that this is high quality and which is properly performed.
There are several but mammograms, digital mammography directly in entire field as that which we possess, is undoubtedly a valuable aid in the observation of small details, particularly in dense breasts, which will allow us to make a proper diagnosis.

The diagnosis of lesions of the breast should always be a "diagnosis combined."

10 ways to prevent breast cancer
Preventing breast cancer is also in our hands. And, the best way to do this is through some care. Here are a lot of advice, we can help reduce the risk of developing a tumor in the chest.

One. Staying active is important ... avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Performing a physical activity between 35 minutes and an hour a day decreases the risk of breast cancer.

2nd. Outdoor exercise. It is better to practice a physical activity outdoors because vitamin D is acquired by exposing yourself to the sun in moderation, is very beneficial in terms of prevention of breast cancer.

3rd. Say goodbye to fat. Empower foods with fewer fats: it is important to avoid the consumption of animal fats (red meats, eggs, butter, sausages).

4th. Beware quantities. Fatty foods should not be more than 25% -30% of the calories in our diet.

5th. The fiber. The consumption of foods rich in fiber as well as those rich in vitamin A, C and E, help protect our body.
6th. Allies of our food. If we include in our diet foods like brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, have extra protection, since they have a protective effect against cancer by sulforaphane in your component, the component that strengthens the cells that help fight tumors.

7th. Avoid drinking. The recent studies have revealed that an average of 3 to 6 cups per week, up to 15% can increase the probability of having a tumor, the percentage of risk rises to 51% if the consumption (cups) is diary.

Eight. Breastfeeding also helps. To breastfeed your baby helps protect against breast cancer. It should breastfeed their babies for at least 6 months and is highly recommended to do so for at least a year. There are many studies that prove that there is a relationship between breastfeeding of babies and reduce the risk factors of suffering from breast cancer.

9th. Beware of contraceptives. It is important to control the use of hormonal contraceptives anti, since some studies establish a link between their consumption and the development of a discrete relative risk of having breast cancer. In this sense, it is recognized as a risk factor prolonged consumption of hormonal contraceptives anti (more than 5 years in women under 40 years).

10. Hormonal treatments. It is important to take special care with treatments hormone replacement during menopause. Generally, there is a long quiet period between the initiation phase of breast cancer and the appearance of symptoms. Look for preventive screenings to detect cancer at this stage, that is, when it is easier to treat successfully.