BREAST CANCER

BREAST CANCER Signs & Symptoms

• Painless lump in the Breast after the age of 40 yrs.
• Below 40 years of age painless lump can be Cancerous or non Cancerous.
• Elderly women having painless lump is generally Malignant.
• Painful lumps are generally non malignant.
• Retraction of Nipple.
• Ulceration of skin overlying Breast lump.
• Peu D Orange appearance (orange peel like) of skin overlying lump.
• Exzema of Nipple areolar complex.
• Swelling in armpit or supra clavicular region.

RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER

• Early Menarche and late Menopause.
• First childbirth after the age of 35 years.
• Nulliparity.
• Diet rich in saturated fats, fast foods, less of fruits and green leafy vegetables.
• Physical inactivity.
• Post menopausal Abdominal obesity.
• BRCA1 & BRCA2 gene mutation.
• Radiation exposure.
   

BREAST CANCER SCREENING

• Screening is the modality that is used to detect cancer in asymptomatic individuals.
• Screening in Breast cancer is done after the age of 40 years.
• Mammography is done every 2 yearly after the age of 40 years till 70 years.
• In high risk individuals with strong family history and those with mutated BRCA1&2 mutation screening is done earlier preferably from 25 years of age.
• Benefits of screening is detection of Breast cancer at an early stage where patient cane be cured.