Risks, Warning Signs and Treatment Options For Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Sadly, approximations show that 1 in 8 U.S. women (roughly 12-percent) will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. In the year 2019 alone, 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in women within the country. Duly, A man’s lifetime risk of potentially being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 883.
Sadly, 85-percent of cases happen with women who have no family history of breast cancer. Age and gender are two of the primary reasons for this being the case.
This piece will look at treatment options for breast cancer — along with everything else one must know when dealing with the situation.
Risk Factors
Aside from age and gender, there are a number of factors which could contribute to an individual being diagnosed with breast cancer. As is the case with all cancers, a poor diet (high in fat) could increase one’s likelihood in getting breast cancer. Eating items with immunity-boosting properties are best for combating the disease down the line.
The frequent consumption of alcohol increases the risk of a diagnosis. The DNA in one’s cells is said to be compromised by the presence of alcohol. Compared to women who don’t drink, women who have three drinks a week have a 15-percent higher chance of getting breast cancer.
Lastly, those who smoke have greater links to breast cancer. In fact, those who are around constant second-hand smoke exposure also run the risk of being compromised.
Treatment Options
Upon being diagnosed, patients must work alongside doctors to come up with a personalized plan of attack. This should also include getting a second opinion just in case.
Some doctors will ask patients to undergo Chemotherapy (orally or injected drugs used to treat/kill cancer cells). These sessions could occur multiple times a week depending upon the severity of the disease. Some of the side effects associated with Chemotherapy include hair loss, fatigue, vomiting, weight changes, and nausea (among other things).
There are a number of other therapy options available as well — including targeted therapy (medicines are used to prompt the body’s immune system to destroy the cancer cells with high levels of certain proteins, ie. the HER2 protein), radiation therapy (high-energy waves to kill cancer cells), and hormonal therapy (utilizes drugs to prevent hormones, especially estrogen, from fueling cancer growth). It may be as simple as doctors prescribing some sort of medication in order to combat symptoms. However in more severe cases, this may not always be the case.
In more severe cases, surgery can occur. A lumpectomy involves removing the tumor itself, along with smaller amounts of the tissue surrounding the impacted region. A mastectomy is a step further, as all of the breast tissue will be taken out.
Duly, women and men may be subject to lymph node removal surgery, as well as complete breast reconstruction. In more experimental situations, cryotherapy is used (when exceptionally cold conditions are aiming to freeze and kill cancer cells).
In addition to the treatments above, there are alternative treatments that help to alleviate symptoms (pain and swelling for example). These include acupuncture, massage, vitamin d, anti-inflammatory rich herbs and spices, and high fiber diets.
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