My mum is diagnosed with breast cancer

I am devastated at the moment as my mum has been diagnosed of breast cancer. It has shattered our family. Kindly use your weekly column to share information about this problem. Prudence V. Thanks Prudence for your question and wishing your mum speedy management and recovery. Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers […]

I am devastated at the moment as my mum has been diagnosed of breast cancer. It has shattered our family. Kindly use your weekly column to share information about this problem.

Prudence V.

Thanks Prudence for your question and wishing your mum speedy management and recovery. Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers facing women today. Unfortunately, many women are still unfamiliar with the basic facts about breast cancer. Breast cancer in a simple language, is a disease that causes the cells inside the breast to grow too rapidly.

Though women are more likely to develop the disease, men can also suffer from male breast cancer. Everyone is at risk for developing breast cancer, however, there are certain factors that can increase ones risk:

1. 1. Being a female and aging (risk of breast cancer rises after the age of 40)
2. 2. Having a personal history of breast cancer and having a family history of breast cancer
3. 3. Experiencing changes in breast shape, size, or density
4. 4. Experiencing early menarche or late menopause ( first menses or secession  of menses respectively )
5. 5. Being overweight or obese

Unfortunately, breast cancer usually doesn’t present any symptoms until the latter stages of the disease. At this point, the cancer has usually progressed, making treatment and recovery more difficult.

Some common signs of breast cancer include:

1. 1. A change in the shape or size of the breast
2. 2. A change in the texture or color of the breast skin
3. 3. Nipple discharge and presence of a hard lump in the breast or underneath the underarm

The  complications of breast cancer include:

1. 1. Cachexia (severe loss of weight )
2. 2. Cerebral metastases (cancer cells spread to the brain)
3. 3. Lymphangitis (inflammation of lymph nodes) and breast lump
4. 4. Lung metastases (cancer cells spread to lung tissue)
5. 5. Brachial plexus neuropathy (diseased nerves that supply the arm)
6. 6. Back pain and bone pain
7. 7. Liver metastases (cancer cells spread to the liver)
8. 8. Bone metastases (cancer cells spread to the bone)
9. 9. Renal metastases (cancer cells spread to the kidney )
10. 1 Mastalgia (breast pain)
11. 1 Pleural effusion (fluid collection within the protective layers that cover the lungs)
12. 1 Lymphadenopathy (diseased lymph nodes)
13. 1 Anaemia (decrease blood level) and  nipple discharge

Steps for good management

1. 1. Women are encouraged to be doing self-examination.
2. 2. Referral from primary center to specialist care if breast cancer is suspected.
3. 3. Assessment of breast abnormality through clinical examination, imaging, and sampling the lesion for cytological/histological assessment (observation under microscope)

What are the treatment and management options?

Surgery: The aims of breast cancer surgery

1. 1. To achieve cure if excised before metastatic (spread to other parts of the body)
2. 2. To prevent unpleasant sequelae of local recurrence

Surgical options are as follows:

1. 1. Breast conserving surgery, removal of the lump (Lumpectomy)
2. 2. Mastectomy (removal of the breast)
3. 3. Breast reconstruction
4. 4. Axillary surgery (removal of lymph nodes around the arm and armpit)

Radiotherapy

Systemic therapy (drugs)

Psychological care (providing social and family support to patients on coping with the problem)

Follow up and palliative care (easing pain and discomfort)

Management could be a combination of two interventions or more and also depend on the extent of the breast cancer staging and spread.