Breast Cancer: What Every Woman Needs To Know About Symptoms And Screening

Breast cancer is caused when abnormal breast cells grow out of control which results in the formation of tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread all through the body and become deadly. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion). Tumours that cause lumps or thickening result from this. Treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy and medications. It is a rising health concern for women in both rural and urban areas of India. It has increasingly been diagnosed in younger women (between the age group of 40 to 49) in recent years. In addition, women, even less than 40, have recently been in the news with newly diagnosed advanced breast cancers.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• A breast lump or thickened area of skin that differs from the surrounding tissue.
• A nipple that looks flattened or turns inward.
• Changes in the colour of the breast skin. In people with white skin, the breast skin may look pink or red. In people with brown and Black skin, the breast skin may look darker than the other skin on the chest or it may look red or purple.
• Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast.
• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as skin that looks like an orange peel.
• Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the skin on the breast.

Why are younger women not screened initially for breast cancer?

Breast cancer has been found to impact women who are over 50 years of age. Due to its lack of cost-effectiveness and potential benefits, screening women under the age of 40 has not traditionally been recommended. Likewise, leads to the psychological toll of false positives and more lifetime exposure to small doses of radiation. In recent trends, it is now suggested that risk evaluation for breast cancer be considered so those at higher risk are screened quickly. Furthermore, simple access to mammography and other diagnostic tools like ultrasound and MRI of the breasts can go quite far in assisting such women with getting convenient diagnosis and treatment.

What is the prescribed breast cancer treatment?

Breast cancer treatment is the subtype of cancer and the amount it has spread outside of the breast to lymph nodes (stages II or III) or other parts of the body (stage IV). To reduce the chances of the cancer coming back (recurrence), doctors combine treatments. These include:

• Surgery to eliminate the breast tumour
• Radiation treatment to eliminate recurrence risk in the breast and surrounding tissues
• Medications to kill cancer cells and prevent spread, including hormonal treatments, chemotherapy or targeted biological treatments.
• Breast cancer treatments are more successful and are better tolerated when begun early and taken to the end.
• The adequacy of breast cancer treatments depends upon the full course of treatment.
• Partial treatment is less likely to result in a positive result.

What is the global impact of breast cancer?

Between the 1980s and 2020, age-standardised breast cancer decreased by 40% in high-income nations. Nations that have prevailed concerning diminishing breast cancer mortality have been able to accomplish a yearly breast cancer mortality reduction of 2-4% and to provide treatments that are already known to be effective, the strategies for enhancing the outcomes of breast cancer rely on fundamental reform of the health system. Additionally, significant for the management of different tumours and other non-malignant non-communicable diseases (NCDs). For instance, having dependable referral pathways from primary care facilities to district clinics to dedicated cancer centres.

Causes

Researchers have found things that increase the risk of breast cancer. These include hormones, lifestyle choices and things in the environment. Breast cancer likely happens through a complex interaction of your genetic makeup. Healthcare professionals know that breast cancer starts when something changes the DNA inside cells in the breast tissue. A cell’s DNA holds the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA instructs to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions tell the cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes too many cells.

Indian Actors who have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer

1. Tahira Kashyap

Back in 2018, director Tahira Kashyap was diagnosed with breast cancer. She didn’t hide her diagnosis, instead documented the journey to inspire other women around the world. She completed her treatment in January 2019. She also posted pictures of herself going bald, and the scars on her body, stressing that it is nothing to be ashamed of. Since then, she has recommended early detection of breast cancer.

2. Mahima Chaudhry

Actor Mahima Chaudhry, known for films such as Pardes, Dhadkan and Lajja, revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treatment is complete in 2022, shared the news through an emotional video posted by actor Anupam Kher, sharing that it was detected during her annual health checkup, had to undergo chemotherapy and regular checkups soon she became cancer-free and resumed work.

3. Chhavi Mittal

In April 2022, Chhavi Mittal revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, underwent the surgery and declared herself cancer-free. All through her diagnosis, documented her recovery journey on social media and inspired many diagnosed people. She is now an awareness crusader, asking women to go for early screening and annual follow-ups regardless of their age.

4. Hina Khan

Actor Hina Khan sent her fans into shock and surprise by sharing that she had been diagnosed with cancer. She took to Instagram to share the news of her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. The note read, “To address the recent rumour, I want to share some important news with all the Hinaholics and everyone who loves and cares for me. I have been diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer” by adding that her treatment has started. She is determined to overcome the disease soon.

5. Lisa Ray 

Actress Lisa Ray, who was believed to have successfully battled myeloma (cancer), revealed that she is still living with it. “I was diagnosed with blood cancer which is considered incurable and I am still living with this condition,” said Lisa with a smile on her face.

6. Sonali Bendre 

Actor Sonali Bendre was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2018 and underwent treatment for the same in the US. After beating the disease later that year, she has been encouraging women to get themselves tested for breast cancer. In an interview, Sonali said that doctors told him that her chance to survive was just 30% and that how her social media revelation about her diagnosis resulted in high testing rates for the disease. 

A breast self-examination monthly can help to spot early signs and symptoms related to breast cancer. A hard breast mass that does not change during the month, changes in the skin on the breast, redness, asymmetry between breasts, or discharge from the nipple can be signs of breast cancer. Awareness of breast cancer, including its signs, symptoms, and self-examination techniques, is important for timely diagnosis. Equally important are healthy lifestyle practices such as a balanced diet, daily exercise, quality sleep, and regular preventive checkups. These steps can lead to earlier diagnosis, significantly improving patient outcomes.