Health

Breast Cancer

by Danilo Santana - Brazilian Writer

                                                                                

The citizen to define their goals as citizens need to know some of the chronic problems of their community and to the extent possible, participate in the anguish of their similar and contributes in some way to make life less difficult in a society.

After visiting a hospital popular, listen to events of all kinds, meditate on human frailty and hurt me to find the bitterness of patients, especially the disadvantaged, I decided to pass the search concerned a handful of information on breast cancer .

It is known that breast cancer is manifested most often among Brazilian women. It is more common than cancer of the cervix and uterus, and that the highest incidence occurs in women between forty and fifty years, which does not prevent that occurring in younger women.

 

What is breast cancer

The breast cancer itself is a malignant tumor. This means that breast cancer is caused by an excessive and disordered proliferation of cells that form a tumor. The tumor is called malignant when its cells have the ability to generate metastases, or invade other healthy cells around them. If these calls malignant cells fall in blood flow may reach other parts of the body, invade other healthy cells and creating new tumors.

We have called benign tumors do not have this capacity. They have a slower growth, not exceeding a certain size, and not spread to other organs. Are also common in the region of the breasts. Even the majority of nodules that appear in this region are benign, such as cysts and fibroadenomas, for example. The cysts are painful nodules and increase before menstruation. The fibroadenomas do not become cancer, and, if necessary, can be easily removed through a small surgery, usually performed with local anesthesia.

The benign tumors do not turn into cancer. The major concern is therefore with malignant tumors such as breast cancer, which grow quickly and without pain. Therefore, should be diagnosed as soon as possible to avoid the loss of breast or lesions.

 

Diagnosis of breast cancer.

One of the best ways to diagnose breast cancer is mammography, which is capable of detecting the tumor even before it becomes palpable. When the diagnosis is done that way, even in the early formation of the tumor, the chances of cure become much larger, discarding the need for removal of the breast for treatment.

Despite being an effective method, the mammogram does not discard the self-examination and examination by the gynecologist or mastologist, as some nodules, although tangible, are not detected by mammography.

A mammogram is a simple examination with X-ray apparatus specially designed for this, where the woman places the breast between two sheets of acrylic, which will compress a little breast. Compression of the breast is essential to the success of the examination should therefore be avoided before the menstrual period, when breasts are a little painful, which will cause some discomfort at the time of the examination. It is recommended that it be done approximately one week after the menstrual period.

As a preventive measure, this examination must be made annually from the age of 50, or if there are cases in the family since the 40 years of age. The examination is not harmful to health, and the radiation received is slightly higher than that of an X-ray of the lungs.

Self-examination is a method of diagnosis where the woman makes a visual examination and palpation of the breast in front of a mirror. This examination should be done approximately every seven days after menstruation, or if the woman does not menstruate more, at least once a month at any time.

Every six months, the woman should be subjected to a routine exam with the gynecologist, if you have any doubt or suspicion, shall forward it to mastologist, who is a doctor specializing in diseases of the breasts.

Any suspicion should be checked. If one of the previous tests is suspect, you must perform a biopsy or not to confirm the diagnosis. This examination consists of a small surgery to remove a piece of the suspicious nodule, or even the entire node, so that it be examined. As appropriate, this can be done through needles.

 

Treatment of breast cancer

The surgery for the treatment of breast cancer may be conservative or radical. Be conservative when you cut only part of the breast (quadrantectomy) and will be radical when cut across the breast. The type of surgery varies from case to case. In the case of partial withdrawal, surgery should be complemented by radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a treatment based on application of radiation directly to the tumor or the location of this and has the goal, if before the operation, reduce the size of the tumor, and if after the return to avoid disease.

The radiation blocks the growth of cells, and should be used only in the affected area, avoiding reaching the normal tissue. Applications last about 15 minutes and should be done daily, ranging from 25 to 30 applications. The treatment has no complications. The location of the applications takes a color similar to a sunburn.

Another treatment used in cases of cancer chemotherapy is. The chemotherapy is the use of extremely potent drugs in the treatment of cancer. It is also used to complete the surgery and may begin before or after the operation. Unlike surgery and radiation that have local effect, chemotherapy acts throughout the body, to prevent the return of the tumor and the appearance in other organs. The chemotherapy acts on the cells which have accelerated growth and proliferation, such as cancer.

However, other cells of the body that have the same characteristics, the famous suffer side effects such as anemia and decreased resistance to infections caused by the action in the cells producing the red and white blood cells, hair and hair fall due to the action in cells the hair follicle, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, due to the action in the cells of the digestive system.

The chemotherapy, and the fertilization and is difficult to stop menstruation, since the cells of the reproductive system are also affected during treatment. The application is usually made by injecting with serum and, in most cases, relieve the hospital. First, the patient made a routine medical consultation and, if everything is normal, get the serum for several hours and is released to return home.

In some cases, another procedure that may be useful is the hormone therapy. For many years believed that the appearance of breast cancer had a close relationship with the female hormones, especially estrogen. Today we know that this is not always. Therefore a test is done to determine the usefulness or not such treatment. The test consists in measuring the dosage of estrogen receptors on cells of the tumor. According to the results to assess the need for hormone therapy or not, which is the intake of one to two tablets daily for not less than two years.

Besides all that, each day there are new scientific knowledge about cancer and new medicines are available in the market, by making it easier and less serious and complex treatment.

The former always say we know our enemies, more than friends. Cancer is a strong opponent of health, a dangerous contender, but can be beaten or detained. When you know deep in the evil that afflicts us, we feel stronger, bolder and even willing to face it. Was thinking that, although knowing nothing about medicine, they collected information and make it available now. I am convinced that knowing a little more this type of disease many women can break free of the moorings of the conquered, and without fear, face the disease and wielding all the weapons that medicine already has. And more may still prompt more and more victims of this misfortune to fight for the overrun. Even those who have not experienced this adversity can also help by talking, telling, teaching, participating in stimulating and encouraging all others to prevent and resist, when appropriate. After all, we know, it is perfectly possible to beat cancer.

This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.