Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast
cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells which is the result of
mutations in genes which are responsible to regulate the growth of cells and
keep them healthy. In a healthy body, the cells will replace themselves in
orderly fashion and new ones will take over as old one dies. However, when the
mutations occur, the changed cells will gain the ability to keep dividing
without control or order and produces more similar cells and forms a tumor.
In case of
breast cancer, the cancerous cells will gradually invade the nearby healthy
breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes i.e. the small
organs which filter out the foreign substances in the body. If the cancer reach
the lymph nodes then it has a pathway into other parts of the body. On
diagnosis, the patient will be told at which stage of breast cancer they are in
which indicates how far the cancer has spread beyond the original tumor.
What are the Prognosis?
The metastatic breast cancer is not the same for
every person having it. As per the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), the
symptoms at stage 4 will depend on the degress to which the cancer has spread
in the body. Although metastatic breast cancer has no cure but it can be
treated. Getting proper treatment will increase both your longevity and quality
of life.
Stages and Survival rates
The stages
of breast cancer are:
1)
Ductal carcinoma in situ
a.
Stage 0
2)
Early Breast Cancer
a.
Stage Ia
b.
Stage Ib
c.
Stage IIa
3)
Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
a.
Stage IIb
b.
Stage IIIa
c.
Stage IIIb
d.
Stage IIIc
4)
Metastatic Breast Cancer
a.
Stage IV
The survival
rates will vary as per the stage of breast cancer. The non-invasive or stage 0
and early stage invasive breast cancers i.e. stages I and II have a better
prognosis than the later stages of cancers i.e. stages III and IV. Cancer which
has not spread beyond the breast has a better prognosis than cancer which has
spread to the lymph nodes. The poorest prognosis is for stage IV or metastatic
breast cancer which has spread beyond the lymph nodes to the other parts of the
body.
Read more about Breast Cancer Surgery and Treatment in India
Available Treatment Options
In the
recent years, there has been an explosion of life saving treatment options for
breast cancer bringing new hope. Today, there are overwhelming options for
treating the breast cancer which will fight the complex mix of cells in each
individual cancer. Your doctor will determine the breast cancer treatment
options based on the type of breast cancer, the stage, whether the cancer cells
are sensitive to the hormones, your overall health and your own preferences.
The standard
breast cancer treatment options used in India are:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by surgery
- Targeted therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy
Life Expectancy
The life
expectancy with metastatic breast cancer will be affected by the following
factors:
- Your general health
- You age
- The types of tissue which affect the cancer
- The hormone receptors on cells with cancer
- Your attitude and outlook
General Statistics
There are
general facts about breast cancer prognosis. As per the University of Maryland
Medical Center, breast cancer causes more deaths in women than any other type
of cancer. Women in higher economic groups have higher survival rates than in
lower groups. Most women with breast cancer will now live longer than they used
to. Over the last decade, the number of deaths from breast cancer has dropped
substantially.
What about Recurrence?
During the
recent years, women under 50 years have seen a particularly strong decline in
death rates due to breast cancer. These are due to improved screening and
treatment for the disease. Despite all these, breast cancer survivors should
keep in mind the possibility of recurrence. As per UMMC, if the breast cancer
is going to recur, then most probably it will do so within five years of receiving
the breast cancer treatment in India.
Contact
Forerunners Healthcare Consultants to book your appointment for low cost breast
cancer treatments and surgery in India.
