Breast Cancer

Most cases of nipple discharge are due to normal, benignNot dangerous, usually applied to a tumour that is not malignant. conditions and are usually hormoneA substance produced by a gland in one part of the body and carried by the blood to the organs or tissues where it has an effect.-related. Approximately one third of all women can produce a nipple discharge by gently massaging their breasts. This 'innocent' nipple discharge usually comes from multiple ducts in both breasts in pre-menopausalRelating to the menopause, the time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle. women. Blood-stained discharge from a single duct in one breast can be sinister in nature and may represent an underlying carcinomaA malignant tumour (cancer) that is formed from the epithelium, the tissue that covers the open surfaces of organs..

For many women with breast cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. the standard treatment includes surgery together with radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation., to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back. A new approach, TARGIT, involves radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. given with a spherical device that is placed where the lump was, thus targeting the tissues that surrounded the tumourAn abnormal swelling., the ‘tumour bed’.

A cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. can be considered as the uncontrolled growth of the cells of the body. There is unlikely to be a single cause of breast cancer but there are two categories of risk factors. We can look at things that seem to be associated with an increased risk and see if we can change any of these to reduce the risk.

To be told you have breast cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is always a huge shock. Before we consider some of the treatments available I want to make the important point of how much the treatment of breast cancer has improved over the years. In the 1970s only 50% of people with breast cancer survived for 5 years. In the best units that figure is now around 90%. Similarly the 10 year survival rate was only 40% in the 70s and it is now 80%, with a twenty year survival rate of nearly 70%. The fundamental fact is that most people will no longer die from their breast cancer; and the treatments continue to improve.

Routine breast screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to is fairly well established in many countries, but there has been recent controversy regarding its benefits.  All types of medical screening have their drawbacks including missed diagnoses, further investigations that turn out to be unnecessary, anxiety caused by recalls, and treatment for conditions that would have never caused any problems if they had been left alone.