What should women know about breast cancer?
It is a malignant tumour with a high incidence rate in developed countries, a natural history of slow growth and in the majority of types need years to become apparent.
Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of death in women aged between 40 and 44 years old.
Fortunately, since 1990 the incidence rate has been dropping consistently because of improvements in its detection and early treatment.
Women should be taught how to carry out self-examination and be very aware of their family history; this, together with clinical exploration and mammograms, form the three basic pillars for early diagnosis, which is the only way of achieving lower mortality figures and an average increase in the survival rate of five years following surgery (more than 95%).
Hereditary cancer is a very real risk nowadays that should not be ignored, especially in terms of breast cancer, where up to 10% of cases are due to a gene mutation, mainly BRCA1 and BRCA2.
What are the signs and symptoms?
A palpable nodule, or mass, on the breast or under the arm, which has appeared recently and that has a blurred outline or reduced mobility and/or affected skin, with bruising, inflammation or ulceration (“orange peel skin”), altering the breast outline. The nipple may also become retracted or sunken, or there may be spontaneous hematic discharge.
Remember, men can develop breast cancer too, with the appearance of a hard retro areolar mass.
What should I do about it?
It’s important to visit your surgeon and/or gynaecologist, preferably one who is affiliated to a Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Unit and who will guide you as to the steps you should take.
Usually, with palpable lesions, the triple test should be performed, consisting of a clinical examination, imaging scans and taking cytological and histological samples. In non-palpable masses, the two-step process involves imaging scans and taking cytological and histological samples.
What kind of tests are carried out?
On the whole, and once the patient has been assessed, the radiologist is free to perform any tests they need and in the order they see fit to reach a diagnosis. Tests are started once the Informed Consent has been completed and signed, and consist of: all kinds of mammograms (including direct digital mammogram, bilateral diagnostic, screening, with all kinds of additional forecasting, enabling studies with implants, carrying out percutaneous biopsies, galactography, pneumocystography, etc.), high resolution ultrasound, CAT scan, PET-CT scan, nuclear magnetic resonance, image guided percutaneous biopsy and a histological study, which is fundamental for establishing a diagnosis and embarking on the most suitable treatment.
Is an anatomopathological study important?
Yes. It will provide information about the type of lesion, as there are various kinds of breast cancer and, depending on test results, the treatment prescribed may be different from one patient to another.
Should I be told about the various medical and surgical treatment options?
Yes. It’s important for women to know that breast cancer treatment may differ from patient to patient, and despite the commonly held belief that it’s best to operate before starting any other kind of therapy, nowadays surgery is not always the first step to be taken in a course of treatment.
Dr. Santiago Tamames Gómez – Head of Surgery and Member of the Breast Unit at La Milagrosa Hospital (Madrid)
The information published in this media neither substitutes nor complements in any way the direct supervision of a doctor, his diagnosis or the treatment that he may prescribe. It should also not be used for self-diagnosis.
The exclusive responsibility for the use of this service lies with the reader.
ASSSA advises you to always consult your doctor about any issue concerning your health.
