, there is a one in eight chance the average American person who underwent estrogenic puberty will develop breast cancer. In other words, that’s a 13 percent risk over the average lifetime. And while advancements in technology are giving experts in the field ways to diagnose cancer earlier, which canfor some patients, it’s still crucial to understand the risk of breast cancer and how to screen for signs of it.
Breast cancer can also cause swelling in the breast or even breast pain, though these things are less common, according to, co-director of the breast cancer program at the Johns Hopkins Medicine. The common denominator of all these symptoms is that the patient notices something unusual: “If a [patient] feels something that’s not usual in their breast, they should see their primary care provider for further evaluation,” Stearns says.
in the family or a BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene mutation, Torres says a doctor might recommend earlier screening., a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says it’s important that women consult with their doctors. “The best prevention is screening, since they may not have any symptoms,” she says. If a growth is detected through a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI imaging, Comen says the next step for diagnosis is a biopsy to confirm cancerous cells in the breast.
If a person has a specific type of breast cancer involving hormone receptors on the cancer cells, they might be prescribed hormone therapy pills, which Torres says are usually taken every day for five to 10 years.is unique, treatment will be individual, too. “Every situation is a little different, so it’s important to look at all the criteria in the context of the person and her wishes and other medical and social history before determining the best course of action,” Stearns says.
Whao...I’m getting old. I forgot I did this