How well do you know breast cancer?

At UAP Old Mutual, we care and support the call for more screening to help catch it early and start treatment immediately. In this article, we’ll take you through all you need to know about breast cancer, from its risk factors to the available treatment options.

Let’s jump right in!

So, what is breast cancer?

Breast cancer typically starts in the breast. It is easily detected as a lump but is only accurately confirmed through an X-ray. That said, it is essential to note that most breast lumps are not necessarily cancerous and do not spread outside of the breast. Though abnormal, these benign tumors may increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Types of breast cancer

Breast cancers are categorized according to their point of origin. Let’s take a quick look at them:

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) - This is a type of aggressive breast cancer that attacks the breast’s skin and lymph vessels. You may feel it as a lump or tumor isolated within the breast.
• Triple negative breast cancer - A triple negative breast cancer diagnosis means that the three most common receptors known to fuel cancer growth are absent. These factors are estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 hormones.
• Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) – This is the most common type of breast cancer and makes up to 80% of cumulative cases. IDC is characterized by the spread of abnormal tissue outside the milk ducts and may spread to other parts of the body.
• Ductile Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) - A diagnosis of this type of cancer indicates that abnormal cells haven’t spread out of the milk ducts into the surrounding tissue, making it highly treatable. If untreated, however, it can spread to its surrounding tissue.
• Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) - This is stage -4 breast cancer. Its diagnosis means that cancer has spread to other organs, including the liver, lungs and brain.

Who can get Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can affect anyone, whether male or female, at any age. However, women are at a higher risk of developing the illness than men are. Other risk factors that can cause a breast cancer diagnosis are:

• Family history (if your family has a history of cancer infections)
• Personal history (if you have previously been diagnosed with cancer)
• Increasing age
• Breast conditions
• Radiation exposure (if you were exposed to chest X-rays as a child)
• Increased weight
• Starting your menstrual period early
• Beginning menopause later in life
• Having your first child later (at an older age)
• Drinking alcohol.
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy
• Drinking alcohol. 

Women with increased risk of developing breast cancer can opt to take preventive measures to reduce their chances. This can be through:

• Preventative medication (chemoprevention)
• Preventive surgery (prophylactic mastectomy) - Removal of healthy breasts

What are the signs of breast cancer?

Many women with breast cancer barely experience any symptoms at first, hence our urge for regular breast screening. In many instances, breast cancer is discovered after its symptoms appear. Some of the signs and symptoms to look out for include:

• Swelling of parts of the breast
• Pain in the breast
• Change in shape of the breast
• Nipple discharge that is not breast milk
• Lump in breast or armpit

It’s not all doom and gloom

As serious as breast cancer is, specific measures can be taken to mitigate its effects. Like all forms of cancers, the emphasis is placed on early diagnosis. Regular breast cancer screening is at the forefront of this fight. 

At what age should breast cancer screening start?

As you age, so does your risk of developing breast cancer increase. Here is a guide to walk you through the timelines:

• Women aged 40-44 should start breast cancer screening with optional mammograms 
• Women aged 44-54 should get annual mammograms
• Women above the age of 55 should get bi-annual mammograms but should maintain breast screening yearly.

What treatment options are likely if diagnosed with breast cancer?

If you test positive for breast cancer, your oncologist will likely lay out a treatment plan depending on the form of breast cancer they find. These could be any one or more of these:

Radiation therapy - Involves targeting the tumor with radiation to kill cancer cells.

Hormone therapy -Use of hormone-blocking therapy to prevent hormone-sensitive breast cancer from returning after successful treatment.

Chemotherapy -Use of drugs to kill cancer cells

Surgery -Surgery may involve the removal of the tumor (lumpectomy or the removal of the entire breast (Mastectomy)

Your Takeaway

Breast cancer is highly treatable when combined with frequent screening. An early diagnosis (stage -1) has a 95%-99% of surviving through the first five years after diagnosis. This is according to statistics by the American Cancer Society. With this in mind, we at UAP Old Mutual recommend and encourage you to get screening this breast cancer awareness month.

1% of all breast cancers occur in men. In 2020, about 2,620 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease, and an estimated 520 men are expected to die from breast cancer. For men, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is about 1 in 833