What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer

Understanding The Disease

Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast. About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases are ductal carcinoma in situ. This type of breast cancer begins in the milk duct, the tubes that carry breast milk from the lobules to the nipple. Nearly all women treated at this early stage can expect to be cancer-free.

Common breast cancer signs and symptoms:

• Skin changes, such as swelling and redness
• Nipple discharge other than milk
• An increase in size or change in shape of the breast
• General pain in/on any part of the breast
• Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
• Lumps or nodes felt on or inside the breast

Symptoms specific to invasive breast cancer

• Irritated or itchy breast
• Changes in touch
• Changes in color
• Peeling of flaking of the nipple skin
• Increased in breast size or shape over a short period of time
• Redness or pitting of the breast
• A breast lump or thickening

Treatment Options

Treating breast cancer has advanced significantly in the past 30 years. Most women today do not need a mastectomy and can be treated just as effectively with a lumpectomy. Modern radiation techniques are better at avoiding damage to healthy tissue and chemotherapy has less serious side effects.

Treatment has become more personalized thanks to recent discoveries. Researchers have identified receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer and the link between the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein and breast cancer growth. An understanding of the biological type of breast cancer informs treatment options today. Healthy breast cells contain receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone. They also contain receptors for a protein called HER2, which stimulates normal cell growth.

Prevention and Screening Guidelines

In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services task Force recommended that woman begin routine mammograms at age 50, and then get the test every two years. The American Cancer Society and many physicians say women still should begin annual mammograms at age 40. Women at higher rick for breast cancer, such as those with a family history, should discuss the most appropriate screening plan with their doctor.

For more information how you can contribute to finding a cure, go to AAA.com/Cares.