Breast cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells within the breast tissue. These malignant cells in some cases develop lumps or tumors. When a woman finds an unusual mass in her breast, it can be either malignant or non-malignant, although 80% of the lumps found in the breast are non-malignant and therefore are not cancerous. However, if the diagnosis shows that the mass is indeed malignant, further treatment must be done. Otherwise, the cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body and can lead to death. Women are advised to know how to detect breast cancer to prevent the worst from happening. Thanks to advanced medical technology, there are ways to detect the cancer in its early stages and even before it starts showing symptoms.

Women aged 40 and older are advised to get an annual mammogram and should continue doing this as long as they are in good health. Although this diagnostic technique involves the use of x-ray, the level of radiation is low. It is able to find cancer cells even before they start showing symptoms. The other, simpler method of how to detect breast cancer is by simply performing Breast Self-Examination (BSE) every month. This method is ideal for women in their 20s and should be performed a week after period. Start by lying down on your back, put your right hand behind the head, and press gently around your right breast using the tips of your finger in a small circular motion. Do the same to the left breast by putting the left hand behind the head. Women in their 20s and 30s are also advised to see a doctor for a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) once every 3 years. On the other hands, those in their 40s should have a CBE every year.

If you find abnormalities around your breast, additional screening is recommended. Your doctor can perform ultrasound, MRI or biopsy (i.e. take a sample of the affected tissue). The result of any of those tests will show if a cancer does occur. Other easy ways of how to detect breast cancer is by paying attention to the early symptoms. Tell-tale signs involve visible changes to the breast, such as redness, nipple retraction, nipple discharge (that may be bloody or not), peu d'orange (orange peel-like skin texture), puckering or dimpling, and onwards. If you experience any of those symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.

By Andy Mahesa

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of cancer.

A medical oncologist is a doctor
Specializing in the study and treatment of cancer. However, a medical oncologist for breast cancer should first consult with a pathologist about the exact biological nature of the tumor being treated.

An oncologist deals with the diagnosis, therapy such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, constant follow-up with breast cancer patient, and the screening of the relatives of the patient. Having diagnosed with breast cancer, a patient is informed with the 3 specialty areas in the treatment of breast cancer, which are as follows: medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology.

There are different methods in the diagnosis for breast cancer. The medical oncologist for breast cancer may do a biopsy on the patient (may be incision or excision), x-rays or several blood tests. If a patient is diagnosed to have breast cancer, the treatment for the tumor that the medical oncologist would apply varies depending on the stage of the breast cancer.

Chemotherapy may be done before or after surgery. Chemotherapy involves several kinds of drugs and these drugs are given to patients with primary breast cancer; breast cancer believed to have not yet spread outside the breast or to the lymph nodes. This hormone therapy interferes with the hormones in the body that stimulates cancer growth. Hormone therapy can be done to patients with primary breast cancer or also to patients with tumor that has already spread to other organs in the body.

The treatment that the medical oncologist for breast cancer applies to patients, like chemotherapy, has certain side effects like loss of hair. These doctors are expert in their field and so they also are dealing with the treatment of the side effects and problems encountered by the patient with breast cancer.

All about Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Breast cancer is considered as a killer disease and it is known to be the top cause of cancer death among women. According to American cancer society, about 1.3 million new breast cancer cases are diagnosed on an annually basis which includes 465,000 deaths. In order to successfully tackle this devastating disease, we must encourage innovative scientists to study cancer at its most basic level. In other words, breast cancer research work should be conducted at its molecular level. Also, besides the governments, private organizations should provide flexible funding to scientists who will be conducting breast cancer research work. Proper funding of breast cancer research projects; can not only lead to better prevention strategies but it can also help towards earlier diagnostic techniques and new anticancer drugs and treatments.

A world renowned cancer researcher, named Lothar Hirneise has come to an understanding that cancer exist with stress. He is of the opinion that when the mind is under constant stress, the body then produces high levels of stress hormone called Cortisol. The immune system gets suppressed with high levels of Cortisol in the body. Also, a stressed mind will release out Adrenaline to an extent of depletion. People suffering from cancer are found to be having almost no adrenaline in their cells. In fact, cells of cancer patients are often overloaded with insulin and plenty of sugar. Another leading German cancer researcher by the name of ‘Ryke-Geerd Hammer has gone through twenty thousand cancer patients and found a direct relationship between psycho-emotional conflict and cancer patients. This occurs between 1 to 3 years, prior to cancer diagnosis and cancer forming within the body. Cancer patients, who have experienced a psycho – emotional conflict shock, in the form of loss of a loved one etc, few years prior to their cancer urine, has experienced emotional pain and stress within themselves. Such a state of mind can have an adverse effect on the immune system of the person’s body.

Recently, researchers who are working towards breast cancer research project, have developed and successfully tested a breast cancer vaccine which is likely to treat women with treatment – resistant HER2 – positive breast cancer and thus be able to prevent cancer re – occurrence. Breast cancer researchers look forward to use HER2 DNA vaccines for cancer – free women, in order to prevent initial development of such tumors. At present, therapies such as trastuzumab and lapatimib are used towards treating breast cancer patients. However, it was lately noticed that a huge group of patients develop a resistance towards trastuzumab and lapatimib. HER2 receptors are known to promote a particularly aggressive type of tumor that affects about thirty percent of breast cancer patients.

The new breast cancer vaccine is produced by the body’s own cells. It delivers a cancer fighting gene into cells, which then produce immune system proteins and also tumor – destroying cells. According to the lead researcher Wei – Zen Wei, a professor of immunology and microbiology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, the vaccine is made by using so – called naked DNA from genes that produces the HER2 receptor. The process involved in the making of the vaccine, is called as electroporation. The genes moved towards the cells, which then produced HER2 receptors that led to activation of antibodies and immune cells called Killer T cells.