Breast Cancer
Abstract
Cancer is a group of diseases that occur when normal cells in the body undergo mutations and divide uncontrollably even when the body does not need new cells. The cells eventually lead to the development of a tumor that can endanger the lives of the host. The female breast is a complex tissue that is made up of lobules, ducts, and stroma. Like all other cancer types, breast cancer develops when some abnormal cells in the breast tissue undergo uncontrolled division. This paper will explore the prevalence and incidence of breast cancer globally and in the U.S, the description of breast cancer, including common signs and symptoms and clinical manifestations. Additionally, the paper will explore risk factors that can cause breast cancer, breast cancer diagnosis, breast cancer treatment, psychosocial factors in women with breast cancer, and Social Security Disability Benefits for breast cancer patients. Finally, Breast Cancer rehabilitation and the role of a rehabilitation counselor, and the Future of breast cancer prevention and treatment will be touched on.
Introduction
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects women in the United States and the globe. In order to understand the development of breast cancer, it is vital to understand the structure of the breast. The breast is a complex tissue made up of various tissues ranging from the fatty tissues to very dense tissues. The tissues contain a network of lobes made up of microscopic, tube-like structures referred to as lobules, which contain the milk glands. Apart from the lobules, the breast also contains a blood vessel network that has blood to nourish the breast cells. Breast cancer occurs when normal breast cells begin to exhibit abnormality signs as they start to develop and change without control. The cells form a mass of tissue that is referred to as a tumor. The tumor can either be benign, meaning that it cannot cause harm since it cannot spread, and malignant tumors, which means that it can grow and spread to other parts of the breast and other parts of the body in a process known as metastasis.
Prevalence and Incidence of Breast Cancer Globally and in the U.S
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers that affect women both in the U.S and worldwide. According to a study done by the American Cancer Association, an estimated 2.4 million breast cancer cases were diagnosed and reported globally in 2015. Among them, 523,000 deaths occurred, thus placing breast cancer as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in the year. The incidence of breast cancer is significantly higher in high-income countries like the U.S compared to other countries with less income. According to the U.S breast cancer statistics, one in every eight women in the U.S are at the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the U.S in the course of their lives. The same study shows that 276,480 new breast cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S alone, and out of this figure, 42 170 may succumb to the complications of breast cancer. More women are likely to develop breast cancer in the U.S than any other cancer that affects women, such as skin cancer. However, breast cancer incidence has been on the decline since the beginning of the decade due to increased screening and advancement of treatment methods. In the U.S, the median age whereby breast cancer is detected in 62. The median age also depends on age and ethnicity, with black women getting diagnosed younger than Caucasian women. Very few women get a diagnosis below 40, with only about 4% of women in the U.S falling inside this spectrum.
Description of Breast Cancer
The onset of breast cancer presents with various signs and symptoms that are unique to this particular cancer. The most common sign that breast cancer presents with is the development of a lump in the breast. The lump is painless and hard and has irregular edges. Another symptom is the changes in skin texture around the breast area. The mutation of cells may affect the cells around the breast, causing inflammation causes skin texture changes. Hence, the nipple may develop dry, scaly skin with a sunburned look or skin thickening in breast areas. Another symptom occurs in the form of nipple discharge. Women who are not breastfeeding should not expect nipple discharge, and so when it happens, it might indicate that breast cancer is present. The discharge can be thin or thick and can range from being clear to yellow, green, or red.
Another sign that can indicate the presence of breast cancer is skin dimpling. Skin dimpling around the breast can indicate that cancer has caused a buildup of lymph fluid inside the breast, thus bringing about the skin’s dimpling or pitting. Also, skin dimpling is associated with another common sign of breast cancer, lymph node changes. The breast comprises several lymph nodes that usually work to filter fluid to prevent the harmful entry of potentially harmful cells into the breast. When cancer leaves the cells, it may affect the underarm’s lymph nodes and cause them to inflame and swell. Finally, breast cancer can affect skin cells on the nipple causing breast pain, inflammation, and redness. All these symptoms can occur and can indicate breast cancer; however, tests are the best way to prove breast cancer.
There are various types of breast cancers classified according to the specific breast cells that are affected. The classifications are broken into two major categories: invasive and noninvasive. Invasive breast cancer describes when cancer has spread from the breast ducts to other breast and noninvasive parts, where cancer has not spread from the originator tissues. These two classifications form the blueprint to describe the types of breast cancer, which are; Ductual carcinoma in situ (DCIS), Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). DCIS and LCIS are noninvasive breast cancers whereby DCIS infects the ducts in the breasts, and LCIS is whereby cancer affects the milk-producing glands. IDC and ILC are invasive. In IDC, the breast milk ducts are affected first, and the cancerous cells eventually spread outside the cell and ILC, whereby cancer first develops in the breasts lobules and then spreads to nearby tissues.
Causes and Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
Various risk factors increase the chances of individuals developing breast cancer. The risk factors may be innate or can be influenced by the environment. The first risk factor is gender. Women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than men because women have larger breasts with more cells than their male counterparts. More cells mean that the chances of abnormal cells being there increase, thus reflecting directly to their increased risk of breast cancer. The breast is also affected by hormonal changes in estrogen and progesterone during various cycles, thus increasing their risk of developing the disease.
The next risk factor is age. Breast cancer usually affects women who are generally between the ages of 45-55 years. The age factor is similar to other cancers in that the older an individual, the higher the chances of getting any cancer since cells are likely to acquire mutations, the older one gets. Another risk factor is genetics. According to studies done by the World Health Organization, about 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are attributed to inheriting gene mutations from their parents, linked to increased breast cancers. The most common types of mutations occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in both genes significantly increase an individual’s chance of getting breast cancer.
Further, the likelihood of developing breast cancer is also tied to family history. If a first-degree relative has developed breast cancer at some point in their lives, then the chances of one getting breast cancer increases to nearly double. Another risk factor of significance is tied to the race and ethnicity of an individual. Caucasian women are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer than African American counterparts. However, if two individuals, one Caucasian and the other African American, get cancer, then the latter is more likely to succumb to the disease. The reason behind this is because African Americans develop more aggressive tumors if they do develop the tumors. Asians, Hispanics, and Native American women are at a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Other less common risk factors include menstrual periods, previous chest radiation from tests, tobacco and alcohol use, having a child at an older age, dietary factors, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
The diagnosis of breast cancer is crucial for treatment; therefore, medics use various methods to diagnose breast cancer. One way they do this is by doing a breast ultrasound. An ultrasound is a machine that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of various parts of the breasts, referred to as sonograms. The sonograms can be looked at by a professional to see if lumps have developed inside the breast. Next is by using Diagnostic mammograms. A breast mammogram of the breast can also detect lumps, which signify the onset of breast cancer. Another test is that it can be performed an MRI. MRIs are types of body scans that use magnetism to create detailed pictures of body parts. The MRI machine is connected to a monitor where a medic can analyze the specific body part’s image. The final test, which can be done to diagnose breast cancer is through a biopsy. Unlike the previous test, which involves imaging, a biopsy involves taking a tissue or a fluid sample from the breast and then analyzing it under a microscope.
When the test is positive for breast cancer, medics can perform other tests to determine the extent to which the cancer cells have moved to other parts of the breasts or the body. The process is referred to as staging. After staging, the medic can group the breast cancer into four stages, stages 0-4, which denotes the severity of cancer, classified cancer as either intrusive or non-intrusive, and prescribed options for the patient.
Treatment and management of breast cancer
If breast cancer is found during the diagnosis stage, then various treatment methods can be prescribed by the medic. Often only the first three stages are treatable, with stage four being described as terminal. Different treatment options can be prescribed by a medic to hasten or completely cure breast cancer stages. The treatment can be classified into stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 treatment options. Also, the type of treatment methods will be determined by: if the cancer cells contain hormone receptors, whether cancer contains significant amounts of HER2 proteins, the speed of growth of the cancer cell, the overall wellbeing of the patient, and finally whether the patient, if female, has undergone menopause.
During stage 1 treatment of breast cancer, the patient can be treated by using breast-conserving surgery. Only the infected part of the breast is cut to ensure that the other remaining tissue remains healthy during this procedure. Radiation therapy can also be included after the breast-conserving surgery to ensure that cancer does not come back. The physician will prescribe hormone therapy as an additional treatment after surgery for women with hormone receptor-positive cancer.
Stage 2 cancer treatment involves localized surgery and radiation therapy. Surgery will be performed, specifically, BCS surgery, after which the patient will undergo radiation therapy. Monitoring of the lymph nodes surrounding the affected area should also be useful to prevent remission. Some additional treatments that can be performed in this stage are chemotherapy, administration of HER2 targeted drugs and hormone therapy.
Stage three treatment requires the medic to consider that the tumor is large and might have affected the nearby tissues. Stage their treatment involves treatments administered before the surgery and after the surgery. In the case of HER2-positive tumors, HER2 targeted drugs can be administered traduce the tumor enough so that a BCS can be done successfully without having to do a complete mastectomy. Radiation therapy will be done after the surgery to prevent cancer from coming back.
Breast reconstruction is an option in all three treatment options as long as it is done with radiation therapy. Breast reconstruction is the process of attempting to rebuild the shape of the breast to return to normal. It may involve the use of prosthetic implants or autologous tissue. Autologous tissue is one that has been obtained from the individual’s own body. Breast reconstruction allows for the individual to return to some level of everyday living. Also, after treatment, follow-up is crucial to ensure that cancer does not come back after the procedures.
Psychosocial issues in women with breast cancer
Some psychosocial issues may affect women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. One of the issues is the fear of recurrence. Women who have overcome breast cancer are plagued with the fear that breast cancer may recur, and they will go through the same process again. The other issue is the disruption of body image. Breast cancer treatment procedures such as mastectomy ruin the women’s body image in that they involve slicing a part of the breast tissue. As the breast is a huge part of a women’s body image, anything that affects the breast affects the individual’s body image. When their body image is concerned, women may experience sexual dysfunction.
Another psychosocial issue affecting the women has to do with feelings of vulnerability. Breast cancer instills a sense of vulnerability among those inflicted with the condition, especially those diagnosed with more advanced disease cases. Another key psychosocial issue involved with the state is the constant fear of dying, especially in patients with a terminal version of breast cancer, which eventually affects their social lives. Patients who have partners have trouble communicating the extent of the psychological torture the disease places on them.
Social Security Disability Benefits for breast cancer patients
Patients with Breast cancer qualify for SSDI benefits as long as they are unable to work, and cancer must have been diagnosed and lasted for more than a year. In addition to fulfilling those requirements, a patient with breast cancer must ensure that their breast cancer qualifies for social benefits. Also, their cancer meets a disability listing in the listing of impairments. The cancer results in physical or mental limitations that might make it hard for patients to perform work-related duties.
Breast Cancer rehabilitation and the role of a rehabilitation counselor
Treatment of breast cancer takes a toll on the body, and the body requires assistance to return to normal function. The process of rehabilitation is performed to help the patient to return to normal faster. After the surgery, swelling may occur and may persist in a condition called lymphedema. Lymphedema may limit movement, and hence, it is the role of the rehabilitation counselor to help the patient regain full motion moving through physical therapy. The counselor can also provide feedback to physicians on the patient’s state and whether the rehabilitation process is working as planned.
The Future of breast cancer prevention and treatment
Research on cancer treatment has been at the forefront of modern science, with researchers working round the clock to uncover cures and new prevention tactics to combat the condition. Breast cancer is among the cancers that have been given priority owing to the sheer number of people it affects annually. The idea is to crush cancer by the end of the decade, and some scientific breakthroughs are making this dream reality. One is powerful of the breakthroughs in the use of immunotherapy. Our immune systems are powerful defense systems that safeguard our systems against external pathogens. Immunotherapy seeks to strengthen this mechanism and allow it to detect and fight off cancerous cells. Another way is the development of personalized, targeted treatment methods. In these proposed methods, a person’s treatment will be mapped based on their genetic sequence. This method will allow for the development of medicines that fight off one specific tumor depending on the individual genetic makeup.
On the other hand, prevention is better than cure, and thus preventive methods are also being emphasized. One risk factor of breast cancer is lifestyle choices. Improved awareness so that people adopt a healthier, less sedentary lifestyle is becoming a priority. If this will not finish breast cancer, it will reduce the risk factor, thus allowing many people to remain cancer-free.
Conclusion
Breast cancer remains to be a complex problem with far-reaching complications; however, it is a disease that is preventable. Advance in treatment options has ensured that breast cancer patients’ survival rate has steadily increased, and so the incidence of breast cancer has reduced in the past decade. However, more needs to be done to help cancer survivors cope with the disease both physically and emotionally to ensure that the adverse effects associated with the disease are significantly mitigated. Moreover, a thorough understanding of the disease will allow its management by rehabilitation counselors, physicians, and other stakeholders to be easier.