Can You Live with Breast Cancer and Not Know It?

Many women diagnosed with

breast cancer

never experience any signs or symptoms, and their cancer is only detected through a screening test such as a mammogram. While there is no definitive answer to this question, some types of cancer are more easily detected than others. According to research, some cancers can form and grow undetected for up to 10 years or more, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Women who are diagnosed with

breast cancer

may not have any signs or symptoms, and their cancer may be found during a mammogram.

With the current pandemic, many of us have delayed our annual screenings and checkups where cancers are usually detected. However, early detection is one of the most effective ways to fight the disease. The American Cancer Society offers the Cancer Survivors Network (CSN), a safe place for people to connect with others who share similar interests and experiences. We have plenty of information about breast cancer, as well as daily help and emotional support throughout the process.

When breast cancer tests negative for three proteins, it means that the cancer may be harder to treat because there are fewer treatment options. If a breast cancer misdiagnosis caused you unnecessary pain or suffering, or if it took the life of a loved one, you may have grounds to file a medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuit. Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer has grown outside of where it started (for example, a galactophore duct or mammary gland) and is invading (growing) nearby breast tissue. This is why many older men with prostate cancer choose not to receive treatment; they are more likely to die from prostate cancer than from it.

Some types of cancer that often go undetected are slow-growing conditions, giving doctors a better chance that treatment will be successful. Targeted drug therapy for breast cancer can cause many different side effects depending on the drug being used. The signs and symptoms of cancer usually first appear when the tumor or cancerous mass has grown large enough to begin attacking nearby organs and tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. However, swelling for more than two weeks can be an indication of ovarian cancer, as well as several gastrointestinal cancers.

We have also partnered with CaringBridge, a free online tool that helps people suffering from diseases such as cancer stay in touch with their friends, family and support network by creating their own personal page where they can share their experiences and health updates. If the cancer does not test positive for any of these proteins, it is called triple-negative breast cancer. Significant changes in body functions can indicate colon, prostate, or bladder cancer among other types of cancer.Breast cancer cells will be tested for certain proteins called estrogen and progesterone receptors.