Do you feel ill with breast cancer? It's important to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors associated with this condition, as well as the ways it can be prevented. Constant nausea (feeling sick), unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite are all potential signs of breast cancer. In women who haven't gone through menopause, ovarian ablation or suppression can prevent the ovaries from producing estrogen, which can reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 90%. If you're concerned about any changes in your breasts, it's best to speak to your doctor.
Women with a higher than average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing to detect the condition. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to prevent breast cancer, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Dense breast tissue can make it difficult to detect lumps or areas of abnormal tissue on a mammogram, so it's important to be aware of this. This form of cancer rarely appears as a lump in the breast that can be felt and is usually found on a mammogram.
A benign breast lump doesn't mean you have breast cancer, but certain types may slightly increase your risk. Mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes as much breast tissue as possible and can reduce the risk of developing the condition in some women from high-risk families. If the diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed, more tests will be needed to determine the stage and grade of the cancer and decide on the best treatment method. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Invasive breast cancer refers to cancer that spreads from the original site to other areas of the breast, lymph nodes, or any other part of the body. All women aged 50 to 70 should be screened for breast cancer every 3 years as part of the NHS Breast Screening Program. It's important to talk to your breast cancer nurse about any complementary therapy you want to use, to make sure it doesn't interfere with conventional treatment. The ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of the breasts, showing any lumps or abnormalities.
The most common symptom is a breast lump, which can be located anywhere on the chest wall up to below the armpit.
