Breast cancer is a serious health issue that can go undetected for years. In most cases, it takes two to five years for a cancerous lump to be felt, as each cell division lasts one to two months. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to fight cancer, and it can be given before, after, or both before and after surgery. It is usually given in cycles or rounds, with each round of treatment followed by a break.
Most of the time, two or more chemotherapy drugs are given and the treatment usually lasts for many months. Persistent pain or changes in the menstrual cycle may be a sign of cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer. Bloating for more than two weeks can be a sign of ovarian cancer, as well as several gastrointestinal cancers. It is important to have any lumps checked by a doctor, as
breast cancer
cells can break off and move through lymph or blood vessels to other areas of the body.Single-number survival estimates for people with late-stage
breast cancer
don't help, so the doctor may consider how a person responds to previous or current treatment to determine the likely change or progression of the cancer. The type of surgery and the treatment you get after that will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer has grown outside where it started and is invading nearby breast tissue. It is difficult to estimate cancer growth because not all cancer cells multiply and divide at the same rate.Because the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, it is currently not possible to know if it can be prevented. In a small proportion of women, breast cancer is discovered after it has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer). Stage 4 breast cancer is not curable and treatment aims to reduce the size of the cancer when possible and prevent it from growing or spreading further. In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some people with breast cancer don't have any symptoms.
Here you'll find detailed information on specific types of cancer, including risk factors, early detection, diagnosis and treatment options. People who have found a lump, who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, or who know someone who has had it may wonder how quickly it can grow or spread.Bladder cancer causes blood in the urine, while brain cancer causes terrible headaches. If a healthcare provider finds early signs of breast cancer or has strong suspicions that a person may have breast cancer, he or she is likely to request additional tests. People with breast cancer can experience a variety of symptoms, but not everyone will experience the same symptoms.If you are concerned about symptoms associated with several types of cancer, don't hesitate to see your doctor.
Early detection is key when it comes to treating breast cancer and other forms of this disease.
