Introduction

Breast cancer is a major public health problem and it is the most common cancer in women worldwide.

It affects over 1 million women each year and it is estimated that nearly half of them survive for at least 5 years after treatment

Breast cancer and its prevalence worldwide

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, with over 1 million new cases every year. It accounts for approximately 30% of all cancers in women.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women after lung cancer and it ranks among the top five causes of death among females worldwide.

Who is at risk of breast cancer?

Although it’s impossible to predict who will get breast cancer, there are risk factors that can increase your chances of developing the disease. These include:

• Genetic factors. You may be more likely to develop breast cancer if you have a family history of the disease 
• A mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes also puts you at higher risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Doctors can tell whether you have one of these mutations by analyzing DNA from cells in your mouth or blood sample.
• Age. Breast cancer is most common among women over age 50, although younger women can also develop it—especially those who have never given birth (nulliparous) or had their first child after age 35 years old (postmenopausal). If you’re older than 40 years old and haven’t had one yet, talk with your doctor about getting an annual mammogram before age 45 years old. Earlier if you’re at high risk because of personal history or genetic makeup.
• Family history of breast cancer: Having close relativessuch as a sister or mother with early-onset breast cancers ups your risk considerably. It is because this suggests that certain genetic mutations could play a role in causing tumors to grow more quickly than usual.
• Race: Black Americans have the highest incidence rate for incident cases, followed closely by whites or Hispanic women come third.

What is the signs and symptoms of breast cancer

If you notice any of the following changes, get to a doctor as soon as possible:

• A lump in your breast, whether it’s hard or soft
• Changes in the size or shape of one or both breasts that persist for more than two to three months. If only one breast is affected, it may not be cancer but still requires evaluation.
• Redness or swelling around the nipple that doesn’t go away when you press on it firmly. This can indicate infection (mastitis), but it could also signal something serious like cancer.
• Dimpling of skin overlying either nipple when pushed down with your finger (areola). This can indicate Paget’s disease—a rare type of cancer that affects young women and often requires surgery if left untreated. However, many doctors will first treat this condition with medications instead of surgery.

How to detect early signs of breast cancer

There are many ways to detect early signs of breast cancer, including self-examinations and regular mammograms.

Mammography is the most effective way to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage. The test is painless, quick and easy to perform. It is recommended for women >40 years old.

A woman can take charge of her health by performing monthly self-exams where she feels for any lumps or changes in her breasts that may be associated with cancer.

The role of breast ultrasound and mammogram in early detection of cancer

Mammograms are commonly used as a screening tool to detect breast cancer early. A mammogram examination is not a diagnostic test but guide in investigating breast masses. If you have an abnormal result on your mammogram, additional testing such as ultrasound or a tissue biopsy to determine if there is any cancer present.

A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of breasts that look similar to those seen during an MRI scan. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves (similar to those used in TENS therapy) and can be used safely on pregnant women with no known risks associated with their use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Ultrasound can detect small lumps in the breast, but many lumps found by ultrasound are benign (not cancerous). This means that not all lumps detected by ultrasound are necessarily dangerous. 

BIRADs scoring system ultrasound

The BIRADS system evaluates the results of breast ultrasound and assigns a score between 0 and 4.

• Scoring categories range from 0 (no abnormality) to 4 (highly suspicious for cancer).
• Scores of 4 or higher warrant additional investigation, such as tissue biopsy, in order to rule out breast cancer.

Management of breast cancer

Early detection is the most important aspect of breast cancer managemen, and it’s something that you can take charge of.

Regular screening with mammograms or breast ultrasound is the best way for your doctor to keep an eye on your health and catch anything problematic before it becomes a problem.

If you notice any unusual lumps or changes in your breasts between screenings, make sure you tell your doctor for further management.

As soon as any kind of abnormality is found on a screening test or during an examination (this may be caused by either cysts or tumors), further testing will likely be required to determine whether there are signs of cancer present.

Breast biopsy allows doctors to take a small sample from inside the abnormal area so that they can examine it under a microscope for to differentiate non-cancerous cells from cancer cells.

Breast cancer is a common problem in women. Early detection is the key to the successful treatment

Breast cancer is a common problem in women. Early detection is the key to the successful treatment.

In order to detect early signs of breast cancer it is necessary to regularly perform self-examination and consult a doctor when any changes occur.

The role of breast ultrasound and mammogram in early detection of cancer has been proved.

Conclusion

Breast cancer is a common problem in women. Early detection is the key to the successful treatment of this disease. Breast cancer screening with mammography and breast ultrasound can be done as a routine after the age of 40 years.