Breast Carcinoma
Life within and after

Breast Cancer, has been among us for more than a century. So commonly known to almost all, it has a lot of myths surrounding it. Still it’s supposed to be the least torturous of all the Cancers put together. But the main aspect of this disease lies in the fact, that it can afflict any woman or man for that matter.

The common notion ‘it can’t happen to me’ comes to an abrupt halt when one gets to know the truth or the discovery of being positive from Breast Cancer. Apart from the physical stress, the patient often goes through a lot of psychological thought process. An early detection and a positive outlook towards life are all needed to get over this trauma successful.

In India, Breast Cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer diagnosed in women today. And it’s not only women who are affected by this. Out of 100 women, there is one male who is diagnosed with the same.

Breast Cancer does not mean a specific category of disease but rather different types of cancer generally found in breast that are collectively referred to as so. In short, abnormal development of cells leads to the growth of tumour. When the tumour grows and spreads, it is termed as Cancer.

The cause of any disease is the first thing to think about.

Causes:
Breast Cancer can be detected at an early stage of the patient. Any differences in breast form can be the cause. The risk of developing Breast Cancer increases with age. Then there are other factors that ncrease the chances of inheriting the same. These include family history of close relatives like mother, sister and daughter, early start of menses and early menopause.

Due to social changes, the number of working women is on the rise leading to delay in child bearing. This has directly increased the number of Breast Cancer patients. Coming to genes, there are two kinds that are responsible for Breast Cancer -BRCA1 and BRCA2. Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement theory, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, smoking, exposure to radioactive rays, harmful chemicals also adds to the same. In fact, according to experts, there are no fixed causes for Breast Cancer. In this, myths are more helpful than facts which are still unknown.

Signs and Symptoms:
For the patients of Breast Cancer, the early symptoms come with just a simple pain which in medical terms is called Mastodynia that can be a cue to call a doctor and later with a painful lump. If it is diagnosed in its early -stages, treatment becomes far simpler and the recovery is faster. But then, it is not necessary that a lump in the breast or in the armpit (underarm area) is definitely cancer. It could be something else - cyst or duct problems. So it is better to consult a doctor.

If a mature breast changes size and shape, especially when only one breast is changing, it may signal that the milk ducts or the lobes may be swelling deep inside which is not normal and needs a doctor’s check. Nothing much to worry about if the changes is in accordance to the regular monthly hormonal cycle.

Natural changes that come with age may affect the shape and size which is not counted for this. But if the nipple pulls in or does not return to its normal shape easily, flat or inverted are the suspicions of Breast Cancer. And if you can observe dimples, puckers or a rash on the nipple skin or in areola, (darker skin surrounding the nipple), this is also a symptom of Breast Cancer. One unusual type of Breast Cancer is called Paget's disease, and starts out in the form of a rash. This is curable when discovered at its early stages.

A breast that always feels warm and sometimes hot to touch is a symptom of inflammatory Breast Cancer. And if the breast itches every time, is red and blotchy, or having a rash like appearance, it is also a symptom of the same.

Speaking to the Patient :
Probably an actual insight can surely be given by a woman who has undergone such traumatic events. The opportunity which I got, speaking to one such person helped me a lot in concluding this article. This particular woman had been detected of Carcinoma Breast at the age of 45. Like many others before, her negligence in diagnosing a small lump in her right breast led to her detection of 3rd stage of the disease, which was highly dangerous. Doctors didn’t have much faith either whether she could ever lead a normal life again. But as she says, “I didn’t have much choice, it was either life or death, I had to be optimistic!” she adds, “I thought I had to be there for my child. And then God gave me the will power to sustain.”

After going through surgery and lot of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she is today well enough to lead a hectic house wife’s life.
Such cases of recovery were quiet uncommon in yesteryears. But today, she’s one of the many who are leading a peaceful life after the treatment of Breast Carcinoma, even though it was detected in much later stages.

Shampa Saha
BA (Journalism, Psychology & English)