Breast cancer is a major concern in Singapore, as it is frequently diagnosed. In fact, over 25% of cancer diagnoses are associated with breast cancer. From 2010 to 2014, close to 2,000 women were treated for breast cancer. Breast cancer, like other cancer growths, begins as a lump or a malignant (cancerous) tumour. When breast cells take on abnormal shapes and divide, breast cancer is the result.
Increased Risks
In women, the risk of getting breast cancer increases after the age of 40. Men may also get breast cancer. However, they represent only about 1% of breast cancer cases. About 10% of breast cancers are related to genetics. BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes occur in half the families that have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Breast cancer also is seen more in women who give birth for the first time at an older age or who do not have children. If a woman’s fertile period is longer, she also stands the chance of developing this type of cancer.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
A lump in the breast is the most obvious sign that a woman may have developed breast cancer. Other symptoms may include swelling of the breast, discharge or bleeding from a nipple, or enlarged lymph nodes.
Review the Condition Online First
What you must know about breast cancer screening in Singapore can be found by a careful search online. Usually, a mammogram and biopsy are required when a suspicious lump is found. Once breast cancer is diagnosed, a woman may need to undergo other exams to determine the progress of the disease.
Treatment for the Disease
The typical first treatment for cancer is normally surgery. If the breast cannot be saved, a mastectomy is required to eradicate the disease. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used to treat the remaining cancer cells.
When Radiation Is Used
Many times, radiation is used because of its relative safety. This form of therapy is indicated for patients with stage 0 through stage III breast cancer after they undergo a mastectomy or lumpectomy. This same treatment is helpful as well when stage IV cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
When Radiation Treatments Are Not Recommended
Radiation therapy is not recommended for pregnant women. It is also not an option for people who already have received radiation in another area of their body. You should also bypass radiation if you cannot commit to a regular schedule of therapy.
Determining a Treatment Plan
Treatment sequences for treating breast cancer may include surgery and radiation or surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The most common types of radiation—external beam radiation—begins about four weeks after surgery. Intraoperative radiation is administered during a surgery, after the cancerous tissue is removed and before the incision is closed.
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