Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In India, it has overtaken cervical cancer to become the commonest cancer amongst urban women. 1\/22 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This incidence is predicted to rise to 1\/7 women by 2020<\/p>\n
Majority of the cases are random with no identifiable cause. Some of the known risk factors are:<\/p>\n
It can be explained in a 5 step rule of self examination to be done once a month<\/p>\n
Any obvious lumps in breast, armpits or above the collar bone<\/p>\n
Report it immediately to your doctor. Most of the time, it will be non cancerous , but needs checking out by an expert<\/p>\n
Every year from the age of 50. Younger women can opt for ultrasonography done at a good centre<\/p>\n
Treatment depends on the stage of diagnosis, which means that the treatment will be different for each patient. Usually it is a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone pills.<\/p>\n
Treatment has advanced over the last 20 years & we no longer recommend mastectomy for majority of the patients. They will just need removal of the lump & testing of the lymph nodes in the armpit.<\/p>\n
You can be discharged the same day or the next day after surgery.<\/p>\n
Yes. Though rare (1-2%), men can still get breast cancer & unfortunately usually present at a later stage.<\/p>\n
Dr Archana Shetty<\/p>\n
Consultant Breast Oncosurgeon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"