What are the signs of breast cancer?
Sometimes there are no outward, noticeable signs of breast cancer, but the most obvious ones are lumps. The breast can also swell and become red, and the underarm lymph nodes can swell too and get bigger.
Check yourself regularly for any of those signs. It’s always safer to do self-tests, even though most breast lumps end up being noncancerous, (benign). Other signs to look out for are:
- Breast pain
- Changes in the nipple appearance
- Cysts
Always express any concerns: The more information Dr. Citro and his staff have, the better they can help you. Something you might not think is relevant could be a valuable piece of your health puzzle.
What are the first steps in treating breast cancer?
First, Dr. Citro will choose the necessary exams that you might need to undergo to get a diagnosis, including a:
- Breast MRI, which uses radio waves and a magnet to produce images
- Mammogram, an X-ray of the breast
- Physical breast exam to check both breasts and lymph nodes for lumps or abnormalities
- Breast ultrasound, a technology that creates images of the inner structures of your body
- Biopsy, involving the removal of a small sample of the breast cells for testing
If it turns out that you have cancerous breast cells, Dr. Citro assesses the stage of the cancer, if it’s spreading or not, and decide the right treatment options.
What are the different types of breast cancer?
Cancer in the lining of the milk duct is the most common. Cancer of the lobules is where the breast milk is produced. Sarcoma, though rare, is a cancer of the connective tissue.
Dr. Citro can provide you with more tools and information to build your knowledge, and give you more understanding about your health.
What are some of the treatment options for breast cancer?
Treatments depend on the size, stage, and severity of your cancer, but include:
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses X-rays and protons to destroy cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy typically uses drugs to destroy cancerous cells.
Hormone Therapy
Some cancers may respond to hormone therapy, which works to block, add, or remove hormones in your body to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy is the surgery to remove the tumor, and a small amount of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
Mastectomy
A Mastectomy is a surgery to remove the entire breast.
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
This is a procedure where the doctor remove your lymph nodes.
Dr. Citro and his staff are available to help. Book online or call Nexus Care today to make an appointment.
