Breast Cancer

Introduction

The world is facing deaths from different ailments with cancer being one of the leading causes. Actually, breast cancer, which involves abnormal growth of multiple cells in breasts, is the second largest cause of women death in the world (Sun et.al. 2017). However, in the recent years there is progress in preventing the spread of the disease in the society. Early diagnosis helps individuals to know their cancer status and take timely intervention if they find they have the disease. In most of the developed countries, the breast cancer victims are surviving for relatively many years due to early intervention (Sun et.al. 2017). The paper focuses on preventive measures of breast cancer and factors that impact on effective prevention measures. Further, the paper presents treatment options that are available in treatment of this type of cancer and their relative implication on patients. 

Methods to Prevent Breast Cancer

There are different preventive measures such as breast screening that are essential in preventing breast cancer. Screening involves use hands through self-breast examination to feel if there are abnormal lumps on the breast (Nounou et.al. 2015). Individuals can carry this procedure in their homes where they inspect their breasts and any abnormal realization reported to medical practitioners. Further, a person can visit a hospital where mammography method that relies on x- ray takes images of breast interior features (Nounou et.al. 2015). The method provides high resolution images that doctors rely on to diagnose for this type of cancer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is also another screening method, which is relatively more sensitive in comparison to mammography (Nounou et.al. 2015). The method is able to detect presence of residual tumors and nodal metastasis (Sun et.al. 2017). Another method available is chemoprevention that uses natural agents in inhibiting development of premalignant cells (Sun et.al. 2017). The method is effective in killing any cancer cells at early stages of breast cancer. 

How Age and Family History Impact on Preventive Measures of Breast cancer

Family history influences the possibility of individuals suffering from breast cancer if any members of their family had the disease in the past. Indeed, women whose mothers or any sibling suffers from breast cancer are prone to the disease (Shah et.al. 2014). Individuals with such histories in their families need to carry regular self-breast examination to identify any abnormality in time. Further, such persons need to visit hospitals to have screening yearly. Age on the other hand contributes to increasing risk to breast cancer. The problem is relatively high in women whose age is between 40 and 60 years (Shah et.al. 2014). The women in this category are at high risk because some are approaching menopause and those around 60 are past the menopause stage. As age progress, women require to visit hospitals regularly to get mammography screening. However, women who are above the age of 75 years should avoid use of MRI because of danger it has in destroying their aging cells (Shah et.al. 2014). 

Drug Treatment Options for Patients Diagnosed With Breast Cancer and their Implications

There are different treatment options for breast cancer such as radiation therapy that uses high frequency radiation to kill the cancer cells (Nounou et.al. 2015). However, the method cause decrease in sensation on the area irradiated by the high intensity rays. The method also has potential to cause the treated are to have itchiness and soreness (Nounou et.al. 2015). The other major method used is chemotherapy that relies on inhibiting agents that destroy DNA associated with breast cancer (Nounou et.al. 2015). Further, the method disrupts formation of protein that is necessary in the multiplication of cancer cells. Additionally, the treatment also changes the shape and proliferation of DNA and RNA thus reducing spread of breast cancer (Nounou et.al. 2015). However, chemotherapy has different side effects such as harming the bone marrow. The other approach to treating breast cancer is endocrine therapy that works through blocking hormones in patients with invasive cells that cause cancer (Nounou et.al. 2015). However, the treatment cause fatigue in patients and menopausal symptoms. Further, continued use result to problem of memory loss and thinning hair.  

Conclusion

Breast cancer is a significant problem in the society and results to significant number of deaths. However, there are different approaches that are available in preventing the spread of the disease in the society such as screening. Screening entails activities such as self-breast examination, MRI and mammography. The methods help in identifying earlier signs of breast cancer through visible lumps or images through high-resolution radiation. However, there are different factors that influence the use of different preventive measures such as age and family history. Individuals where a member of their family has breast cancer have high probability of suffering from the same ailment. Therefore, such individual require carrying regular self-breast examination and going for mammography once per year. The aging population especially those between 40 and 60 years are at high risk of the diseases and need for mammography yearly. However, to the affected there are different treatment methods that help in controlling breast cancer such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and endocrine therapy. 

References

Nounou, M. I., Elamraw, F., Ahmed, N. et.al. (2015). Breast Cancer: Conventional Diagnosis and Treatment Modalities and Recent Patents and Technologies. Breast Cancer, 9(2), 17-34. 

Shah, R. S., Rosso, K. & Nathanson, S. D. (2014). Pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. World Journal of Clinical Oncology, 5(3), 283-298. 

Sun, Y., Zhao, Z., Yang, Z. et.al. (2017). Risk Factors and Preventions of Breast Cancer. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 13(11), 1387-1397.