Medical Research and Drugs Abound: Say Goodbye to Breast Cancer
23 October 2024
When it comes to breast cancer, how much do you know about it?
Dr. Christina Lai Nye Bing, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre, says that whenever breast cancer patients ask her what breast cancer is, she usually uses the ancient Latin word for cancer, ‘Cancer’, which literally means ‘Crab’, as an analogy. As an analogy, a malignant tumour usually has a solid centre and then branches out to the surrounding area, like the shape of a crab. Clinically, breast cancer tumours are sometimes shaped like crabs, with the centre of the tumour and the spreading vascular tissue around it taking on the shape of a crab's body and feet.
Do not be alarmed if you find a breast tumour because breast tumours are classified as benign or malignant. Most benign breast lumps are cysts, which form fluid sacs within the breast tissue and usually do not cause much harm to the human body; a malignant tumour is an abnormal growth of the breast cells that is uncontrollable, as in the above mentioned tumours shaped to grow like crabs.
Know Whether You Are At Risk
Dr. Christina Lai said that breast cancer is a hormone-related cancer. Currently, the causes of breast cancer are related to genes, dietary habits, delayed childbearing age and environmental hormones. At the same time, family history of breast cancer, childlessness, obesity, high stress, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise or excessive intake of female hormones are all risk factors for breast cancer.
In addition, 5 % of all breast cancer patients are genetically predisposed to the disease. If a male member of the family has breast cancer, he may also carry a genetic risk.
Dr. Christina Lai also mentioned that long-term use of contraceptive pills increases the risk of breast cancer. Therefore, women who wish to use contraception should consult their doctors first to avoid any impact on their health and fertility plans.
Regular Health Screening Is Indispensable
Starting from the age of 40, women should undergo annual mammogram, which can detect various breast tumours, cysts and other lesions, and help in the early detection of breast cancer. Doctors will use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to evaluate and classify mammogram reports and make recommendations for follow-up, and to make it easier for patients to understand the results of mammograms.
In addition, BI-RADS classifies breast diseases into 0-6 grades, the higher the grade, the higher the risk of malignancy of breast cancer. However, it is worth noting that this classification only stratifies the risk of malignancy of breast nodules, so a high grade does not necessarily mean that the patient has breast cancer, and a definitive diagnosis of breast cancer still needs to be made through pathological examination.
Lifestyle Is The Key To Preventing Breast Cancer
Keeping away from the threat of breast cancer should start from changing the lifestyle, which can be done by changing one's own behaviour in terms of work, rest and eating habits.
Dr. Christina Lai pointed out that women nowadays stay up late to use mobile phones, eat an unbalanced diet, and use a variety of chemical substances in daily necessities, coupled with the psychological pressure brought about by the epidemic, all of these long-accumulated bad habits have increased the risk of breast cancer.
She also mentioned that many people believe that the more sugar they consume, the higher their risk of cancer, especially breast cancer. However, sugar itself does not directly cause breast cancer, but consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity. Obesity, coupled with chronic stress, will prompt the body to release more cortisol, which triggers chronic inflammation in the body and interferes with hormonal balance, and this vicious cycle will further increase the risk of breast cancer.
Don't Give Up On Treatment No Matter What
Dr. Teoh Li Ying, Consultant Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, points out that often patients will encourage and communicate with each other, but are puzzled to learn that the treatment they are undergoing is not the same as their own. As each patient's condition is different, the team of breast and oncology specialists need to understand the patient's future life and reproductive plans in order to tailor-make a treatment plan for each patient, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment.
In the unfortunate event of a breast cancer diagnosis, patients often feel hopeless in the face of unpredictable adversity. Dr. Christina Lai and Dr. Teoh Li Ying coincidentally said that while breast cancer may sound scary, what is even more frightening is the lack of early diagnosis and treatment, which allows the disease to be delayed until it reaches an advanced stage. They encouraged patients not to give up for fear of the arduous treatment process. As mentioned above, there are many medical studies and drug options available for breast cancer today. Patients can discuss and adjust their treatment plans with their doctors and complete the course of treatment with a stronger mindset to fight breast cancer aggressively.
No More Low Self-esteem Reconstructive Surgery To Restore Breast Aesthetics
Breasts are a symbol of femininity. When breast cancer patients learn that they need to undergo surgery, they often mistakenly believe that the entire breast must be removed, fearing that it will affect their image and self-confidence. Dr. Teoh Li Ying explains that, in fact, breast specialists will decide on the treatment plan based on the size and location of the tumour. Only when the tumour occupies more than 20% of the breast will a total mastectomy be required, otherwise only a partial tumour removal is required in most cases, so patients do not need to worry too much.
Even if a total or partial mastectomy is required, the patient can still undergo Oncoplastic Surgery (OS) or Breast Reconstruction (BRC) to reconstruct the whole breast, regaining beauty and confidence, and reducing the impact on sex life.
Holistic Breast Preservation Surgery removes the tumour while taking into account the reconstruction method of the breast, preserving part of the healthy breast tissue and instantly reshaping the breast using plastic surgery techniques. This type of surgery aims to restore the shape of the breast, reduce the distortion of its appearance and bring it into balance with the other breast.
Will It Recur In The Future?
Dr. Teoh Li Ying said that although there are potential after-effects of the operation, but the most important thing is to complete the entire treatment process do not give up halfway, the patient in the operation 2 to 3 months after listening to the physiotherapist's advice, exercise the muscles of the upper body, to improve muscle strength and muscular endurance, to reduce the chances of after-effects.
Apart from these sequelae, patients are of course very concerned about whether the cancer will recur after the operation. She pointed out that older breast cancer patients often tend to opt for total mastectomy, believing that this can be done once and for all. In fact, total mastectomy does reduce the risk of recurrence in the retained breast, with the probability of recurrence being only about 20 per cent. It is worth noting that patients who undergo mastectomy or radiotherapy typically have a 10% recurrence rate within 10 years.
In addition, some patients are concerned about whether they will be able to breastfeed after surgery; removal of the whole breast does result in loss of breast function and loss of breast sensation. However, women who retain their nipples after mastectomy are still able to breastfeed, even though they may produce less milk due to the removal of part of the breast tissue. It is worth noting that some women who retain their nipples after mastectomy are no longer able to breastfeed.
Cancer To Abstain From Eating?
Dr. Teoh Li Ying stressed that patients need to take in the right amount of nutrients from various types of food, and there is no scientific proof that these foods will cause cancer, and from then on to constrain themselves to become a taboo, resulting in their own malnutrition. For example, patients are afraid to eat a bite of chicken for fear that chicken is administered with growth hormones. In fact, chicken is rich in high quality protein which can provide nutritional support to cancer patients, especially after surgery when the body needs protein and vitamins to repair itself. Apart from not favouring a particular diet, it is also important to consume more vegetables and fruits.
Establishing an exercise habit is good for the body and mind. She suggests that patients gradually build up or return to exercise after surgery, with 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as Zumba dancing, or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as hiking or running, per week.
Source: Sin Chew Daily
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