Breast cancer is a disease caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the breast tissue. Although it is the most common type of cancer in women, it can also be seen in men. Although it is more common in the post-menopausal period, it can be seen in every woman from the age of 18 on.
As a result of researches and developments in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, deaths due to breast cancer are gradually decreasing in Turkey as well as all over the world.
As in all types of cancer, early diagnosis is life-saving in breast cancer. Annual mammography and ultrasound scans to be performed in line with the physician's recommendation lead to early diagnosis and early treatment and full cure. A feeling of difference in one part of the breast from the other parts.
Change in the shape and size of the breast
Retraction in the breast skin
Unprecedented retraction of the nipple
An orange peel-like appearance or redness of the breast skin
What when should you go to the doctor?
Even if the last mammogram or ultrasound is normal, if any of these symptoms occur, it is necessary to go to an experienced breast surgeon.
How to diagnose breast cancer
Pathological diagnosis should be made after imaging (mammography, breast and armpit ultrasonography, breast and dynamic MRI) examinations are completed.
Tru-cut (thick needle) biopsy: Usually accompanied by ultrasonography, rarely mammography or It is also an MRI-guided method. If there is a palpable mass in the examination, an experienced surgeon can apply it in the outpatient clinic. It is examined by pathologists by taking a small piece of tissue from the mass in the breast.
Excisional biopsy with stereotactic marking: The nonpalpable mass or microcalcification area is marked with a wire, accompanied by ultrasonography or mammography. The marked area is excised under general anesthesia and examined pathologically.
Excisional biopsy and frozen section: In some cases, the palpable mass is excised under general anesthesia with the choice of the patient and pathologically examined during the operation. examine nir. If the result is cancer, the operation is continued.
How to treat breast cancer:
A treatment plan is made for a patient diagnosed with breast cancer. The treatment plan includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. The necessity, timing, order and amount of these treatments are decided in councils that include physicians from many branches.
The two main elements in surgical treatment are surgical treatment for the breast and surgical treatment for the armpit.
Surgical treatment for the breast
Partial breast resection (segmental mastectomy): Only a part of the breast is removed together with the mass.
The breast Removal of the entire breast (total mastectomy): The entire diseased breast is removed
Oncoplastic surgery: It is performed to improve the aesthetic appearance of the breast after surgery (both partial and total mastectomy). Today, it is applied to almost every patient by experienced surgeons.
Surgical treatment for the armpit
Sentinel lymph node biopsy: from the nipple The guard nodes found by following the dye and or radioactive material given are removed and pathological examination is performed. Underarm cleaning is performed on the patient as needed. Today, only this procedure is applied to approximately 70% of breast cancer patients and an armpit cleaning operation is not necessary.
Removal of axillary lymph nodes (axillary dissection): at least 8 axillary It is done by removing the lymph node. The most important complication is the development of lymphedema in the arm seen in the following years.
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