One of the most important steps in the fight against breast cancer is knowing the early signs so that someone can seek help without delay. Dr. Satish Sharma always emphasises: “Don’t wait if you notice something unusual, get it checked.”
Here are some of the breast cancer symptoms and early signs to watch for:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm that persists (not going away with your menstrual cycle)
- A change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast
- Skin changes on the breast or nipple dimpling, puckering, scaly, inflamed, red, or darker discolouration
- Nipple changes, the nipple becomes inverted (turns inward), retracted, or shows unusual discharge
- A marble-like or hard area under the skin
- Unusual swelling, warmth, itchiness or tightening sensation in one breast
It’s important to remember these changes may not always be cancer, many breast problems are benign, but any persistent or unusual change should prompt a consultation.
Why Does Breast Cancer Happen? What Are the Causes?
Understanding the causes of breast cancer is complex. There is rarely a single cause; rather, a mix of genetic, hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors contributes. Some key points:
- Genetic factors: Mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are well-known to increase breast cancer risk.
- Hormonal influences: Lifetime exposure to estrogen and progesterone (for example, early menstruation, late menopause, hormone therapy) may raise risk.
- Family history: Having close relatives (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer raises your personal risk.
- Lifestyle and exposure: Obesity, alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, and radiation exposure to the chest (especially at a young age) can contribute.
- Other risk factors: Older age, dense breast tissue, certain benign breast conditions, and prior history of breast cancer also influence risk.
But it’s also true that many women with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors. Dr. Satish Sharma advises that awareness and screening are crucial because we can’t rely solely on “risk” to protect us.
How Can You Detect Breast Cancer Early?
The phrase “early detection” is key breast cancer found at an earlier stage offers a much better chance for effective treatment and improved outcomes. Dr. Satish Sharma, a best oncologist in Ranchi, often counsels his patients that early detection can be lifesaving.
What screening methods are used?
Here are the main tools used to detect breast cancer before it causes obvious symptoms:
- Mammography: This is the gold standard screening test. For people at average risk, mammograms are generally recommended beginning around age 40 and repeated every one to two years.
- Ultrasound: Used often as a complementary test, especially when a mammogram shows an abnormality or when the breast is dense.
- Breast MRI: In higher-risk individuals (for example, those with gene mutations or strong family history), MRI may be used in addition to mammograms.
- Molecular breast imaging and other advanced imaging modalities are sometimes used in specific scenarios when conventional methods are insufficient.
- Clinical breast exam: A doctor or trained clinician feels the breast and underarm area for any abnormalities.
- Breast awareness: Rather than formal self-examination protocols, many guidelines now advise being generally aware of how your breasts look and feel and promptly reporting new changes.
If a screening test or exam raises suspicion, further diagnostic steps (such as a biopsy) are required to confirm whether cancer is present.
What Are the Treatment Options for Breast Cancer?
Once breast cancer is diagnosed, the treatment plan is tailored to the type, stage, and patient factors. Dr. Satish Sharma works with multidisciplinary teams to guide patients through this complex journey. Below are the main breast cancer treatment options:
Surgery
Surgery is often the first step to remove the tumour. The options include:
- Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy / partial mastectomy): Only the tumour and a margin of healthy tissue are removed, while preserving much of the breast. Often followed by radiation.
- Mastectomy: Involves the removal of the entire breast. In some cases, both breasts may be removed (bilateral mastectomy) for high-risk patients.
During surgery, assessment of lymph nodes is also important, either via sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection, to see if cancer has spread.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation is commonly used after breast-conserving surgery to eliminate residual microscopic cancer cells in the breast region. It may also be used after mastectomy in certain high-risk scenarios.
Systemic (Whole-Body) Therapies
These treatments address cancer cells that may have travelled beyond the breast:
- Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to kill or shrink cancer cells.
- Hormone (endocrine) therapy: For cancers that are hormone receptor–positive, drugs (like tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) are used to block hormone signals.
- Targeted therapy / biologic therapy: These drugs act on specific features of cancer cells (for example, HER2-positive cancers).
- Immunotherapy: In some types of advanced cancer, immunotherapy is used alongside other systemic treatments.
- For metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer, when cancer has spread beyond the breast treatment focuses on systemic therapies to control growth, relieve symptoms, and maintain quality of life.
Sometimes, neoadjuvant therapy (systemic therapy before surgery) is used to shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove.
Reconstruction & Supportive Care
After removal of tissue, reconstructive surgery may rebuild the breast shape. Supportive or palliative care addresses side effects, psychosocial needs, nutrition, pain, and quality of life.
Conclusion
Understanding breast cancer symptoms, recognising early signs, knowing the causes, and being aware of treatment options empowers patients. Dr. Satish Sharma hopes this article gives clarity, reassurance, and motivation so no one ignores warning signs, and each person can access the best possible care.
FAQs
If I feel a lump, does it mean cancer?
Not always. Many lumps or breast changes are benign (non-cancerous). But Dr. Satish Sharma emphasises: any new, persistent, or suspicious finding must be evaluated properly. It’s safer to investigate early than to ignore.
Can breast cancer come back after treatment?
Yes, breast cancer can happen. If it recurs, treatment is usually more aggressive and may include a different combination of systemic therapy, surgery, or radiation.
Is metastatic breast cancer curable?
In general, Stage IV or metastatic breast cancer is not considered curable, but many patients can live longer and better with modern treatments. The goal is to control disease, relieve symptoms, and prolong quality of life.