Symptoms of Breast Cancer

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Definition
Breast cancer develops when there is mutation in the healthy cells of the breasts. While breast cancer can happen to both men and women, it is more common in women. Over the years, the breast cancer survival rate has increased greatly, driven by factors such as early detection, new treatments and a better understanding of the disease.
Symptoms
Most people who have breast cancer will notice any of the following symptoms mentioned below. However, these symptoms don’t automatically mean that you have cancer.
Be sure to consult a doctor if you notice any of the following:
• A lump or thickening in the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue
• Change in size or shape of breast
• Discharge of blood from the nipple
• Inverted nipple
• Changes to the skin of the breast, for instance, dimpling
• Redness, peeling or scaling of the nipple or the breast skin
Causes of Breast Cancer
As with other cancers, it is not really clear why cells in the breast mutate and grow abnormally.Over a period, the healthy cells die while the diseased cells continue to thrive, grow, accumulate and form a lump or mass. These cancer cells may spread through your breast to the lymph nodes or even to the other parts of the body.
Breast cancer can originate from the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma) or the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma). It may also begin from other cells within the breast.
Most researchers are of the opinion that the breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction between your genetic makeup and your immediate environment.
Studies show that only 5-10% of breast cancer gene mutations are hereditary. A number of inherited mutated genes that can lead to breast cancer have been i...

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...tment, the doctors may refer you to the following rehabilitation programmes:
Physical therapy:The physical therapists will design an individualized exercise programme to help reduce fatigue and optimize physical function. The exercise will help you:
• Improve muscle tone
• Regain and maintain movement and mobility in the arm and shoulder
• Regain the ability to do daily activities
• Lessen side effects of surgery, such as pain, nausea and swelling
• Improve well-being
Occupational therapy:The therapy aims to help you with daily living activities such as dressing, showering and eating.
Oncology rehabilitation: The therapy will help prevent or minimize lymphedema using specialized drainage techniques, stretching exercises and massages.
Auriculotherapy: The therapy will help alleviate some side effects of breast cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain and fatigue.

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