Breast cancer - risk factors, symptoms and diagnosis

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Bulgaria. In 99% it affects women, but although rare it also occurs in men.
Every year about 4000 Bulgarians hear this diagnosis. About 25% of women who have cancer suffer from breast cancer. Its incidence in the general population is about 13-14%, which makes 1/8.
It is estimated that in developed countries 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Breast cancer is often divided into ductal and lobular according to whether it arises in the epithelial cells of the milk ducts or the mammary glands, respectively. Ductal carcinoma is much more common.
MJ carcinoma is pathomorphologically divided into:
a) non-invasive - ductal and lobular
b) invasive- ductal, lobular, medullary, mucinous, papillary, tubular, anaplastic, etc.

Etiology and risk factors
MJ cancer is a heterogeneous polyfactorial disease. There are risk factors that increase the likelihood of MG cancer.
Age - 80% of the cases were over 40years of age, and the highest incidence after 50-60years; Familial burden, absence of birth before 35years, early menarche , late menopause. History of already developed breast cancer. Obesity, prolonged use of hormonal preparations.

Symptoms

• lump in the breast

-  change in breast shape

-     more pronounced venous network

-   nipple bruising

-     Annoyance

-    leakage of discharge from the nipple

-      flushing

-      orange skin

* Location by quadrants. The most common localization is the upper lateral (outer) quadrant of the mammary gland.

Diagnostics
An examination by a doctor is mandatory when you have any of the above symptoms.

Ultrasound examination - highly selective, inexpensive, non-invasive, harmless. Tumor formations as small as a few millimeters are visualized.

Mammography contrast-enhanced mammography. Magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment

Treatment is complex and depends on the size of the carcinoma, its location, the stage of the disease. Surgical intervention with histological verification is the first step. The extent of surgery may include removal of a sector, quadrant or the entire mammary gland.
After the surgical removal of the tumour tissue, an assessment is made of the need for further treatment- radiotherapy, chemotherapy, antiestrogen therapy and/or targeted therapy. 
Chemotherapy can be administered both before and after radical surgery (adjuvant) . Treatment is always complex and involves a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, psychologists.