5 Comments on “Breast Cancer Questions?? :] 10 Points Best Answer Please?”

• Brian Aladesuyi

  

  10 February, 2010, 17:58

  I have a good answer: do your own homework.
• Alexis

  

  10 February, 2010, 18:35

  1. The most affected parts of the body are lymph nodes of surrounding areas, bones, liver and lungs. Cancerous cells can travel through lymphatic system.
  2. Mammograms
  3.
  Cancer stage is based on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive, whether lymph nodes are involved, and whether the cancer has spread beyond the breast.Stage I

  Stage 1 describes invasive breast cancer (cancer cells are breaking through to or invading neighboring normal tissue) in which:

  * the tumor measures up to 2 centimeters, AND
  * no lymph nodes are involved

  Stage II

  Stage II is divided into subcategories known as IIA and IIB.

  Stage IIA describes invasive breast cancer in which:

  * no tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm), OR
  * the tumor measures 2 centimeters or less and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, OR
  * the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes

  Stage IIB describes invasive breast cancer in which:

  * the tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, OR
  * the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes

  Stage III

  Stage III is divided into subcategories known as IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.

  Stage IIIA describes invasive breast cancer in which either:

  * no tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone, OR
  * the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller and has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, OR
  * the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures

  Stage IIIB describes invasive breast cancer in which:

  * the tumor may be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breast AND
  * may have spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone
  * Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least stage IIIB.

  Stage IIIC describes invasive breast cancer in which:

  * there may be no sign of cancer in the breast or, if there is a tumor, it may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast, AND
  * the cancer has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone, AND
  * the cancer may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone

  Stage IV

  Stage IV describes invasive breast cancer in which:

  * the cancer has spread to other organs of the body — usually the lungs, liver, bone, or brain

  “Metastatic at presentation” means that the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes, even though this is the first diagnosis of breast cancer. The reason for this is that the primary breast cancer was not found when it was only inside the breast. Metastatic cancer is considered stage IV.
  4.Theres a 51% chance of breast cancer coming back. Theres no guarantee the patient will be cured.
• Memere RN/BA

  

  10 February, 2010, 18:44

  Well, it looks like Alexis did your work for you. I was going to give personal experience, but her answer is just as good.Good luck on your project
• qwrty

  

  10 February, 2010, 18:54

  1)
  One of the features of breast cancer is that it can metastasize or spread to other parts of the body. Most affected parts of the body are lymph nodes of surrounding areas, bones, liver and lungs. Cancerous cells can travel through lymphatic system

  2)
  If a woman has any breast symptoms it is very important that she consult her doctor so that the cause of these symptoms can be found. If breast cancer is found at an early stage this improves the chances of recovery. As a rule, the doctor will ask her a number of questions.

  Does the lump vary in relation to her menstrual cycle?
  What previous breast problems has she had?
  Is there any breast cancer in her family?
  How many children has she had?
  Physical examination
  The doctor will look at her breasts, first with her arms by her sides, then above her head and, finally, with her arms pressing on her hips.

  By looking carefully at the outline of the breast in various positions, the doctor can often see changes in the outline of the breast, which will help identify the site and cause of any problems.

  Next, her breasts are examined while she is lying flat with her arms folded under her head.

  If, during this examination, the doctor finds a lump, he or she will concentrate on this area examining with the fingertips and measuring the lump.

  After checking her breasts, the doctor usually carefully examines the lymph glands under the patient’s arm pit and those in the lower part of her neck.

  Should the patient need any further investigations, the breast specialist in the breast clinic will organise any tests that are necessary.

  Mammograms
  If the patient is over 35 and has not had a breast X-ray within the past year, the doctor may arrange for one to be performed. Breast X-rays are known as mammograms.

  Mammograms are a good way of identifying abnormalities in the breast, but they don’t always tell whether they are benign or malignant.

  Further tests are sometimes necessary and these tests include ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

  Ultrasound scanning
  X-rays do not pass easily through the breasts of young women. Ultrasound scanning, which is familiar to many women by its use to look at babies during pregnancy, can also be used in the breast to tell whether a lump is fluid or solid.

  Ultrasound is not useful as a screening test. It is useful if an abnormal shadow is seen on the mammogram because ultrasound is an accurate way of judging whether any abnormality is benign and straightforward or whether it is more likely to be serious.

  3)
  Stage 1 breast cancerThe tumour is no more than 2 centimetres (cm) across (T1)
  There are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the armpit
  The cancer has not spread anywhere else
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  Stage 2 breast cancerThis is divided into two groups

  Stage 2A means

  The tumour is less than 2 cm, the lymph nodes under the arm contain cancer but are not stuck to each other and the cancer has not spread or
  The tumour is less than 5 cm, there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the armpit and the cancer has not spread or
  Although no tumour is seen in the breast, the lymph nodes under the arm contain cancer cells but are not stuck together or to other structures, and there is no sign of spread to other parts of the body
  Stage 2B means

  The tumour is less than 5 cm and the lymph nodes under the arm contain cancer cells but are not stuck to each other, and the cancer has not spread or
  The tumour is bigger than 5 cm across, there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes in the armpit and the cancer has not spread
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  Stage 3 breast cancerStage 3 breast cancer is divided into 3 groups

  Stage 3A means

  Although no tumour is seen in the breast, the lymph nodes under the arm contain cancer cells and are stuck together or to other structures, but there is no sign of cancer spread or
  The tumour is 5 cm or less, the lymph nodes in the armpit contain cancer cells and are stuck to each other, but the cancer has not spread elsewhere or
  The tumour is more than 5 cm, the lymph nodes in the armpit contain cancer cells and may be stuck together, but there is no further spread
  Stage 3B means

  The tumour is fixed to the skin or chest wall, the lymph nodes may or may not contain cancer cells, but there is no further spread
  Stage 3C means

  The tumour can be any size and has spread to lymph nodes in the armpit and under the breast bone, or to nodes above or below the collarbone, but there is no further spread
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  Stage 4 breast cancerIn stage 4 breast cancer

  The tumour can be any size
  The lymph nodes may or may not contain cancer cells
  The cancer has spread (metastasised) to other parts of the body such as the lungs, liver or bones
  If you have cancer cells in the breast and the lymph nodes in your armpit on the same side of the body, you do not have stage 4 breast cancer. Stage 4 only applies if the cancer has spread to other body organs.
• Tina S

  

  10 February, 2010, 19:46

  I agree with Brian. You could have used any search engine and found all your answers. I have breast cancer and I research every drug they give me and every procedure I have done. I am my own best advocate. You should do your own homework.