I survived my horse needle. I went to the cancer centre and talked through everything again with my oncologist. She now confirmed that there is always a plan b, plan c. Prue Francis from Peter McCallum and St V's, one of the oncologists was the latest author on the New England journal with this treatment (using an ovary blocker for a post menopausal drug) and found the slightly better outcomes.
Anyway, in to the cancer centre with a nurse, she started with a local anaesthetic to make a tunnel if you like, then proceeded with the zoladex needle which included an implant (so that's why it's so big). About 12 hours later had some leg pain and some twinges but so far so good. I can't tell if my hot flushes are worse or not, but the usual jumper on, jumper off, jumper on happens all day.
Today I saw the plastic surgeon. He drained another 80 mls of fluid from the donor site. He said he hates seroma's. Hah try and have one. I think he tries to be funny, but he's very dry. I asked him if he had any reservations/concerns about surgery on the other side, he said not at all. He explained that not too many ladies have the option of trying one side and then being able to change their mind, as mostly both sides are done at the same time. Only with the gluteal flap is it done one side at a time. Gosh imagine having both sides done and not being able to move both arms.
So we tentatively booked the Friday 24th June!!! Scary now that's done - it's 2 months away. He has to confirm it with my breast surgeon as she has gone off and had her baby. It looks like we might need to celebrate Alex' birthday a few weeks early and maybe I'll be out of hospital on his birthday all going well. I do think that even though it was a big surgery, I've faired pretty well. I have seen and heard some horrific stories of necrosis and infections, battered and bruised. My skin has faired pretty well after radiotherapy, it just looked like I had a bad sunburn but is fading already.
He did try and talk me into nipple sparing on that side, but I reminded him that I wanted the least surgeries, the least complications. That includes him wanting to create new nipples - what a useless operation. To create some lumps of skin - normally you are removing lumps of skin right!!?? Anyway I showed him these amazing 3d nipple tattoos I found on a website in Canberra called 'Tatts on Tatts off' he told me that his team of tattoo artists do a great job, but not 3d and he doubted it would look 3D. So I showed him the photos and he was surprised. Anyway, asked me for the website so he could show his team so they could learn how to do it too. As long as they aren't learning on me I was thinking.
I could fly to Canberra and get it done :) anyway I can't get that last part done for a while yet and it's just aesthetic anyway. He suggested 4-6 months after.
At least the plans are starting to come together and I can start planning the second half of the year.
Anyway back to plastic surgeon week after next to check the fluid buildup, physio appointments in between, cancer centre for survivorship program and another horse needle in the tummy and in 6 weeks time for my daily hormone blocking drug....what a fun filled 6 weeks ahead of me :/
28 April 2016
Feels like back on the Train
26/4/16
So tomorrow I get back on the train journey. Tomorrow is my first zoladex injection - the cattle sized one! After speaking with my gynecologist, he did say it's a lot to have 36 injections over 3 years, but it would be best to do everything I can to prevent the cancer coming back. He said that I could start by having the injections and see how I go and if they are unbearable then have my ovaries removed as an alternative - or change to the premenopausal treatment until I'm 50.
He does doubt whether my ovaries survived the chemo and suggests that as they haven't worked so far that they are most probably fried and having surgery to remove dead organs may be unnecessary. The problem is we don't know and won't know! He has taken some blood and has sent it off to pathology for testing.
He did say that if it's the psychological part of going to the cancer centre each month that it could be administered by my gp instead at least. I have enjoyed my body being somewhat 'normal' without regular drugs or medication....until tomorrow then for 10 years. I just have to think of it like the pill.
My breast surgeon said no more surgery until I get full movement of my arm so my physio is now not mucking around......and it hurts! Today I had my torture, she apologised through most of it...:(
Thursday is my scheduled plastics appointment and am gearing up for more removal of fluid from the donor side - not looking forward to that. I wonder how much more fluid will need to be extracted??? It will also be the time to discuss the next surgery.
The other day I had my blog open and Jana read a part of it. She was shocked to learn that Cora had passed away. She asked me if it was that day and I told her it was back in September. I explained to her the reason I didn't tell her and she asked if I was upset and did I want to talk about it. She took it pretty well, but was quite circumspect for a while after that. She kept asking me if I was okay.....sweetie.
So tomorrow I get back on the train journey. Tomorrow is my first zoladex injection - the cattle sized one! After speaking with my gynecologist, he did say it's a lot to have 36 injections over 3 years, but it would be best to do everything I can to prevent the cancer coming back. He said that I could start by having the injections and see how I go and if they are unbearable then have my ovaries removed as an alternative - or change to the premenopausal treatment until I'm 50.
He does doubt whether my ovaries survived the chemo and suggests that as they haven't worked so far that they are most probably fried and having surgery to remove dead organs may be unnecessary. The problem is we don't know and won't know! He has taken some blood and has sent it off to pathology for testing.
He did say that if it's the psychological part of going to the cancer centre each month that it could be administered by my gp instead at least. I have enjoyed my body being somewhat 'normal' without regular drugs or medication....until tomorrow then for 10 years. I just have to think of it like the pill.
My breast surgeon said no more surgery until I get full movement of my arm so my physio is now not mucking around......and it hurts! Today I had my torture, she apologised through most of it...:(
Thursday is my scheduled plastics appointment and am gearing up for more removal of fluid from the donor side - not looking forward to that. I wonder how much more fluid will need to be extracted??? It will also be the time to discuss the next surgery.
The other day I had my blog open and Jana read a part of it. She was shocked to learn that Cora had passed away. She asked me if it was that day and I told her it was back in September. I explained to her the reason I didn't tell her and she asked if I was upset and did I want to talk about it. She took it pretty well, but was quite circumspect for a while after that. She kept asking me if I was okay.....sweetie.
20 April 2016
The Research
Some Research and light reading for anyone who is interested. The reason I have a dilemma and a decision to make :( At least I have options I guess......the link on the blog isn't working for some reason. But the research study was led by Prue, oncologist from St Vincent's hospital and she authored the journal. She's also the one who told us that my lymph nodes were clear after the second MRI.
Www.nejm.org/doi/full/
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1412379
After going to my 2 torture appointments yesterday, last night was an interesting sleep. I really should be a bit smarter and aim to have these appointments on different days so I can get some sleep.
Starting with the physio who is forcing my arm above my head and massaging it at the same time. She talks so much and I know it is to distract me from the pain she is inflicting.
Then an hour later for the Plastic Surgeon to stick his needle in my hip sucking out the seroma, not once but he keeps going back until he thinks he has it all. 80 mls yesterday - not what I was hoping for. I am so sore after his efforts, even walking gives me pain in the site and pressure on my leg. I built my pillow nest to sleep - I literally sleep on pillows. My other side is sore from sleeping/resting/sitting on it all the time now too.
Out of the mastectomy and reconstruction (which is all now numb), the biggest pain is the donor site on my upper buttock/hip from his digging around in it every week. Funny my PS comes in and asks if "Im still a pain in the butt" ha, ha. Trying to be funny while Im in pain! Hopefully Tuesday brings little or no fluid to drain.
The cording from the axilla clearance of my lymph nodes hurts and the physio massages and 'pops' them. It feels like I am swollen in between my arm and pit. Here's a picture of what it looks like (not my picture but the same). They make it difficult to move your arm or abduct your arm above your shoulder. I had them from my armpit to my elbow.
Thursday is more torture with the physio and Friday is a chat with my gynocologist for some advice regarding my ovaries and Tamoxifen.
Www.nejm.org/doi/full/
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1412379
After going to my 2 torture appointments yesterday, last night was an interesting sleep. I really should be a bit smarter and aim to have these appointments on different days so I can get some sleep.
Starting with the physio who is forcing my arm above my head and massaging it at the same time. She talks so much and I know it is to distract me from the pain she is inflicting.
Then an hour later for the Plastic Surgeon to stick his needle in my hip sucking out the seroma, not once but he keeps going back until he thinks he has it all. 80 mls yesterday - not what I was hoping for. I am so sore after his efforts, even walking gives me pain in the site and pressure on my leg. I built my pillow nest to sleep - I literally sleep on pillows. My other side is sore from sleeping/resting/sitting on it all the time now too.
Out of the mastectomy and reconstruction (which is all now numb), the biggest pain is the donor site on my upper buttock/hip from his digging around in it every week. Funny my PS comes in and asks if "Im still a pain in the butt" ha, ha. Trying to be funny while Im in pain! Hopefully Tuesday brings little or no fluid to drain.
The cording from the axilla clearance of my lymph nodes hurts and the physio massages and 'pops' them. It feels like I am swollen in between my arm and pit. Here's a picture of what it looks like (not my picture but the same). They make it difficult to move your arm or abduct your arm above your shoulder. I had them from my armpit to my elbow.
Thursday is more torture with the physio and Friday is a chat with my gynocologist for some advice regarding my ovaries and Tamoxifen.
16 April 2016
Hormone Preventative Dilemma
Dilemma
It's 6 weeks since surgery and I'm on a weekly visit to my plastic surgeon for extracting fluid from my donor site. The last extraction was 60 Mls so I hope it's reducing. He's got me wearing skins to try and add compression to the area. It's not a particularly pleasant experience so hoping for a reduction this week in fluid.
I'm also seeing the physio and have more movement in my arm - I still don't have full movement yet but hope to this month. I just have to get clearance from the plastic surgeon before going for broke at the torture lady's place (physio).
Yesterday I visited with my breast surgeon. I wanted to see her before she goes on maternity leave as I saw my oncologist the other day and she completely freaked me out.
As part of the cancer treatment and keeping it away, and particularly that they can only hope that if it had escaped into my body that the chemo killed anything on the loose, I need to have hormone therapy. Hormone therapy keeps the estrogen in my body at very low levels or none at all due to my cancer being hormone fed.
Anyway there are 2 types of treatment available, 1 for premenopausal women and 1 for post menopausal women. Pre is tamoxifen and post is an aramatose inhibitor. The aramatose inhibitor treats the whole body and research has shown to be the most effective treatment and more superior than Tamoxifen. So how can a premenopausal women take a post menopausal hormone therapy? Injections!!!!! The needle looks like a bloody cattle prod and it has to be administered monthly at the cancer centre. Apparently from what I've read it HURTS.
Photo of needle
Okay you say, so what it's just a little needle and after all of the cannulas I've had in my veins by now with chemo and dye for MRI's and CT scans what are you worried about I hear you say. After a mastectomy and reconstruction and radiotherapy every day for 28 days what's the problem?????
Well after the mastectomy/recon and hearing the pathological result, finally the cancer journey is over!!! No more treatment for cancer, except for the daily hormone pill I knew I would be taking. So then hearing I need to go back to the cancer centre every month until I turn 50 -,well that just depresses me. I was relieved to know that I wouldn't be having any more cancer treatment and now knowing that I would need ongoing injections for some years to come just brought me to tears!!.
There are options. The other option is to have my ovaries removed. As long as my ovaries are working, which we aren't sure about as I'm in chemopause possibly rather than real menopause, the superior hormone therapy, aramatose inhibitor won't work and I will have no ongoing protection.
So do I just take tamoxifen for a year until we know I'm in true menopause, then switch to the other, do I have my ovaries removed for the superior therapy or I get the cattle sized injection every month for a few years on the superior hormone?
I'm thinking short term on the inferior drug, if I stay in menopause then I can switch??? Problem is Tamoxifen can cause endometrial cancer for women who are susceptible to thickening or endometriosis - yep me!
So:
- Tamoxifen - premenopausal, stops hormones being produced by ovaries only (majority of estrogen produced in ovaries) and therefore breast fed tissue, can cause endometrial cancer in some women, inferior drug shown in studies
- aramatose inhibitor - post menopausal stops estrogen in whole body, but ovaries can't function for it to work, remove or injections to put ovaries to sleep, causes bone density loss
Anyway I have 2 weeks until my next oncology appointment to decide what to do!!!! Am I wimp??!!
It's 6 weeks since surgery and I'm on a weekly visit to my plastic surgeon for extracting fluid from my donor site. The last extraction was 60 Mls so I hope it's reducing. He's got me wearing skins to try and add compression to the area. It's not a particularly pleasant experience so hoping for a reduction this week in fluid.
I'm also seeing the physio and have more movement in my arm - I still don't have full movement yet but hope to this month. I just have to get clearance from the plastic surgeon before going for broke at the torture lady's place (physio).
Yesterday I visited with my breast surgeon. I wanted to see her before she goes on maternity leave as I saw my oncologist the other day and she completely freaked me out.
As part of the cancer treatment and keeping it away, and particularly that they can only hope that if it had escaped into my body that the chemo killed anything on the loose, I need to have hormone therapy. Hormone therapy keeps the estrogen in my body at very low levels or none at all due to my cancer being hormone fed.
Anyway there are 2 types of treatment available, 1 for premenopausal women and 1 for post menopausal women. Pre is tamoxifen and post is an aramatose inhibitor. The aramatose inhibitor treats the whole body and research has shown to be the most effective treatment and more superior than Tamoxifen. So how can a premenopausal women take a post menopausal hormone therapy? Injections!!!!! The needle looks like a bloody cattle prod and it has to be administered monthly at the cancer centre. Apparently from what I've read it HURTS.
Photo of needle
Okay you say, so what it's just a little needle and after all of the cannulas I've had in my veins by now with chemo and dye for MRI's and CT scans what are you worried about I hear you say. After a mastectomy and reconstruction and radiotherapy every day for 28 days what's the problem?????
Well after the mastectomy/recon and hearing the pathological result, finally the cancer journey is over!!! No more treatment for cancer, except for the daily hormone pill I knew I would be taking. So then hearing I need to go back to the cancer centre every month until I turn 50 -,well that just depresses me. I was relieved to know that I wouldn't be having any more cancer treatment and now knowing that I would need ongoing injections for some years to come just brought me to tears!!.
There are options. The other option is to have my ovaries removed. As long as my ovaries are working, which we aren't sure about as I'm in chemopause possibly rather than real menopause, the superior hormone therapy, aramatose inhibitor won't work and I will have no ongoing protection.
So do I just take tamoxifen for a year until we know I'm in true menopause, then switch to the other, do I have my ovaries removed for the superior therapy or I get the cattle sized injection every month for a few years on the superior hormone?
I'm thinking short term on the inferior drug, if I stay in menopause then I can switch??? Problem is Tamoxifen can cause endometrial cancer for women who are susceptible to thickening or endometriosis - yep me!
So:
- Tamoxifen - premenopausal, stops hormones being produced by ovaries only (majority of estrogen produced in ovaries) and therefore breast fed tissue, can cause endometrial cancer in some women, inferior drug shown in studies
- aramatose inhibitor - post menopausal stops estrogen in whole body, but ovaries can't function for it to work, remove or injections to put ovaries to sleep, causes bone density loss
Anyway I have 2 weeks until my next oncology appointment to decide what to do!!!! Am I wimp??!!
07 April 2016
Where It All Started
Tuesday
Today I had to go to St Vincents for a bone density scan.
I was a little early, so I decided to drop off some thank you flowers to Breastscreen with a note thanking them for their part in saving my life.
The receptionist didn't remember me but was thrilled that I came back to visit and give them my good news. They said they see the beginning devastation of a diagnosis but don't know the outcome very often.
Sue the nurse who cried with us at diagnosis, was not on that morning, but she called me when she was. She was thrilled to hear from me and explained why I had impacted her so much. Mainly that she was new to the unit, I am exactly the age and birthdate of her sister, she also used my situation, type of cancer etc for her assignment at uni. She had followed my progress through Christina whenever she was in, so she knew most of where I was at.
She wished me well and asked how the children had coped and John throughout the process. Also that it had been a long process, although judging by others journey it seems a lot shorter for me. Because of the order of things everything was booked in one thing after another, I hear of some women 2 years down the track thinking about reconstruction options. I couldn't think of anything worse than dragging this shitty subject out longer than you need to - it's been 10 months from initial diagnosis to cancer clearance with the pathology results anyway, and it will be 12 months with final surgery and then maybe 6 months after for nipple tattoo.
Anyway the Breastscreen girls complimented me about how healthy I look and love the pixie haircut. I'm still getting used to it though I must say.
Today I had to go to St Vincents for a bone density scan.
I was a little early, so I decided to drop off some thank you flowers to Breastscreen with a note thanking them for their part in saving my life.
The receptionist didn't remember me but was thrilled that I came back to visit and give them my good news. They said they see the beginning devastation of a diagnosis but don't know the outcome very often.
Sue the nurse who cried with us at diagnosis, was not on that morning, but she called me when she was. She was thrilled to hear from me and explained why I had impacted her so much. Mainly that she was new to the unit, I am exactly the age and birthdate of her sister, she also used my situation, type of cancer etc for her assignment at uni. She had followed my progress through Christina whenever she was in, so she knew most of where I was at.
She wished me well and asked how the children had coped and John throughout the process. Also that it had been a long process, although judging by others journey it seems a lot shorter for me. Because of the order of things everything was booked in one thing after another, I hear of some women 2 years down the track thinking about reconstruction options. I couldn't think of anything worse than dragging this shitty subject out longer than you need to - it's been 10 months from initial diagnosis to cancer clearance with the pathology results anyway, and it will be 12 months with final surgery and then maybe 6 months after for nipple tattoo.
Anyway the Breastscreen girls complimented me about how healthy I look and love the pixie haircut. I'm still getting used to it though I must say.
02 April 2016
Back to some Normality
I now have eyebrows, eye lashes and hair on my head and I am so very grateful. Thankful that I can fit into my clothes and shoes again without having to wear a moo moo ha, ha.
I'm back to my pre-chemo weight - the no eating for 3 days in hospital helped that along.
I was looking at my old photos and came across my fat feet - and I was happy to update with a photo of my foot today....scary!
Then I managed to squeeze into some sketchers and it squeezed the fluid up and I could briefly see my normal feet again......
And now......yay!!!!!
I'm back to my pre-chemo weight - the no eating for 3 days in hospital helped that along.
I was looking at my old photos and came across my fat feet - and I was happy to update with a photo of my foot today....scary!
Then I managed to squeeze into some sketchers and it squeezed the fluid up and I could briefly see my normal feet again......
And now......yay!!!!!
Busy Week 4
This week has been a busy week.
After developing a tightness under the arm again, which was suspiciously similar to that in hospital when I had the seroma, I didn't sleep much with worry and so called my PS. It was 5:45 am when I paged him and although I had a 8:30am appointment, I wasn't sure that if it was with Damien or Jan, the nurse but wanted him to see it to check it. Needless to say he was a little pissed that I woke him up. The problem was that it filled so quickly when I was in hospital so I didn't want to be in the same position again. By the time I got to the appointment he was cheerful and explained away the tightness and that I had 'cording'. The only criticism I have of him is the lack of information to know what's happening and you panic. The physio explained that cording is after the tie off the lymphatic vessels after removing the lymph nodes, they are empty and pull tight I guess.
The appointment was a little disconcerting. Damien started to ask did I have the brac gene (breast cancer gene). I don't have to have prophylactic surgery (preventative), I could have an implant instead of using my buttock tissue again.....I could come back 5 years later, we don't have to rush it!!!! The thing that makes my head clear of worry is when there is a plan. I thought there was an agreed plan, but now I don't know why he's got doubts. He didn't really explain instead told me to think about things and that we have time. The cancer side had to go and that was the priority. Anyway, I'm still sure - I just have to convince him that I am :). The good thing that came out of it was that he said "if I can say so myself, it is a bloody good job'. For me I'm looking at a very different me and it will take some time to get used to the new me before appreciating his artistry I'm sure.
I'm going into week 4 post surgery now and on panadol every 6 hours. I dumped the other painkillers after the not so nice side effects.
Today I went to see a physio to sort out my arm and shoulder. I can now raise my arm to almost 90 degrees which is great. But from her rubbing and popping the lymph vessels, I am also more sore than ever. Going back for more torture on Monday and Thursday next week. Considering I originally couldn't get an appointment With her until the 19th April and now she is squeezing me in to deal with it quickly, I am very grateful for the breast care nurse at Think Pink. She personally phoned Kate to get me in earlier. Because I'm jumping around between public and private for my care, I don't really have a breast care nurse consistently. So Andrea has been great and has worked with most specialists in Melbourne to get things done.
As part of the healing process, I need to massage and dress my wounds. There are 3 areas that I need to deal with. But I'm so queasy having to touch them or look at them. So at Susie's suggestion, I grabbed the scented candle that Lynda kindly gave me, the shower gel that Maggie gave me and headed to the bath to relax. Well I procrastinated and didn't deal with it - well not until quite some time later.
So I have an oncology appointment and bone density tests next. They will determine what drug I will take to block estrogen in my body to prevent recurrence for the next 5-10 years. I need to come up to speed more on my options before my appointment based on my gyno history. Apparently some of these drugs can cause endometrial cancers in some women. Just like chemo can cause leukemia and radiotherapy can cause breast cancer!!!
I came across a U.S. Website explaining how breast cancer grows - making it even more important for me to remove the other breast.
OVERVIEW
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells in the breast. Sometimes the cells of either the passages that drain milk (ducts) or the milk-producing glands (lobules) lose the control systems for growth which can result in the development of malignant tumors that can invade nearby healthy breast tissue over time. For some patients, the cancer may progress and spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and eventually may invade other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is caused by a mutation in the genetic makeup of the breast cells, which may lead to uncontrolled growth. These genetic mutations usually are a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics
About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.1
For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.2
About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
About 5-10% of breast cancer is caused by a genetic abnormality inherited from your parents.3
After developing a tightness under the arm again, which was suspiciously similar to that in hospital when I had the seroma, I didn't sleep much with worry and so called my PS. It was 5:45 am when I paged him and although I had a 8:30am appointment, I wasn't sure that if it was with Damien or Jan, the nurse but wanted him to see it to check it. Needless to say he was a little pissed that I woke him up. The problem was that it filled so quickly when I was in hospital so I didn't want to be in the same position again. By the time I got to the appointment he was cheerful and explained away the tightness and that I had 'cording'. The only criticism I have of him is the lack of information to know what's happening and you panic. The physio explained that cording is after the tie off the lymphatic vessels after removing the lymph nodes, they are empty and pull tight I guess.
The appointment was a little disconcerting. Damien started to ask did I have the brac gene (breast cancer gene). I don't have to have prophylactic surgery (preventative), I could have an implant instead of using my buttock tissue again.....I could come back 5 years later, we don't have to rush it!!!! The thing that makes my head clear of worry is when there is a plan. I thought there was an agreed plan, but now I don't know why he's got doubts. He didn't really explain instead told me to think about things and that we have time. The cancer side had to go and that was the priority. Anyway, I'm still sure - I just have to convince him that I am :). The good thing that came out of it was that he said "if I can say so myself, it is a bloody good job'. For me I'm looking at a very different me and it will take some time to get used to the new me before appreciating his artistry I'm sure.
I'm going into week 4 post surgery now and on panadol every 6 hours. I dumped the other painkillers after the not so nice side effects.
Today I went to see a physio to sort out my arm and shoulder. I can now raise my arm to almost 90 degrees which is great. But from her rubbing and popping the lymph vessels, I am also more sore than ever. Going back for more torture on Monday and Thursday next week. Considering I originally couldn't get an appointment With her until the 19th April and now she is squeezing me in to deal with it quickly, I am very grateful for the breast care nurse at Think Pink. She personally phoned Kate to get me in earlier. Because I'm jumping around between public and private for my care, I don't really have a breast care nurse consistently. So Andrea has been great and has worked with most specialists in Melbourne to get things done.
As part of the healing process, I need to massage and dress my wounds. There are 3 areas that I need to deal with. But I'm so queasy having to touch them or look at them. So at Susie's suggestion, I grabbed the scented candle that Lynda kindly gave me, the shower gel that Maggie gave me and headed to the bath to relax. Well I procrastinated and didn't deal with it - well not until quite some time later.
So I have an oncology appointment and bone density tests next. They will determine what drug I will take to block estrogen in my body to prevent recurrence for the next 5-10 years. I need to come up to speed more on my options before my appointment based on my gyno history. Apparently some of these drugs can cause endometrial cancers in some women. Just like chemo can cause leukemia and radiotherapy can cause breast cancer!!!
I came across a U.S. Website explaining how breast cancer grows - making it even more important for me to remove the other breast.
OVERVIEW
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells in the breast. Sometimes the cells of either the passages that drain milk (ducts) or the milk-producing glands (lobules) lose the control systems for growth which can result in the development of malignant tumors that can invade nearby healthy breast tissue over time. For some patients, the cancer may progress and spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and eventually may invade other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is caused by a mutation in the genetic makeup of the breast cells, which may lead to uncontrolled growth. These genetic mutations usually are a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics
About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.1
For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.2
About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
About 5-10% of breast cancer is caused by a genetic abnormality inherited from your parents.3
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