ABUT KEBUDI,MD. | BREAST CANCER TREATMENT | AFTER BREAST CANCER SURGERY | FAQS | CONTACT

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer

What are the reasons behınd breast cancer?

The reasons behind breast cancer are not certainly known. It occurs more frequently in western societies, Europe and America than eastern societies such as Asia and Japan.

It is important to act more cautious, as there may be a genetic risk and for this reason to have a genetic test with people who have;

Family members who have breast cancer at a young age,
Male family members who have breast cancer,
Who have cancer on both breasts.

Is every lump on breasts cancer?

Patients generally see doctor with complaints of pain or lumps in breasts. 90-95% of these lumps are benign. However, it is important not to ignore the rest 5-10% which are malignant. For this reason,

To examine the patient,
To arrange a treatment program if it is necessary,
Screening appropriately with the age (ultrasound for young people, mammography and ultrasound for people older than 35),
To decide after biopsy is performed (if it is necessary)

is vital for the patient.

Even if the tumor is thought as benign, to perform these precautions is important.

What should be done ıf there ıs lump or rash on breast?

If there is a lump on breast, the diagnosis changes according to the age of patient. The younger the patient is, the more possible the tumor is benign. If the patient is over 40, it is more likely that the tumor is malignant.

Rash is generally related with infection, but it can be a sign of the tumor as well. The method here is to listen to patient and to find out when the rash occurred. If it occurs a short time ago, it is probably a sign of infection.

The patient is examined. If there is an abscess-like situation, it is drained by injector. The patient is given antibiotics. Then, they need to be followed up. Even if it gets well, after a certain time, it is required to be sure that there is no other tumor by screening the patient accordingly with their age.

My mother had breast cancer, what ıs the rısk for me?

Mammography is one of the most important radiological procedure in diagnosing breast cancer. Generally, after 40, it is recommended. Recently, there are 2 different opinions on the optimal age; some say that mammography should be applied once or twice a year after 40, while other say it should be performed after 50. In general, it is appropriate to perform it once a year or every two years after 40 based on the condition of patient, because anything seen on mammography can be a sign of a tumor at an early stage. Early diagnosis is vital for the treatment process and patient’s expectation of life.

Another important subject is;

If there are more than one person in the family who has breast cancer,
If a young member of the family has breast cancer,
If a male member of the family has breast cancer,

It is possible to have mammography at the age of 30-35.

After what age should mammography be applıed?

Another important subject is;

If there are more than one person in the family who has breast cancer,
If a young member of the family has breast cancer,
If a male member of the family has breast cancer,

It is possible to have mammography at the age of 30-35.

Does fıbrocyst turn ınto cancer?

Fibrocysts used to be identified as illness in the past. But today, it is known that women can have benign lumps, fibroadenomas or some cyst filled with liquid. These do not have negative meanings. There is no possibility of them to turn into cancer. The problem here is that because of these abnormities on breast, a possible cancer form can go unnoticed. For this reason, women who have fibrocystic forms on their breasts are recommended close follow-up at certain intervals.

Do fıbroadenomas turn ınto cancer?

Fibroadenomas are benign, round, and moveable lumps which can occur at any age. They are not related with cancer, and they do not turn into cancer. But occasionally, there can be a cancer formation in these fibroadenomas. And sometimes, cancer formations among fibroadenomas can go unnoticed. So, fibroadenomas requires close follow up although they are known as benign. It is useful to follow up closely and perform needle biopsy if it is necessary at young ages. After 40, it is more beneficial to remove fibroadenomas surgically, because at these ages, the risk of cancer is high.

In breast cancer surgery, should breast certaınly be removed?

Last 15-20 years, there have been big improvements in breast cancer treatment, both in surgeries and in complementary treatments like radiotherapy or medical treatment. In the past, to remove whole breast and lymph nodes on axillary area was the treatment but studies showed that to apply a wide surgery is not advantageous for patient and it decreases the quality of life.

If the stage of cancer is appropriate, it is possible to keep the structure of breast by partial surgeries. Nowadays, to remove whole breast is performed less. If the tumor is big, or there are more than one tumor, removal of whole breast can be thought. For suitable cases, it is possible to keep the appearance of the breast by removing the inner structures of the breast and, instead, putting silicone or applying tissue regeneration using tissue from body.

Can the breast whıch ıs removed by surgery be constructed agaın?

Removal of whole breast surgeries are applied less but still if there are many tumors or the tumor is big whole breast can be removed. For this case, the breast can be reconstructed during the surgery or one year after the surgery.

A new breast is constructed by using patient’s own body tissue after the surgery, although the breast is removed completely, or, as a second option, the inner of breast is removed and silicone is put during the first surgery.

In short, in cases where the whole breast is removed, to reconstruct the breast is possible.

In breast cancer surgery, should axıllary lymph nodes be removed?

There are two sections in breast cancer surgeries:

One is about breast; partial or whole removal of breast,
The other one is about axilla.

The reason behind taking care axilla is that breast cancer generally first expands to axillary area via lymph and then to the body. Because of that, the condition of axilla determines the treatment and the future of the patient.

In the past, in every kind of breast cancer surgery, lymph nodes on axillary area were completely removed; however, today, some tests are run with specific materials, the risky lymph nodes are removed and examined by a pathologist. If there is any tendency of cancer on these nodes, limited number of lymph nodes are removed. If there is not, there will be no removal.

In recent scientific publications, it has been mentioned that even if there is a limited involvement, a full lymph nodes dissection may not be necessary.

Is breast cancer completely related wıth famıly?

The reasons behind breast cancer are not certainly known. Environmental and nutritional factors can be effective, and it is more likely to occur in America and Europe than in eastern societies. But it is known that breast cancer occurs 5-15% of genetic or familial factors.

A family, who;

has young or male members,
has bilateral disease,
or close relatives who have breast cancer

has more risk. Then, the family should run genetic tests becuse of the risk of breast cancer.

Can men have brest cancer?

Men can have breast cancer, but they have less breast tissue than women. The ratio of frequency of breast cancer between men and women is nearly 1%.

The point here is that because men do not often have breast cancer, they do not take into consideration if there is a lump on breast, so the cancer is diagnosed late. In order not to be late, men should pay high attention if there is lump on their breast.

Do bırth control pılls cause breast cancer?

Some types of breast cancer are test positive to hormones. So, when hormone is taken, even if it does not cause cancer, it can stimulate it. Especially receiving hormone treatment after menopause for a long time may stimulate breast cancer.

In short, rather than birth control pills, hormone treatment after menopause can trigger breast cancer.

When does breast cancer heal completely?

It is not possible to talk about a 100% healing for cancer. However, it can be said that the possibility of recurrence decreases as time passes by. For example, the first 3 years in breast cancer is critical.

The patient should be examined every 3-6 months in the first 3 years because it is the most critical period for recurrence. The following two years, the examinations should be done in every 6 months. After 5 years, possibility of recurrence decreases and examination once a year is required for lifetime.

In short, in the course of time, recurrence chance of cancer decreases for the patients who are followed up regularly.

What should be done ıf breast cancer recur?

Breast cancer often recurs on the same breast or area. In the case of recurrence, the standart procedure is to discuss the patient’s condition in a breast tumor council. The council decides starting treatment with firstly surgical treatment or other treatments (radiotheraphy or chemotheraphy). The order can change. The important point here is to treat it immediately if it recurs.

Another subject is metastasis. It is recurrence of the cancer not on the same area but on any area of the body. In this case, the main aim is to come together with the relevant disciplines, decide the process of treatment, and remove the tumor as soon as possible.

Can patıent get pregnant after breast cancer surgery?

There can be negative effect of hormones on breast cancer development. After the whole process of treatment finishes, generally after 4-5 years, pregnancy can be allowed if all conditions are ideal. Even in this case, close follow-up is vital.