Breast cancer: one in eight women affected - what about the chances of recovery?

2020-05-07T08:30:20.458Z

Many people underestimate breast cancer. With early detection and good treatment, you increase the chance of survival enormously.

Breast cancer * is the most common cancer in women.
These symptoms and signs speak for a disease.
The number of people affected has risen sharply in recent years. There is a reason for that.

Breast cancer is diagnosed in around 68,900 patients each year . This form of cancer is by far the most common type of cancer, even before prostate cancer * with 58,800 cases or colon cancer * with 58,300 cases per year. Although the number of diagnoses has risen sharply for a short time in the past fifteen years, there is also hope for a cure .

Breast cancer statistics: at what age are most affected?

In 2016, the last nationwide breast cancer statistics were collected. This year, 68,950 women and 710 men were diagnosed with this type of cancer for the first time. In the same year, 18,570 women and 166 men died from the disease.

This means that about every eighth woman in her life will develop breast cancer . The number of diagnoses increases with increasing age . While women between the ages of 30 and 49 are rarely affected, the rate increases significantly for women over 50.

Between 2007 and 2009, the number of newly discovered breast cancers increased suddenly. This is due to the fact that a new method of early detection, known as the mammography screening program *, was introduced in these years.

Not only because of the improved diagnosis options, but also through improved therapy methods, the chance of survival of breast cancer is now very high. At least five years after diagnosis, 87 percent of patients survive and at least ten years after diagnosis, 82 percent of women affected are still alive. For men, the ten-year survival rate is slightly lower than that of women at 72 percent.

Symptoms, signs and types of breast cancer

If you divide the breast into four parts, which are separated from the nipple by a vertical and horizontal line, most malignant breast cancer tumors develop in the upper outer quarter, i.e. between the armpits and the clavicle.

A general distinction is made between malignant and benign tumors. The benign tumors , such as cysts or connective tissue tumors , usually grow in a controlled manner and remain within the tissue boundaries. In most cases, tumors are diagnosed that rarely develop into cancer .

Mammography image shows a tiny tumor in a patient's breast.

In contrast, malignant tumor cells continue to develop and grow from glandular tissue or the milk ducts to other tissues. If these tumors are not treated, there is a high risk of metastases and thus severe breast cancer .

Since the tumors are solid, the best way to diagnose them is to feel and observe changes in the breast. This can be hardening or knots, swelling on and around the breast can be signs of a tumor. If the nipple or skin on your chest has changed significantly, you should have a doctor examine the area. Breast cancer * does not cause any noticeable signs or pain in the early stages.

Read also : Use a special sense of touch: Novel examination should detect breast cancer at an early stage

Treatment of breast cancer: chemotherapy and chances of recovery

If breast cancer is diagnosed, there are different treatment methods depending on the degree of the disease and the type of tumor . The cancer information service recommends an overview of four different procedures.

Breast-conserving surgery	If breast cancer was diagnosed early enough, surgery is usually possible in which the breast can remain. Chemotherapy is necessary for larger tumors . To protect against a relapse, radiation therapy is then carried out.
Mastectomy	Breast-conserving surgery is no longer possible in this procedure; the breast must be removed. Afterwards, however, there are many ways to reconstruct the breast. Examples include bra prostheses , silicone implants or a breast build-up with your own tissue. Despite the removal of the harmful tissue, subsequent radiation therapy cannot be completely ruled out.
Adjuvant treatment to reduce the risk of relapse	Once the first operation is over, it is important to prevent relapse to breast cancer . For this reason, drug treatment usually follows after tumor removal. This can be chemotherapy or the delivery of antibodies.
Stop advanced diseases	Also, an advanced breast cancer can be treated to prevent further spread to the cancer and pain to relieve the patient. This therapy usually consists of medication or radiation. In patients with breast cancer who are not eligible for anti-hormonal therapy or HER2 antibody therapy , immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy may delay the disease, as the German Cancer Society informs.

Breast cancer is also possible in men

Although very rare, not only women can develop breast cancer, but men can also be affected by this form of cancer . However, the probability is very low. In Germany, hundreds of affected people on average only one man there. According to the Cancer Information Service, there are about 710 diagnoses every year. This could be due to an imbalance between male and female sex hormones or genetic factors, underlying diseases or a risk-increasing lifestyle.