Category Archives: Breast reduction

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DCIS treatment

January 17, 2018

DCIS treatment: Lumpectomy and radiation

DCIS treatment

DCIS treatment is one with high hopes of giving positive outcome

Treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is one with high hopes of giving positive outcome. The success rate of removing the tumor and preventing any reoccurrence is almost guaranteed says doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. In most cases, DCIS treatment options includes lumpectomy and radiation therapy as well as a simple mastectomy.

DCIS treatment: Surgery

Any patient diagnose with DCIS will have to make a decision between treating the disease using breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) or breast-removing surgery (mastectomy).

Lumpectomy – this type of surgery is essential in removing the area of DCIS alongside a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it. The advantage of the procedure is that it allows the patient to sparingly remove portions of the affected breast thereby limiting the need for breast reconstruction

Mastectomy – a simple mastectomy is essential for treating DCIS by removing the breast tissue, skin, areola and nipple, and possibly the underarm lymph nodes (sentinel node biopsy) is one option. In most instance, this treatment will be followed by breast reconstruction if the patient wishes to do so. Doctor Akoury reiterates that, most women with DCIS are direct candidates for lumpectomy. However, mastectomy may be recommended if:

You have a large area of DCIS – In the event that the area is big compared with the size of the breast, a lumpectomy may not produce acceptable cosmetic results.

There’s more than one area of DCIS (multifocal or multicentric disease). It’s difficult to remove multiple areas of DCIS with a lumpectomy. This is true if DCIS is found in different sections of the breast.

Tissue samples taken for biopsy show abnormal cells at or near the edge of the tissue specimen – where the DCIS is more than what was anticipated, in that case a lumpectomy may be inadequate to remove all areas of DCIS. Therefore, additional tissue may be excised. This may require removing the breast (mastectomy) if the area of DCIS involvement is larger relative to the size of the breast.

You’re not a candidate for radiation therapy. Radiation is usually given after a lumpectomy. You may not be a candidate if you’re diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, you’ve received prior radiation to your chest or breast, or you have a condition that makes you more sensitive to the side effects of radiation therapy, such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

DCIS treatment: Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill abnormal cells. Radiation therapy after lumpectomy reduces the chance that DCIS will come back (recur) or that it will progress to invasive cancer.

A type of radiation therapy called external beam radiation is most commonly used to treat DCIS.

Radiation is typically used after lumpectomy. But for some women, radiation may not be necessary. This might include those with only a small area of DCIS that is considered low grade and was completely removed during surgery.

DCIS treatment: Tamoxifen

The drug tamoxifen blocks the action of estrogen — a hormone that fuels some breast cancer cells and promotes tumor growth — to reduce your risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

Tamoxifen is effective only against cancers that grow in response to hormones Tamoxifen isn’t a treatment for DCIS in and of itself, but it can be considered as additional (adjuvant) therapy after surgery or radiation in an attempt to decrease your chance of developing a recurrence of DCIS or invasive breast cancer in either breast in the future.

DCIS treatment: Lumpectomy and radiation

 

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Toxic mold your silent killer

Inflammatory breast tumor

January 17, 2018

Inflammatory breast tumor: Blocking the lymphatic vessels

Inflammatory breast tumor

Inflammatory breast tumor symptoms are liken to the orange skin

Inflammatory breast tumor or cancer develops rapidly causing the affected breast to turn red, swollen and tender. It is a rare type of breast cancer in most patients. It will be experienced when cancer cells block the lymphatic vessel on the breast skin thereby causing the said characteristics. This type of cancer is known to be a locally advanced cancer because of its ability of spreading from its original location to the nearby tissues and even to the lymph nodes. According to the experts at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, this disease (cancer) can easily be mistaken for a breast infection. Breast infections are commonly known for causing the redness and welling of the breast. This is a serious problem, and the moment you notice these signs, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention. Besides these, there are several other signs and symptoms as discussed below.

Inflammatory breast tumor: Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include:

  • Unfamiliar warmth the affected breast
  • Thickness, heaviness or visible enlargement of one breast
  • Tenderness, pain or aching
  • Rapid and consistent changes in the appearance of one breast, over the course of several weeks
  • The nipple turning inward and flattening
  • Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone or below the collarbone
  • Discoloration, giving the breast a red, purple, pink or bruised appearance
  • Dimpling or ridges on the skin of the affected breast, similar to an orange skin

In most cases the inflammatory breast cancer unlike other types of cancer, doesn’t form a lump.

Inflammatory breast tumor: When is it appropriate to see a doctor?

Whereas people should go for regular screening, it is important that as soon as you notice these signs and symptoms, you will need to seek an appointment with your doctor right away. Besides these facts, it is worth noting that the other more common conditions have signs and symptoms resembling those of inflammatory breast cancer. A breast injury or breast infection (mastitis) may cause redness, swelling and pain.

And like we had mention before, inflammatory breast cancer can easily be mistaken with a breast infections which are very common. At this stage, treatment may be administered using antibiotics for a week or so, and if the symptoms respond to antibiotics, then additional testing won’t be necessary. However, where the redness does not improve, a more serious cause like inflammatory breast cancer may be investigated by your doctor. Finally doctor Akoury reiterates that, for those who may have been treated for breast infection before, if their symptoms doesn’t improve a mammogram or other test to evaluate such signs and symptoms is highly recommended. But in doing all these, we must appreciate that the best way of determine if such symptoms are caused by inflammatory breast cancer is to do a biopsy to remove a sample of tissue for testing. We appreciate that this disease come with great shock and many suffer more form the shock than even the cancer cells. We would want to help you go through the whole exercise if only you can let us know your struggles.

Inflammatory breast tumor: Blocking the lymphatic vessels

 

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Inflammatory breast cancer

January 17, 2018

Inflammatory breast cancer: Blocking the lymphatic vessels

Inflammatory breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer causes may not be known, but the risk factors are evident

Like it is with many other cancer, it’s not clear what causes inflammatory breast cancer. Experts across the globe are aware that the genesis of inflammatory breast cancer comes with the formation of an abnormal cell in one of the breast’s ducts. Mutations within the abnormal cell’s DNA facilitates its rapid growth and multiplying into several cells uncontrollably. Scientifically, doctor Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center adds that, the numerous abnormal cells penetrate and obstruct the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast. The obstruction or blockage in the lymphatic vessels causes red, swollen and dimpled skin which is a classic sign of inflammatory breast cancer.  So what are the risks factors?

Inflammatory breast cancer: Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of inflammatory breast cancer include:

Being a woman – Women are more vulnerable and are likely to be diagnosed with this type of cancer than men nevertheless, this doesn’t exempt men from develop inflammatory breast cancer.

Black skin – Black women have a higher risk of this disease than do white women.

Being obese – Weight management is important as it reduces the risks. Obese and overweight people have higher risk of contracting this disease compared with those of normal weight.

Inflammatory breast cancer: Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer include:

  • Physical exam – during your regular checkups, your doctor examines the breast to ascertain signs like decolonization of the breast to redness.
  • Imaging tests – the doctor may recommend a breast X-ray (mammogram) or a breast ultrasound primarily to look for signs of cancer in your breast like thickened skin. Additional imaging tests like MRI, may be recommended in certain situations.
  • Removing a sample of tissue for testing – a small sample of the affected area of the breast is removed for testing through a procedure known as biopsy. The tissue is analyzed in a laboratory to look for signs of cancer. A skin biopsy may also be helpful, and this can be done at the same time as a breast biopsy.

Inflammatory breast cancer: Determining the extent of the cancer

To ascertain this, more tests becomes necessary. Knowing the extent of the cancer spreading to the lymph nodes or to other areas of your body is essential for treatment. Such tests may include a CT scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan and bone scan. Nonetheless, some tests may not be necessary and therefore, your doctor will identify the most relevant for each patient. Finally, it is out of these tests results that your doctor will determine the stage of cancer and with such information, he/she will be able to put you in the right treatment. And whichever treatment your doctor settles on, you will need all the support from your loved ones and friends. A good health facility to make the treatment friendly. In your quest of looking for the right facility, you can talk to us at AWAREmed health and wellness resource center for real time solutions.

Inflammatory breast cancer: Blocking the lymphatic vessels

 

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Breast cancer symptoms

January 16, 2018

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer symptoms

Breast cancer symptoms. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor which is a collection of cancer cells arising from the cells of the breast.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor which is a collection of cancer cells arising from the cells of the breast. Although breast cancer mainly take place in women, it can also affect men. But for the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on women breast cancer beginning with the symptoms. Identifying breast cancer symptoms is not always immediate since breast cancer rarely show indications of signs and symptoms. It is possible for women have every cancers without the production of masses that can be felt or yields recognized changes in the breast. However, when symptoms appears, it will be a lump or mass in the breast which is always the most common symptom. Nonetheless, and according to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, besides the lump, there are other possible symptoms including:

  • Swelling of part of the breast.
  • Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
  • Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
  • Nipple discharge or redness,
  • Changes in the skin such as puckering or dimpling,
  • Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
  • A newly reversed nipple
  • A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

The use of screening mammography becomes necessary to detect any formation of cancer in good time. The difficulty in reorganizing early symptoms and signs of breast cancer is not limited to small breast cancer but extends to even the larger breast cancers. And as has been stated, when they do appear, the most common symptom is a lump or mass in the breast or underarm area says doctor Akoury. And though not so common, we have some types of cancers known as inflammatory breast cancers that are likely to produce redness and warmth of the affected breast. Breast pain is also not a typical symptom, but breast or nipple pain may occur in certain cases.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: Breast cancer causes and risk factors

In understanding this point, it is true that we have several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing breast cancer, it is important to appreciate that, the exact reason for cancer development is not known scientifically. However, factors like family history of breast cancer and the presence of certain inherited genes like BRCA1, BRCA2 can increase the risk for developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: Available statistics on male breast cancer

Breast cancer is rare in men. Like for instance, only an approximately of 2,400 new cases are diagnosed per year in the U.S. which typically has a significantly worse outcome. This is partially related to the often late diagnosis of male breast cancer, when the cancer has already spread. Symptoms are similar to the symptoms in women, with the most common symptom being a lump or change in skin of the breast tissue or nipple discharge. Although it can occur at any age, male breast cancer usually occurs in men over 60 years of age. And because we care about your health, AWAREmed health center doors are open for you at any time for further consultation with our experts.

Breast cancer symptoms and signs: What is breast cancer?

 

 

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Angiosarcoma cancer

January 16, 2018

Angiosarcoma cancer: Blood vessels and Lymph vessels

Angiosarcoma cancer

Angiosarcoma cancer. when symptoms appears, it will be a lump or mass in the breast which is always the most common symptom

Angiosarcoma is a rare type of cancer normally affecting the lining of the blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels are part of immune system responsible for collecting bacteria, viruses and waste products from the body and disposes of them. Experts’ at AWAREmed health and wellness resources center, explains that, this type of cancer can occur anywhere in your body. But quit often it affects the head and neck skin. Rarely, angiosarcoma cancer may form in the skin on other parts of your body, such as the breast. Or it may form in deeper tissue, such as the liver and the heart. Angiosarcoma treatment depends on where the cancer is located. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and we will be discussing then shortly.

Angiosarcoma cancer: Symptoms

The signs and symptoms often vary depending on where the cancer forms.

Angiosarcoma that affects the skin – like stated in most cases angiosarcoma affects the head and neck skin and particularly the scalp. Its signs and symptoms of this form of angiosarcoma include:

  • A raised, purplish area of skin that looks like a bruise
  • A bruise-like lesion that grows larger over time
  • A lesion that may bleed when scratched or bumped
  • Swelling in the surrounding skin

Angiosarcoma that affects organs ­– it affects organs like the heart and the liver and when this happens, the patients feels a lot of pain. In all these, doctor Akoury advices that when the signs and symptoms are persistent, you may want to see your doctor. And if you’re around, you can schedule an appointment with us at AWAREmed health center at convenience.

Angiosarcoma cancer: Causes

Scientifically, it’s not clear what causes most angiosarcoma. However, there’re certain factors that can facilitate the risks. When the cells in the blood vessels multiply abnormally this should be an indicator. The abnormal cells outgrows the other cells resulting in cells breaking off and spreads or metastasize to other parts of the body.

Angiosarcoma cancer: Risk factors

The risks may increase due to the following factors:

Radiation therapy – when radiation is used for treatment, this increases the risks. A rare complication of radiation therapy, angiosarcoma typically occurs between 5 to 10 years after treatment.

Swelling caused by lymph vessel damage (lymphedema) – Lymphedema is swelling caused by a backup of lymph fluid that forms when the lymphatic system is blocked or damaged. This is becomes a risk whenever lymph nodes are removed during surgery (a technique that’s often used to treat cancer). Lymphedema can also occur in response to infection or other conditions.

Chemicals – Liver angiosarcoma has been linked to exposure to several chemicals, including vinyl chloride and arsenic.

Angiosarcoma cancer: Blood vessels and Lymph vessels

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