Breast cancer: the road to recovery is longer than you think.

Breast cancer: the road to recovery is longer than you think.

Unfortunately, "cancer" has become a common word in our daily lives. This is particularly true of "the breast the most common type of cancer among women globally, so much so that one in eight women will have to face it at some point in their lives. However, recent developments in diagnosis improved treatment methods, and better management of side effects means that cancer does not need to determine the end of the road for most people.

"Cancer" is a scary word for most people. But among women, the word "breast cancer" may be more frightening because it affects anatomy, especially that related to femininity. However, breast cancer can also occur among men, although their chances are one in 1,000 compared to one in eight women.

Due to the presence of breasts near the lymphoma and lungs, the chances of death were very high. However, survival rates have improved considerably through awareness-raising programs that encourage women's self-testing of breasts. Improved survival rates can also be attributed to more women aged 40 (or 30 if there is a family history of pre-menopausal breast cancer) receiving regular mammograms or ultrasound screenings. Statistics from the United States of America showed that breast cancer mortality had fallen by a third over the past 20 years (from 29.4 per 100 000 women in 1996 to 20.0 per 100 000 women in 2016).

Currently, getting rid of breast cancer for five years is enough for a person to be considered a survivor. The 89.9 percent survival rate for breast cancer is one of the highest for all cancers (2009–2015 statistics). Mastectomy (complete mastectomy) is still the main method of treatment, although tumor ablation (also known as partial mastectomy) is also common. If the breast is to be completely removed, the patient still has the option of artificial breasts. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy also play an important role in the treatment of breast cancer because medical advances have greatly reduced the impact of their side effects.

One reason for increased survival rates is the discovery that breast cancer cells interact with certain hormones and proteins. Drugs that prevent the growth of breast cancer cells have been developed by controlling and blocking these hormones and proteins. But the specific characteristics of cancer cells and their interactions vary from patient to patient and depend on many factors. It is therefore necessary to conduct tests to determine which drugs to use.

1. Test the presence of hormone receptors on cancer cells. Cancer cells whose hormone receptors are positive (HR+) are vulnerable to drugs that inhibit their ability to stimulate hormones.

2. Test for Human Growth Factor-2 (HER2) receptors. Cancer cells that contain this receptor (HER2 +) spread more quickly than cancer cells that do not.

Doctors consider both factors when assessing the course of treatment to be taken. For example, if cells are positive in HR but negative in HER2 (HR +/-), which is the most common scenario and means the lowest chance of relapse, hormonal therapy will be applicable to the patient. However, if cancer cells are negative for HR and positive for HER2 (HR-/HER2 +), hormone therapy would be ineffective. Instead, treatment targeting HER2 will be prescribed. If both are found to be positive, the patient may undergo both types of treatment.

The chances of survival for the three negative patients—those with negative cancer cells HR- or HER2-—were extremely low. Recent advances in targeted treatment, on the other hand, are rapidly closing that gap. The chances of survival for all types of cancer patients are now higher. Arguably, the chance of a full recovery phase and a return to normalcy is now much higher than the chances of incurable cancer.

Modern treatments are no less effective than the fact that the earlier the cancer is detected, the easier the treatment. Women should perform breast self-examination regularly. The best time to do this is after seven days of menstruation. If abnormal lumps are found in the breasts, corona, or breast skin, the doctor should be immediately interviewed.

It is not necessary to wait until you reach the age of 40; these self-tests can be performed at any age. But at the age of 40, the chances of breast cancer are much higher. Therefore, a mammogram test is recommended with or without a family history of cancer.

Finally, taking care of your general health is a good way to reduce the factors that cause cancer in the first place, whether in the form of regular exercise, maintaining suitable body weight, staying physically active, or avoiding alcohol. But if cancer has already found its way into the patient, the patient's behavior and the moral support of their nearest and dearest will play a crucial role in overcoming cancer. Staying positive and mentally strong is the key to living with your loved ones for a long time.