October is breast cancer awareness month and the National Breast Cancer Research Institute are asking everyone to consider holding a fundraising event at home in your community or at work to help breast cancer research. Here is why.
Did You Know
- 1 in 7 Irish women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
- More than 3,507 breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year in Ireland.
- Breast cancer can affect anyone – irrespective of age, lifestyle or gender.
- Women are most commonly diagnosed after the age 50.
- Approximately 16 men will develop breast cancer each year in Ireland.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is when cells in your breast change and grow in an abnormal way. A group of these cancer cells can form a tumour.
Breast cancer is a common cancer in Ireland. More than 3,400 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer.
What are the breasts and what do they do?
Your breasts are made up of different types of tissue including fat, connective tissue and gland tissue. The gland tissue is divided into milk lobes and milk ducts. During and after pregnancy, milk is made and stored by the lobes and carried to the nipple by the ducts.
Your breasts are rarely the same size as each other. They may feel different at different times of the menstrual cycle, sometimes becoming lumpy just before your period. Under your skin, a ‘tail’ of breast tissue extends into your armpit (axilla).
The armpits also contain a collection of lymph nodes (glands) that make up part of the lymphatic system.
Note:
We use the term ‘woman / women’ in our breast cancer information but we understand that not everyone who may need this information identifies as a woman. Although it is rare, men can get breast cancer too.
Symptoms of breast cancer
The symptoms you get depend on the type of breast cancer you have.
Symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
- A change in size or shape of your breast such as one breast becoming larger than the other
- A change in the skin of your breast, such as puckering, ridges or dimpling (the skin may look like orange peel) or redness
- A breast abscess or boil – this may appear as a red, tender area on your breast.
- A change in your nipple, such as a pulled in, sunken or flattened nipple.
- An unusual discharge (liquid) from one or both of your nipples. The discharge may be blood stained or watery.
- A change on or around the nipple such as a rash or flaky or crusted skin
- Swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone
- Soreness or warmth (inflammatory breast cancer)
- A red scaly rash on one nipple, which may itch or burn (Paget’s disease of the breast)
9 out of 10 breast changes won’t turn out to be breast cancer, but it’s important to go to your GP if you have any symptoms and get them checked out.
Breast pain alone is rarely a symptom of breast cancer. But if you need more information about it, follow this link: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/breast-cancer/symptoms-of-breast-cancer/breast-pain
Can I be screened for breast cancer?
Testing for breast cancer when you have no symptoms is called screening. It involves an X-ray of the breasts (mammogram), which can detect early signs of cancer.
Finding and treating cancer early greatly improves your chances of survival.
Want to learn more about screening for breast cancer? Click here.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, offers free screening every 2 years to women aged 50 to 69. For more details, contact BreastCheck on 1800 45 45 55 or visit https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/breast-screening/information/
Whoever you are, wherever you come from, you can get help. For confidential advice, information and support, contact our Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700.
Diagnosing breast cancer
Tests with your GP
Your family doctor (GP) will talk to you about your symptoms and will examine your breast area. They will refer you to a breast clinic if they think you need more tests. This doesn’t mean you have cancer. Remember, 9 out of 10 breast lumps are harmless.
Questions to ask your doctor
If your doctor refers you for tests, ask:
- Why are you referring me for tests?
- Can I be referred to a specialist breast clinic?
- How quickly will I be seen?
- Is my referral urgent or non-urgent?
- Which tests will I need and why?
- Ask about triple assessment. Triple assessment is when you have 3 tests: a physical examination, a mammogram / other scans, and a core biopsy or fine needle aspiration.
If your doctor does not refer you for tests, ask:
- Can you explain why you’ve decided not to refer me to a breast specialist?
- How can you be sure I don’t have breast cancer?
Tests at the hospital
Tests you might have include:
Mammogram: An X-ray of your breast
Ultrasound scan: A device like a microphone passed over your breast that can produce an image of the inside of your breast and show any lumps.
Biopsy: Taking a sample of cells. Biopsies are sent to a laboratory and looked at under a microscope to find out if cancer cells are present.
There are different ways to get breast tissue samples:
- Fine needle aspiration: Your doctor uses a fine needle and syringe to take a sample of cells.
- Needle (core) biopsy: Your doctor or nurse uses a hollow needle to take the sample.
- Wire guided biopsy: A fine wire is inserted into your breast to help guide the surgeon to the area to be removed. It is used if no lump can be felt or it’s hard to pinpoint the exact area in your breast which needs to be removed.
- Punch biopsy: This means taking a sample of cells using a tool that can take a small disc of skin from your breast. You may have a punch biopsy if you have changes to the skin on your nipple or if your breast is red or inflamed, as a mammogram might be painful for you.
- Skin scrapings: If your doctor thinks you might have Paget’s disease of the breast, they might scrape some cells from the skin of the nipple. The cells are put on a slide so that they can be looked at under a microscope so you doctor can see what is causing your symptoms.
If you need information about how breast cancer is treated, follow this link: https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/breast-cancer/how-is-breast-cancer-treated
If you need help, please reach out: Contact us