Breast cancer occurs when your breast tissue cells rapidly divide and grow abnormally. As these cells multiply, they accumulate and form lumps known as tumours.
Breast cancer usually starts in cells in your milk ducts or in your glandular tissue that supplies them with milk called lobules. As cancer grows, the cells can spread to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
Your doctor will stage your cancer according to the size of your tumour and whether and how far it has spread to help decide what your treatments options are.
The exact cause of breast cancer development in some people is not fully understood. However, there are risk factors that are known to increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. They include:
You should regularly check your breasts and become familiar with their shape and feel so that you can recognise if any changes take place.
The first breast symptoms women usually notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast that was not there before. Most often breast lumps are not cancerous but you should always get them checked by your doctor.
Other common breast cancer symptoms to have checked by your doctor include a change in size and shape of one or both breasts, a fluid discharge from either of your nipples, a swelling or lump in either of your armpits, dimpling of your breast skin, or a rash on or around your nipple.
Many different types of breast cancer can develop and knowing your cancer type will help your doctor plan the right treatment for you.
Breast cancer is often divided into:
Other, less common types of breast cancer include:
Metastatic breast cancer is when your breast cancer spreads to other parts of your body including your lungs, liver, bones or brain, usually through your blood or your axillary lymph nodes. It is also classified as stage 4 breast cancer.
Breast cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of your cancer, your hormone sensitivity, your age, overall health, and individual preferences. Cancer detected at an early stage can be treated before it spreads to other parts of the body.
We will discuss with you the best treatment plan for your breast cancer. Your breast cancer treatment options include:
Breast surgery - breast cancer treatment usually starts with surgery. There are several breast cancer surgeries including:
Drug treatments - anti-cancer medicines including:
Radiotherapy - high-energy beams destroy any cancer cells that remain after surgery.
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells of your breasts.
In the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer with 1 in 8 UK women being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Survival rates for breast cancer have improved over recent years with an increased awareness of symptoms and advances in screening and treatment.
It is important to regularly check your breasts for any changes. Early diagnosis of breast cancer symptoms can significantly improve the effectiveness of your treatment.
If you are concerned that you may have breast cancer, we can provide rapid and convenient appointments with our knowledgeable and highly skilled doctors to investigate and treat breast cancer.
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be emotional and stressful. Ramsay Health Care UK offers a full, professional, and compassionate breast care service with fast diagnosis, effective management of expert treatment, psychological support, unlimited aftercare, and a comfortable and calm environment in which to recover.
We offer advanced imaging and pathology services and ensure your breast cancer concerns are addressed as soon as possible. Our multi-disciplinary team of breast cancer surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and specialist nurses are leaders and well-regarded in their field.
Ramsay Health Care UK delivers cutting-edge treatments using modern technology. Our breast cancer surgeons are trained in the latest surgical techniques including reconstructive breast surgery to keep a natural breast appearance as well as removing the cancerous cells.
Patient safety is our primary concern and we deliver the best care whilst adhering to strict protocols to minimise any risk of infection.