Breast Cancer FAQ

Irrespective of being one of the most common forms of cancer, breast cancer is still surrounded in a covering of uncertainty for many women. Thankfully, information about the subject is plentiful but even so, one might get lost in this huge forest of information. That’s why we have set up a breast cancer related FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to guide you around the subject:

Q: What are the major causes for breast cancer?

A: As with other forms of cancer, numerous factors can trigger breast cancer. These include age, an unbalanced diet, smoking, drinking, hormonal dysfunctions, hormone-altering medication (for example birth control pills), exposure to powerful light charges and so forth.

Q: Is breast cancer a curable one?

A: Yes, but it is not to the same extent that you would cure any other disease through sheer medication, treatments or therapy. The main way to “cure” breast cancer is to take away the tumor causing it and the adjacent diseased cells. The tumor is removed through surgery, whereas the remaining cancerous cells can be eliminated through several methods such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormonal treatments.

Q: When comparing with other forms of cancer, is breast cancer less aggressive?

A: No, irrespective of the area where the tumor is formed it’s the same as with other forms of cancer. However, the fact that breast cancer is positioned in an area that is more easily treatable allows it to have a better survival rate, hence the popular belief that it’s not as dangerous. If left untreated or not discovered in time, rest assures that breast cancer is equally powerful as other forms of cancer.

Q: Is it essential to visit my doctor on a usual basis to check if a breast tumor is forming up?

A: No, not necessarily, although it’s recommended that you visit your doctor for such an examination no less than once a year. If you’re not comfortable with that, you can perform breast self-examination (BSE) at home. BSE doesn’t take a lot of time and if it is performed on a monthly basis, it will grant you a big chance of discovering any breast tumors in time.

Q: What happens if I find out the tumor in one of the later stages of the disease?

A: If the tumor is discovered after it has fully grown, surgery is the only alternative you have left. In most cases, you will be required to experience a mastectomy, which is an operation where a large part of the breast is removed together with the tumor, to prevent any further spreading of the disease. After the operation is over and the doctors give you the green light for it, you may attend a secondary breast restoration treatment that will correct the unpleasant aesthetical effects of the mastectomy.

Q: Is breast cancer an inherited one?

A: No, it’s not hereditary in the same sense as other diseases are. However, if one of the members of your family has suffered from breast cancer, there’s a slightly increased chance that you will get it too.