General Information about breast cancer and screening interventions for early detection

1. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT BREAST CANCER
E. A. Asiamah, BSc, PgDip(ICM-UK), MSc(UK), FWAPCMLS
Lecturer/Consultant Biomedical Scientist
University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

2. • Breast Cancer (BC) is a malignant
tumour in the glandular tissues of the
breast.
• Both the breast ducts and lobules
contain a lot of glandular tissue.
• Such tumours also called
Adenocarcinomas

3. EPIDEMIOLOGY
• BC is a leading cause of death of
women between ages 40 and 55.
• It is the disease many women fear
the most.
• While known primarily as a
woman's disease, male breast
cancer is rare in contrast to female
breast cancer– (WHO, 2021)

6. • Approximately one in eight (1:8)
women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Annual mammograms are
recommended for women 40 and
older and for younger women with
specific breast cancer risk factors.

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8. • A major health problem in many parts
of the world, it is especially prevalent in
developed countries.
• As a result of large-scale screening
of women considered at higher risk,
a greater number of breast cancers
have been discovered and treated in
recent years, even in cases where the
women experienced no symptoms.

9. Types of breast cancer
• Most breast cancers start in the
ducts or lobes.
• Almost 75% of all breast cancers
begin in the cells lining the milk
ducts and are called ductal
carcinomas.
• Cancer that begins in the lobules is
called lobular carcinoma.

10. FORMS OF BREAST CANCER.

11. ➢In situ refers to cancer that has
remained in the tissue where it started.
➢Invasive cancers have moved out of
breast ducts or lobules into nearby
breast tissue.
➢Metastatic breast cancer refers to
cancer that started in the breasts but
has moved to other parts of the body,
beyond the breast and surrounding lymph
nodes
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14. ➢ Early menarche
➢ Late menopause
➢ Nulliparity or 1st pregnancy >30yrs
➢ Old age
➢ Family history of breast cancer
➢ Genetic predisposition
➢ Poor personal history of breast
cancer
➢ Routine night work
➢ Frequent use of birth control pills or
hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

15. RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST
CANCER…CONT’D

16. SIGNS

17. • A woman who finds a lump in her
breast should report it to her doctor
immediately.
• However, a lump in the breast is no
sure sign of cancer.
e.g. which are thickenings of the
breast tissues that produce milk.

18. ... Cont’d
• Three-quarters of all breast cancer
patients seem to have no factors
that place them at increased risk
for breast cancer...
• indicating that not all risk factors are
understood & hence may remain
asymptomatic for long.

19. • Myth: Finding a lump in your breast
means you have breast cancer
• “Not every lump is cancer. Get yourself seen
by oncologist for correct opinion.”
• Myth: Breast Cancer is contagious
• “None of the cancer is contagious, it does
not spread by touching , eating food or
sharing things” - Dr Jain.

20. • Myth: Antiperspirants and
deodorants cause breast
cancer
• “There is no scientific evidence to
support that claim…it hasn’t been
proven”

21. • Breast screening is a method of
detecting breast cancer at a very
early age.
• There are several methods for to
screen for breast cancer, and it can
begin at a very early age.
• The simple ways to begin to screen
for breast cancer are:
–Breast Self-Examination
–Mammography
–Ultrasound*

22. • All women should perform a self
breast examination monthly after
the menstrual period, when breast
swelling and fibrocystic changes
are less likely to interfere with the
detection of a lump or mass.
• This is also followed by a yearly
clinical breast examination by a
specialist / health professional.

23. B.S.E.

24. BREAST SELF EXAM (BSE)

25. B.S.E. – LOOK FOR ...

26. KNOW YOUR BREASTS (KYB)

28. BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION – CON’T
How to do the exam

31. • Depends on the stage
• Approximately 50% of patients with operable
breast cancer develop recurrent disease unless
they receive adjuvant therapy. chemotherapy or
hormone therapy.
• Prognostic factors include:
• Tumor size: Tumors larger than 5 cm are associated
with a decreased survival rate and increased
recurrence rate.
• Axillary node status
• Histopathology
• Hormone receptor status
• Oncogenic expression
Is it Curable???

32. Cancer Treatment Types

33. • The optimal surgical approach is
determined by the following
factors:
• Disease stage
• Tumor size
• Tumor location
• Breast size and configuration
• Number of tumors in the breast

34. AUG 27, 2018
Lifestyle Factors Influence Age of Breast
Cancer Diagnosis Among BRCA1/2 Carriers

35. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
▪Breast cancer is treatable
▪Early detection in its earliest and
most treatable stages is key
▪Secondary prevention is
dependent on effective screening

36. Thankyou
foryourattention