Health

Essential Health Screening After 40

People around the age 40 have highly demanding jobs, responsibilities of elderly parents and growing children or all of the above, and therefore it’s easy to ignore health aside, though unintentionally. But 40 is the time to evaluate your overall wellbeing, and to plan for the long-run. It is considered a milestone when the risk of many health conditions increases. It could be due to lifestyle habits, negligent of health due to busy schedules and responsibilities, stress factors or hereditary. With today’s advance technology, most of the health issues are detectable and curable if treated at the right time. And the only way to stay on top of it is adopting measures such as lifestyle enhancement and regular medical check-ups and follow-ups.

Health Issues after 40.

Health screenings are generally an essential aspect of preventative health for people of all ages but as we grow older, regular check-ups for various factors must be considered as a priority. Health Care Providers in a Multispecialty Hospital in Navi Mumbai has shared the conditions they often spot in patients of this age.

1. Overactive bladder.
2. Perimenopausal Symptoms.
3. Kidney stones.
4. Urinary tract and prostate infections.
5. Food allergies.
6. Osteoarthritis.
7. High blood pressure.
8. Erectile dysfunction.
9. Skin cancer.
10. Depression.
11. Anxiety.

Health Screenings for Men of 40.

1. Prostate checks.

Prostate cancer spreads slowly, and early detection usually lead to successful treatment. The two main screening exams for prostate cancer are:

1. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA test).
   1. Digital rectal exam (DRE). 
2. Colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for a lot of death and disease all over the world and is especially on the rise in the West. According to experts in the matter, if a polyps/tumours found on colonoscopy is small then they are easily removable, and the disease is stopped at that moment. It is highly recommended to begin CRC screening at an earlier age especially if there is a family history of CRC.

• Cholesterol Check.

Cholesterol tests should be a standard part of annual health check-ups, since cholesterol is seen as a biomarker of potential disease.

• Blood Sugar Test.

Blood sugar testing, and monitoring for good health, is highly advisable as it is one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Blood sugar testing alone can alarm the health care providers that there may be a problem in the person’s health.

• Electrocardiograms (ECG).

The ECG reads the electrical impulses of the heart, and many cardiac abnormalities can be detected from these tests. 

• Bone density tests.

Low bone density leading to hip fractures is a major medical problem. It is recommended that men with any of the above risk factors must consult their doctor for treatment and care.

• Dental check-ups.

Dental health is an important part of an adult’s overall health and wellness and being negligent towards it can pave the way for several other diseases.

• Eye Exams.

Eye exams can spot early signs of many chronic eye diseases, many of which do not have early symptoms.

Health Screenings for Women of 40.

1.Body mass index (BMI)/obesity screening.

Your weight and height are measured to calculate your BMI. The higher your BMI, the more chance you have of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other diseases.

2. Depression screening.

A test consisting of series of questions is administered to determine if you’re depressed or at risk for suicide.

3. Alcohol, smoking and substance misuse screening.

A test consisting of series of questions is administered to determine amounts and frequency of use.

4. Blood pressure check.

If you have history of blood pressure issues in your family, you should keep track of it by regular check. The goal is to have a blood pressure lower than 130/80 as an adult.

5. Cholesterol screening.

A cholesterol screening (also called a lipid panel) is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

6. Diabetes screening as part of a cardiovascular risk assessment.

It involves checking the glucose level in your blood while you are empty stomach. If your blood glucose level is too high, a retest is done to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

7. Mammogram screening for breast cancer.

Women should begin mammogram tests (it’s an X-ray of the breast) at age 40 every year to stay on top of the matter.

8.Pap test screening for cervical cancer.

It is a test that looks for any abnormal cells on the cervix, as well as for HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

9.Eye and dental exams.

You should have eye exams at least every two years if you’ve reached the age of 40. Schedule dental cleanings and exams every six months, and be diligent about following dental care regime.

10.Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening.

HIV should be tested regardless of sexual activity, lifestyle, age or gender.

Understanding Endometriosis, Causes & complications

Understanding Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful medical condition in which the tissues forming the lining of your uterus grow outside the uterus, i.e. either within the pelvic area or outside that. It makes your periods painful and can also lead to fertility issues in women. 

These tissues are called the endometrium. Between every menstrual cycle, these tissues grow surrounding the wall of your uterus and shed if you don’t conceive. The same endometrium-like tissues can grow in other parts of your body, including your abdomen and chest. If you notice the below-listed symptoms of endometriosis, contact a gynecologist in Juinagar, Navi Mumbai for treatment. 

Causes and Symptoms of Endometriosis

The main cause of endometriosis is still unknown, but researchers believe there’s a genetic connection. If your mother, grandmother, or other females from your family have a history of endometriosis, talk to your gynecologist about your risk. People also link it to the defect in your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs.

A common symptom of endometriosis is mild or severe pain in your lower abdomen or lower back. Some women may not experience any symptoms at all, which explains why endometriosis is often left undetected in most cases. Here’s what you might experience.

• Extreme pain in your abdomen
• Abdominal pain during or before periods
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Extreme bleeding
• Infertility

The symptoms may vary from one person to another. Some people might experience extreme pain, while others may have no pain at all (despite the severity of the condition). Some might also experience pain in bowel movements during periods. 

Treatment for Endometriosis

Your gynecologist will ask about your future pregnancy plans, age, and the severity of the condition to determine the most suitable treatment for endometriosis. The doctor might prescribe pain medication to relieve your symptoms, although that isn’t a permanent cure for endometriosis. Or, they might recommend hormonal therapy. 

The best treatment for endometriosis is laparoscopic myomectomy surgery in Navi Mumbai with medications. However, endometriosis is a chronic condition that might return a few years after the surgery. How soon it returns depends on the severity of the disease. 

So, consult your healthcare provider about the risk of its recurrence. Myomectomy is suitable for people with pregnancy plans for the future. If you are not planning any pregnancy, you can get laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery in Navi Mumbai for complete relief. 

Complications of Endometriosis

Endometrial tissues that grow outside your uterus can lead to adhesions and scar tissues. This can make your period pain worse over time. Some women with endometriosis might experience fertility issues. There’s a possibility that endometriosis might disappear over time and the lesions and scar tissues that formed due to the endometrial lining can get smaller. This mostly happens when the level of estrogen in your body drops. 

It’s best to discuss your health goals with a healthcare provider and work with them to manage endometriosis and its symptoms. Although it’s not a medical emergency, the condition can cause unbearable pain and complications like your pelvic organs sticking to each other or scar tissue formation. These symptoms can get unmanageable. 

Breastfeeding And Your Sleep- How Do You Rest When The Baby Needs You All The Time?

Breastfeeding is a beautiful thing. It’s hard work, yes, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Breastfeeding can make you feel amazing and help your body in so many ways, but there may be times when you feel like you’re doing everything right and still not getting enough sleep. Here are some tips for finding restful sleep while breastfeeding:

Tips for getting more sleep by gynecologist in Navi Mumbai:

• Try to go to bed each night at the same time.
• Have a relaxing bedtime routine, including reading books or listening to music before going to sleep, taking deep breaths while lying down and focusing on your breathing, keeping your room dark, and making sure there are no distractions like electronics and/or pets nearby that could disrupt sleep, such as televisions or phones ringing. If you’re not comfortable with this step, then try using an alarm clock instead of relying on the sun rising so that you can sleep through the night without having any interruptions from outside noise sources like traffic noise, which may wake them up during nap periods when they need the most restful rest breaks after lunchtime meals!
• Avoid caffeine after 2 pm because this makes people feel wired later in the afternoon, which interferes with falling asleep easily.

Most importantly, rest when and how you can!

When you’re breastfeeding, it can be difficult to get enough sleep. Your baby needs you all the time! But if you are getting a good night’s rest and still feel like you have so much energy, then try some of these tips:

• Try to get some sleep when the baby sleeps. They usually fall asleep around 7 pm or 8 pm and wake up around 6 am or 7 am (usually earlier if they suckle more). This means that you’ll usually have about 2 hours before your next feeding is due – this gives time for naps as well!
• If possible, try not to take naps during your breastfeeding times because this will affect how long both parties have left in bed together before their next feeding session begins again, which could lead them into exhaustion mode faster than normal (but don’t worry too much about this one).

Everybody is different, but these tips may help you find the right solution for your needs.

If anything is bothering your sleep at night, talk to your doctor about it so that they can help diagnose the problem and make sure that there isn’t anything more serious going on in your eyes or balance system.

We hope you found these tips helpful! We know it’s not easy to find the right balance between rest and breastfeeding, but we all have to find our own way. Any prob

How an Orthopedic Specialist Treats Knee Pain?

The knee is made up of the tibia, patella, and femur, and has a supporting system of soft tissues such as cartilage, ligament, and muscle. When the knee joint gets damaged, it can impact function significantly. Without functional knees, you can’t stand, walk, or run.
Throughout your life, you may experience knee pain due to injuries or in your more advanced years, due to a degenerative disease called osteoarthritis. Knee pain can have many causes and a proper diagnosis is a critical step before receiving treatment. Acute knee pain can be addressed with rest and painkillers. Chronic knee pain has to be addressed with other treatments.

While an orthopedic doctor in Navi Mumbai can examine your knee and prescribe medication to ease pain, an orthopedic doctor is a specialist on the musculoskeletal system and can provide options for treating knee pain more effectively.

Treatment: Treatments will vary, depending upon what exactly is causing your knee pain.

Medications: Your orthopedic doctor in Juinagar, Navi Mumbai may prescribe medications to help relieve pain and to treat the conditions causing your knee pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Therapy: Strengthening the muscles around your knee will make it more stable. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or different types of strengthening exercises based on the specific condition that is causing your pain.

Injections:
In some cases, your doctor may suggest injecting medications or other substances directly into your joint. Examples include:

• Corticosteroids. Injections of a corticosteroid drug into your knee joint may help reduce the symptoms of an arthritis flare and provide pain relief that may last a few months. These injections aren’t effective in all cases.

Surgery:

If you have an injury that may require surgery, it’s usually not necessary to have the operation immediately. Before making a decision, consider the pros and cons of both nonsurgical rehabilitation and surgical reconstruction in relation to what’s most important to you. If you choose to have surgery, your options may include:

• Arthroscopic surgery : Depending on your injury, your doctor may be able to examine and repair your joint damage using a fiber-optic camera and long, narrow tools inserted through just a few small incisions around your knee. Arthroscopy may be used to remove loose bodies from your knee joint, remove or repair damaged cartilage (especially if it is causing your knee to lock), and reconstruct torn ligaments.
• Total knee replacement: In this procedure, your surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap, and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers.

If you are having symptoms in your knee, we encourage you to contact our office to make an appointment at our orthopaedic hospital in Navi Mumbai i.e. Mangal Prabhu Hospital, Navi Mumbai.

IS WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISES GOOD FOR YOUR AGING BONES?

Weight-bearing describes any activity you do on your feet that works your bones and muscles against gravity. When your feet and legs carry your body weight, more stress is placed on your bones, making your bones work harder. Weight-bearing exercise after young adulthood can help prevent further bone loss and strengthen bone. As you age the muscular and nervous system change and reduce the ability of your body to activate your muscles. But with the help of some physical activity and exercise this process an be slowed down considerably with orthopedic doctor in Navi Mumbai tips and suggested exercise.

These exercises include:

• Brisk walking
• Hiking
• Jogging
• Dancing
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Hopscotch
• Stair climbing

Higher impact activities such as jogging and jumping rope, provide more bone strengthening benefits. But with aging we lose the energy and strength to do such exercises as there are many changes that take place in our body like once we reach the age of 35, we start losing half a pound of muscle and gaining one ad a half pounds of fat each year. At 40-50, the bone mineral density declines. And as we age towards 70 our strength reduces by 20 to 40 percent. With age the musculoskeletal system (system that includes your bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and connective tissues) also changes. There is a decline in muscle fiber numbers and size and loss of efficiency of the cardiovascular system over time. This is a natural/biological process and we can not stop it from happening. And as we age our daily activities also decrease leading in decline of flexibility and strength. But if we keep ourselves active this process can be slowed down.

Exercises that can be done if you have following medical conditions:

• Osteoarthritis: If you have Osteoarthritis, you can involve yourself in walking, biking, swimming and some stretching exercises.
• Lower Back pain: Walking, biking, swimming and strength training.
• Osteoporosis: Walking, biking, swimming, hiking, dancing, treadmill, and racquet sports such as tennis and badminton.
• Total Joint Replacement: Walking, biking, swimming, and play tennis or golf.

Conclusion:

Weight bearing exercise to improve strength are good for people of all age. It can be hard for seniors to build up their muscle mass, but resistance training will help them do this. And if we keep ourselves active, we can prevent ourselves from many diseases and it gives us more energy and greater self-confidence, enabling us to embrace our later years with gusto and take consultation with orthopedic hospital in Navi Mumbai.

End-stage Renal Disease

End-stage renal disease, or kidney failure, occurs when your kidneys fail to function and can no longer filter the blood normally. As a result, you might need a kidney transplant or dialysis from a kidney specialist in Navi Mumbai. Your kidneys are responsible for excreting the waste and fluid from your blood through urine. When they stop functioning, these waste particles and excess fluid build up in your blood. 

The fifth stage of kidney disease is life-threatening and can result in loss of life if not addressed immediately. In addition to filtering blood, your kidneys are responsible for striking a perfect balance between salt, minerals, and water in your body. They create urine so that excess waste can be excreted. 

Causes of End-Stage Renal Disease

Kidney disease can occur due to a number of health conditions, a sedentary lifestyle, and a poor diet. It can damage your kidneys at once or cause slow damage, which eventually develops into chronic kidney disease. 

Here are the common causes of end-stage renal disease:

• Birth defects 
• A history of severe urinary tract infections that occurred repeatedly
• Heart disease or hypertension
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Lupus and other autoimmune diseases
• Kidney stones
• Diabetes

Sometimes, chronic kidney diseases, like cancer, can cause kidney failure. Whatever the cause is, it’s important to see a urologist in Navi Mumbai immediately if you notice any or all of the below symptoms.

Symptoms of End-Stage Renal Disease

Unfortunately, kidney diseases don’t produce any serious symptoms initially. As the condition progresses and your kidney fails, you might notice the below symptoms.

• Excess fatigue and weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Muscle cramps 
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Unusual changes in urination
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty in concentration
• Chest pain and shortness of breath due to fluid buildup

Contact a urologist immediately if you notice these symptoms. These are often the signs that your kidney has stopped functioning, and you might need immediate treatment. However, these symptoms can also indicate other health problems, which aren’t as serious as end-stage renal disease. It’s best to consult a healthcare provider for a comprehensive diagnosis.

Treatment for End-Stage Renal Disease

A kidney transplant is a permanent solution to end-stage renal disease. In transplant surgery, the surgeon will replace the damaged kidney with the kidney of a living person or a deceased.

Everyone has two kidneys, and it’s totally possible to live with one. Before the transplant, the surgeon will conduct a few tests to ensure the donor’s kidney is a good match for you. After the transplant, you may have to take immune-suppressant medications to prevent your immune system from rejecting the new kidney, assuming it is a foreign object. Once the transplant is done successfully, your new kidney will start functioning like normal.

If you are considering dialysis, know that you will have to take dialysis treatment till the transplant surgery. Visit a dialysis center in Navi Mumbai to discuss the dialysis procedure, how frequently you need that, and which dialysis is best for your condition. 

What Is the Difference Between Hemodialysis and Dialysis?

The kidneys are one of the major organs in the human body and perform multiple functions. They help remove waste products generated in the body through diet metabolism. The waste is excreted out of the body in the form of urine. The kidneys also remove excess salt, water, many drugs which we consume, regulate acid and potassium content in the body and help balance the body fluids. Kidneys also secrete hormones that trigger production of red blood cells in the body, regulate blood pressure. Kidneys also produce an active form of Vitamin D that is required for strong and healthy bones, a kidney specialist in Navi Mumbai.

Needless to say, kidneys are prone to various ailments and conditions including kidney failure. Kidney failure may be Reversible- meaning, it can be recovered with treatment. End-stage or chronic kidney failure is one in which kidneys are no longer able to cope and dialysis and transplant are the only options.

Dialysis is a treatment in which the blood of patients with kidney failure is cleaned through artificial means, either outside the body or inside the body. Combined with other medication, dialysis helps the patient of end-stage kidney failure live longer which is carried out at a dialysis center in Navi Mumbai.

Types Of Dialysis:

There are 2 types of dialysis: Hemo and Peritoneal.

In Hemodialysis, the blood is cleaned outside the body using a dialysis machine and then sent back into the body. This can be done either at a hospital or at home. In peritoneal dialysis, a special liquid is put in the abdomen. As blood passes through blood vessels in the abdominal cavity, this liquid absorbs waste from them across the peritoneal membrane (lining of our abdomen). This polluted liquid is then drained away. 

Difference Between The Two Types:

Hemodialysis

• Where it is done: At home or a hospital.
• How often it is done: 3 to 5 times a week.
• Complexity of the procedure:

The dialysis machine (dialyzer) requires a vascular access which is basically a pair of artery and vein through which the blood in the body is pulled out of the body and in to the machine, cleaned using special filters and then cycled back to the body. Initially access is achieved by placing a temporary catheter in central veins, usually in the neck. Later a surgery is done to create a fistula in the forearm.

• Ability to work: During the entire duration of the dialysis, the patient is either sitting or lying on bed and cannot perform any other activities. Rest of the days, they are free to work.
• Side effects of the procedure: Fatigue, low blood pressure.
• Diet Restrictions: Salt and water intake are mainly restricted along with certain other food items which have high potassium and phosphorous.

Peritoneal Dialysis

• Where it is done: At home
• How often it is done: Daily, 4 to 6 times per day or in the night.
• Duration of the procedure: 3 to 5 hours per day in total
• Complexity of the procedure:

Using laparoscopic surgery, a peritoneal catheter is inserted into the lining of the abdominal wall (peritoneum), which provides an access to the abdominal cavity. The patient can use this access 2 weeks after it has been created.

On a daily basis, the patient must fill the abdominal cavity with a special fluid (dialysate filter), through this access point. The fluid cleans the blood through the internal walls of the abdomen and then drains into a collection bag which the patient or a caretaker must empty out.

• Ability to work: This procedure can be done at night, which means, the patient can perform his/her normal activities during the day. The person can even travel, as long as he/she is able to perform this procedure on his/her own, in a clean place.
• Side effects of the procedure: Risk of infection of the Catheter(or) abdomen and limitation of membrane function.
• Restrictions: There are fewer restrictions to diet with this procedure compared to hemodialysis.

Do I Need Surgery for Hernia?

A hernia occurs when your muscles break down and the surrounding organs or tissues swell, forming a bulge. This bulge can be pushed back inward when pressed. Sadly, the hernia grows bigger and bigger and might require surgery to prevent complications. 

However, not every type of hernia requires medical intervention. If you don’t notice any symptoms, you don’t need hernia treatment in Navi Mumbai. If you are considering surgery, the doctor will push the protruding organ back in its place and secure it with a mesh. The question is, “how do you know if you need surgery for a hernia?”

Hernia Surgery: Here’s When You Need It

A hernia doesn’t always require surgery, especially if it’s small and painless. But, if one of the following happens, medical intervention might be needed.

• Your organ or the tissue gets stuck in the abdominal wall, which might result in the complete cut of blood supply to the tissue.
• You have a strangulated hernia in which your organs do not get an adequate supply. If that happens, the organ might die immediately. This is a medical emergency, and surgical intervention is required. Visit your doctor immediately if you notice the hernia turning black or purple. Or if it’s accompanied by symptoms like fever and nausea.
• You experience extreme pain or any form of discomfort. Or the hernia grows larger.

Surgery is optional, or you don’t need it at least immediately if:

• You have a reducible hernia, which means it can be pushed back when you are lying down.
• It is almost invisible and doesn’t produce any symptoms.

Even if you don’t get surgery, follow-up appointments with your doctor are important if you are diagnosed with a hernia. You should at least have it checked every six months. Most adults and kids with hernia get an operation, though. It’s the most reliable way to ensure the hernia doesn’t cause any complications in the future.

Risks of Surgery

Hernia surgery is safe and is quite common among adults and kids. But like other operations, hernia surgery carries the risk of some complications, like:

• Infection in the treated area
• Blood clots (make sure you walk and keep your body moving to prevent blood clots after surgery)
• Some patients might develop chronic pain that lasts after surgery.
• Hernia might recur (putting mesh reduces the risk of the hernia returning by only half)

Alternative to Surgery

If you are too old to get surgery or are ill, you can talk to your doctor to discuss alternative treatments. Unfortunately, surgical treatment is the only option for an inguinal hernia. Some antibiotics might help reduce pain or push the bulge inward, but eventually, you might need to visit the surgery hospital in Navi Mumbai for permanent relief. 

Your healthcare provider might recommend you wear a truss or a binder. These garments push the hernia back into its place by applying gentle pressure. These options come in handy when you can’t get a hernia surgery due to a preexisting medical condition or the risks of complications.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A UROLOGIST?

A urologist in Navi Mumbai is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary system. This system keeps the body clean by filtering out wastes and toxins and taking them out of the body. The urinary tract includes:

• Bladder.
• Kidneys.
• Ureters.
• Urethra.

A urologist in Juinagar, Navi Mumbai also treats conditions involving the reproductive organs and the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. The reproductive systems of males and females are linked closely to their urinary systems.

A urologist is a medical doctor specializing in conditions that affect the urinary tract in men, women and children, and diseases that affect the reproductive system. These conditions range from peeing too much or too little to being unable to father a child.

A patient may be referred to a urologist for treatment of a range of conditions:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Incontinence
• Male infertility
• Kidney disease
• Renal transplantation
• Urologic oncology
• Bladder prolapses
• Cancers
• Enlarged prostate
• Erectile dysfunction
• Peyronie’s disease
• Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
• Kidney and ureteral stones
• Prostatitis
• Undescended testes, or cryptorchidism
• Urethral stricture.
• Paediatric Urology

What Can I Expect from a Urologist?

• The urologist will normally perform a range of tests to determine what the problem is. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT, MRI scan, can help the urologist to locate the problem and a urine test may be performed to check for bacteria and other signs of disease.
• If the situation is more serious, a biopsy may be performed; this is traditionally to check for cancer and other disorders. The urologist may also ask you questions about your medical history and carry out a physical examination.
• If you’re experiencing a frequent need to urinate pain in passing urine, difficulty in passing urine, blood in urine, pain in your lower back, or trouble sustaining an erection and early ejaculation. You should consult an expert. In order to maintain a healthy urinary tract, urologists recommend that you regularly empty your bladder and drink water instead of caffeine.
• They also stress the importance of avoiding smoking and maintaining a low-salt diet. By following these simple rules, you can prevent a wide range of urological problems. All tumors or cancer of the kidney, prostate, penis, urinary bladder, and testis are also treated by the urologist.

Conclusion

To prevent the diseases mentioned above, doctors advise staying hydrated and holding pee for long durations as it can severely affect your health. Maintaining hygiene while excreting and proper sanitization is a general rule of thumb.

What To Know About Breast Cancer

There are things you should know to understand what breast cancer is, know your chances for getting it, and how to find it early. Finding breast cancer early is critical because when it is found early, it is easier to treat. Read to learn more about the common symptoms of breast cancer and the best way many women find breast cancer early and take affordable breast cancer treatment in Navi Mumbai.

 What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, after skin cancer. It is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. Cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body

What symptoms should I look for?

Some warning signs of breast cancer are:

 • New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).

• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.

• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.

• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.

• Pulling in of the nipple.

• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.

• Any change in the size or shape of the breast.

• Pain in the breast.

These symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your health care provider right away.

Causes

Oncologist doctors in Navi Mumbai know that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But it’s not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It’s likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.

Breast cancer stages

Doctors divide breast cancer into stages based on the size of the tumor and how much it has spread.

Cancers that are large or have invaded nearby tissues or organs are at a higher stage than cancers that are small or still contained in the breast. To stage breast cancer, doctors need to know:

• if the cancer is invasive or noninvasive
• how large the tumor is
• whether the lymph nodes are involved
• if the cancer has spread to nearby tissue or organs

Breast cancer has five main stages: stages 0 to 4.

Stage 0 breast cancer

Stage 0 is DCIS. Cancer cells in DCIS remain confined to the ducts in the breast and have not spread into nearby tissue.

Stage 1 breast cancer

• Stage 1A. The primary tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) wide or less. The lymph nodes are not affected.
• Stage 1B. Cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes. Either there is no tumor in the breast, or the tumor is smaller than 2 cm.

Stage 2 breast cancer

• Stage 2A. The tumor is smaller than 2 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes, or it’s between 2 and 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes.
• Stage 2B. The tumor is between 2 and 5 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 axillary (armpit) lymph nodes, or it’s larger than 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes.

Stage 3 breast cancer

• Stage 3A.
  • The cancer has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes. The primary tumor can be any size.
  • Tumors are greater than 5 cm. The cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or any breastbone nodes.
• Stage 3B. A tumor has invaded the chest wall or skin and may or may not have invaded up to 9 lymph nodes.
• Stage 3C. Cancer is found in 10 or more axillary lymph nodes, lymph nodes near the collarbone, or internal mammary nodes.

Stage 4 breast cancer (metastatic breast cancer)

Stage 4 breast cancer can have a tumor of any size. Its cancer cells have spread to nearby and distant lymph nodes as well as distant organs.

The testing your doctor does will determine the stage of your breast cancer, which will affect your treatment.

Breast cancer treatment

Your breast cancer’s stage, how far it has invaded (if it has), and how big the tumor has grown all play a large part in determining what kind of treatment you’ll need.

To start, your doctor will determine your cancer’s size, stage, and grade. Your cancer’s grade describes how likely it is to grow and spread. After that, you can discuss your treatment options.

Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. Many people have additional treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.

Surgery

Several types of surgery may be used to remove breast cancer, including:

• Lumpectomy. This procedure removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue, leaving the rest of the breast intact.
• Mastectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon removes an entire breast. In a double mastectomy, they remove both breasts.
• Sentinel node biopsy. This surgery removes a few of the lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor. These lymph nodes will be tested. If they don’t have cancer, you may not need additional surgery to remove more lymph nodes.
• Axillary lymph node dissection. If lymph nodes removed during a sentinel node biopsy contain cancer cells, your doctor may remove additional lymph nodes.
• Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Even though breast cancer may be present in only one breast, some people elect to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This surgery removes your healthy breast to lower your risk of developing breast cancer again.

Radiation therapy

With radiation therapy, high-powered beams of radiation are used to target and kill cancer cells. Most radiation treatments use external beam radiation. This technique uses a large machine on the outside of the body.

Advances in cancer treatment have also enabled doctors to irradiate cancer from inside the body.

To conduct brachytherapy, surgeons place radioactive seeds, or pellets, inside the body near the tumor site. The seeds stay there for a short period of time and work to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to destroy cancer cells. Some people may undergo chemotherapy on its own, but this type of treatment is often used along with other treatments, especially surgery.

Some people will have surgery first followed by other treatments, such as chemo or radiation. This is called adjuvant therapy. Others may have chemotherapy first to shrink the cancer, called neoadjuvant therapy, and then surgery.

In some cases, doctors prefer to give chemotherapy before surgery. The hope is that the treatment will shrink the tumor, and then the surgery will not need to be as invasive.

Chemotherapy in has many unwanted side effects, so discuss your concerns with your doctor before starting treatment.