Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is cancer that originates in the breast tissue. It’s the most common type of cancer in the UK, with around 56,800 people diagnosed each year.

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What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is cancer that originates in the breast tissue. Most often, breast cancer starts in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast, but it can develop in any area of breast tissue. The disease develops when abnormal cells in the breast start to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way, which eventually causes a tumour to form.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with around 56,800 people diagnosed each year. As with any type of cancer, the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chances of treatment being effective, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms.

At Welbeck, our experienced breast cancer specialists provide advanced diagnostics and treatments in our state-of-the-art Women’s Health centre.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Breast cancer symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Some patients will notice a breast change, while others won’t have any symptoms, with the condition first being identified through a routine mammogram.

It’s important to check your breasts regularly for changes, as early detection is key to successful breast cancer treatment.

Your breasts will look and feel different at various points throughout your menstrual cycle, so get to know what’s normal for you, and check your breasts at the same point in your cycle each month – 7 to 10 days after your period starts is recommended.

Symptoms of breast cancer to look out for when checking your breasts include:

  • a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit

  • a change in the size, shape, or feel of your breast

  • one breast becoming larger, lower or higher, or softer or firmer than the other breast

  • continuous breast pain in one part of your breast or armpit

  • a nipple that becomes inverted or changes shape or position

  • changes in the skin of your breasts, such as puckering, dimpling, a rash, or redness

  • swelling under your armpit or around your collarbone

  • a rash on or around your nipple

  • discharge from one or both nipples (outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding)

Breast cancer in men is rare, but the most common symptom is a firm lump in the breast tissue on one side of the body, which is usually painless.

Other symptoms in men may include:

  • oozing from the nipple (discharge may be blood-stained)

  • swelling of the breast tissue

  • a sore on the skin of the breast

  • a retracted nipple

  • lumps under the arm

What causes breast cancer?

Exactly what causes breast cancer isn’t fully understood, but there are several risk factors that  can increase your chances of developing the disease, including:

  • age – older women are much more likely to develop breast cancer than younger women

  • reproductive history – if you started menstruating at a young age and experienced menopause at a later age than average, your chances of breast cancer may be increased. Not having children or having them later in life may also increase your risk

  • hormone treatments – HRT and some types of oral contraceptives could increase your risk of breast cancer. This risk is temporary and declines over a period of years once the treatment has stopped

  • breast density – women with more dense breasts are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to women with less dense breasts

  • family history – if you have a mother or sister who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk factor is higher than that of a woman with no family history

Men at higher risk of breast cancer include those who have high oestrogen levels, have been exposed to radiation, have a family history or breast cancer gene in the family, are obese, have a chronic liver condition, or have a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter's syndrome.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

For many women and men, breast cancer is picked up on a routine mammogram. At Welbeck, we provide enhanced breast screening to all women over 40 who aren’t experiencing symptoms (are asymptomatic).

If anything abnormal is found during enhanced breast screening, we may recommend a bilateral breast ultrasound and a biopsy to test for abnormal cells in the tissue.

If you’re experiencing breast symptoms (are symptomatic), we offer a service called breast triple assessment. This involves 3 types of tests to screen for and diagnose breast cancer: an initial assessment (medical history and physical examination), imaging (mammography and/or ultrasound), and a biopsy (fine needle aspiration or core biopsy).

If a biopsy confirms a diagnosis of breast cancer, additional tests will be required to determine the stage and grade of the cancer. Understanding these will help your consultant determine which type of treatment will be most effective for you. These tests may include a CT scan, chest X-ray, liver ultrasound, MRI scan, and bone scan.

How to prevent breast cancer

It’s important to know that breast cancer cannot always be prevented.

There are, however, some things you can do to lower your risk, including:

  • maintaining a healthy weight

  • eating a healthy diet

  • exercising regularly

  • limiting alcohol intake

  • not smoking

It’s important to always attend regular mammogram appointments. We recommended that all women over 40 come to see us for enhanced breast screening every 18 months. While breast screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help detect it at the earliest stage, when treatment is most effective.

What are the complications of breast cancer?

The most significant complication of breast cancer is metastasis. This is where the disease spreads to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, and brain.

What are the treatment options for breast cancer?

The treatment recommended for breast cancer depends on the size and stage of the disease, whether it has spread to other areas in your body, and your general health. You may only need to have 1 type of treatment, or your specialist may recommend a combination of several treatments for the best possible outcome.

Treatments for breast cancer include:

  • surgery – part of the breast (lumpectomy) or all of the breast (mastectomy) may be removed, as well as any lymph nodes that may have been affected

  • radiotherapy – high-energy X-rays target and kill the cancer cells. Radiotherapy is often given after surgery across multiple sessions

  • chemotherapy – chemotherapy is a type of drug used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. It’s usually given intravenously (through a drip into the vein) in hospital, but some can be taken at home in tablet form

  • hormone therapy – hormone-receptive breast cancers may require hormone therapy in order to lower certain hormone levels to help shrink tumours or stop them from growing

  • targeted therapy – given as tablets or injections, targeted therapy works to change the way cells work to help stop the cancer from growing and spreading

Why choose Welbeck?

At Welbeck, our breast cancer specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Book your private consultation

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.

FAQs

Is there a link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer?

Hormonal contraceptives like the pill have been found to slightly increase breast cancer risk. However, a few years after stopping use, your individual risk returns to the same level as it was before taking hormonal contraception.

How often should I check my breasts?

You should check your breasts for changes once a month. It’s recommended to perform a self-exam 7 to 10 days after your period starts, as your breasts will be at their least tender and lumpy.

How long after diagnosis should I receive breast cancer treatment?

In general, the sooner you receive treatment, the better. If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, your consultant will develop a personalised treatment plan for you, which will outline which treatments are needed, when they’ll start, and how long they’ll last.

Can breast cancer come back after a mastectomy?

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes an entire breast. Although a mastectomy removes all of the breast tissue, there’s still a chance that breast cancer can recur (come back).

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You can read more about what to look out for with changes in your breast by downloading our simple guide:

Patient Information - Breast Awareness

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