How to recognize breast cancer? Women often ask myself this question, while experiencing fear. But the fear in this case is not an assistant - it makes a woman "a blind eye" to the obvious and put off a visit to the doctor. While breast cancer requires early detection and treatment.

Why is it important to recognize breast cancer as early as possible

There are several stages of breast cancer Breast cancer - stage cancer . The earliest stage is called a zero or preinvasive cancer. At this stage no further tumor itself yet, but there is a cluster of cells with malignant characteristics. These cells are actively dividing one hand, and on the other are destroyed by the immune system. Cancer cells can not spread to other organs and tissues, so the cancer is also called carcinoma in situ (carcinoma in situ).

If the cancer is detected at this stage, the cancer cells can be destroyed once and for all - this center will never be a source of relapse. Another question that may be a new focus - this, of course, no one is immune, as still not determined why regenerate cells in the breast.

How can you identify preinvasive cancer

Above this task medicine puzzles ago. Come up with different skrinningovye (allowing to actively identify cancer) methods that allow you to explore the entire female population. Unfortunately, to identify preinvasive cancer fit only two methods of diagnosis - X-ray (mammogram) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Mammography - a method that is most suitable for mass screening - it is safe, easy to use, does not cause inconvenience to the woman, and thus can detect tumors less than 1 cm in diameter, as well as microcalcifications, which are the main feature of preinvasive cancer.

Even more informative method is MRI. However, he is so safe that it can be done at least every day. This method has only one drawback - the lack of availability (such apparatus for mass screening is not enough, it is very expensive). MRI is ideally suited for the diagnosis of breast cancer in pregnant women.

Today mass mammography screening have already been implemented in practice. Mammography is recommended to all women after 40 years every three years and women at risk - annually. At risk are women with a family history (that of their close relatives had breast cancer Breast cancer: what every woman needs to know   - BC), a nodal mastopathy, cysts and benign breast tumors of various endocrine diseases (obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism).

Does it make sense to identify invasive cancer?

The first stage of cancer - it is formed tumor cells which multiply rapidly and becoming more aggressive, able to penetrate tissues and spread through the lymph and blood vessels. The larger the tumor, the more aggressive the cells and it will extend cancer.

Therefore, the earlier a tumor is detected, the easier it is to destroy it. Unfortunately, the treatment of cancer Cancer Treatment - difficult, but necessary   invasive stage can never guarantee that somewhere out there was one single cell, which in the future will not relapse. But medicine does not stand still - relapses are identified and treated quickly. What allows a woman to lead a normal life.

But in order to identify the invasive form of breast cancer and its recurrence, the woman and the doctor must "play on the same field," that is, to act in concert.

How to recognize breast cancer may be the woman herself

To do this, specialists have developed special methods of self. They allow yourself to identify even small changes in the breast and in time to see a doctor.

Self-screening is effective if a woman carries it regularly (once a month) and correctly. The revealed changes in the mammary glands in most cases are not signs of cancer, but they also can detect precancerous conditions, such as nodular breast Breast - the mirror Women's Health   and benign tumors. Assess the identified symptoms of a woman is not worth it - better to immediately seek medical attention.

What other diagnostic methods used to detect breast cancer

Cancer of the first - the second and later stages can be identified by means of ultrasound (US). This is a good fast, safe and quite informative method which allows to identify a tumor larger than 1 cm in diameter, but it can not ascertain its character. To clarify the diagnosis is conducted mammogram and biopsy.

Biopsy - a fence contents tumor using a syringe and its microscopic examination. Investigated tumor cells - this allows up to 98% correct diagnosis.

Do not be afraid of breast cancer - a common disease of women, which respond well to treatment in the early stages. Be careful not to start breast cancer - this is really a tragedy.

Galina Romanenko

Pain in the chest during inspiration can be connected both with some respiratory diseases, as well as with various diseases and injuries of the chest, such as broken ribs or sternum. Sometimes the pains are strong enough and without examination difficult to determine their origin.

When bruised chest

Chest trauma can cause fractures of the sternum and the ribs, as well as to a violation of the integrity of the pleura and the ingress of air into the pleural cavity - pneumothorax. All these states have different symptoms, but they are united that the chest pain worse with a deep breath.

The most common injuries of the chest are simple contusions or broken ribs. Bruises breast may be limited only to damage the soft tissues (muscles, subcutaneous tissue, the skin). It manifested a bruised pain and swelling. The pains are aggravated by motion, including with a deep breath. Before the treatment is usually carried out examination of the patient in order to avoid bone fractures and thoracic injuries.

For the treatment of injuries to the first cold day appointed, the next - the heat to the site of injury, as well as anesthetics.

At the turn of the ribs and sternum

Rib fractures cause breathing problems, especially if they are multiple. Due to the intense pain the victim can not take a deep breath. Sometimes fractures are double (on one side of the chest) or two-way (on either side of the chest). Since it lost framing chest may occur severe respiratory distress. Particularly those characterized by multiple rib fractures for the elderly.

Pain in the rib fractures are characterized by blunt standing alone and sharp, penetrating with a deep breath, coughing, and any voltage. On the side you can see the damage lag movements of the chest when breathing.

Treatment of fractures of the ribs is to appoint bed rest for four or five days of pain medications. Subsequently appoint a special medical breathing exercises. Fracture heals in about a month.

Isolated fractures of the sternum are rare. They are developed with the direct impact or pressure on the sternum to the anterior-posterior direction. Fracture often occurs at the junction between the body and the handle of the sternum, and the body of the sternum is displaced posteriorly and causes bleeding into the tissue of the mediastinum. This is followed by a sharp pain, aggravated by inspiration and palpation of the fracture site. There may be sudden shortness of breath and respiratory failure.

Treatment of fractures of the sternum is usually conservative. The patient is laid on his back on the bed with a shield with a special roller blades - so that the fragments gradually (one and a half to two weeks) occupy the correct position. If a straighten fragments in such a way is not possible, they reduce a by the operation.

When pneumothorax

Lightweight coated thin serous membrane that has two sheets. The inner leaf covers direct light, and the outer - wall of the chest cavity. Between the two sheets of pleura is the pleural cavity.
Pneumothorax - is the accumulation of air in the pleural cavity. There pneumothorax Pneumothorax - when help is needed immediately   if damaged chest or lung injury. Sometimes the air can get into the pleural cavity in case of damage of the gastrointestinal tract and the diaphragm. There are traumatic, operational (occurs during operations on the organs of the chest cavity), spontaneous (occurs independently in various diseases of the lungs) and artificial (medical) pneumothorax.

If an opening through which air enters the pleural cavity remains open (free air flows back when inhaling and when exhaling out), then a pneumothorax is called open if the opening closed by displacing tissue, called a pneumothorax is closed.

Symptoms of pneumothorax is the sudden emergence of severe pain in the chest Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases , Growing with a deep breath, causing the patient breathes superficially, increases shortness of breath, which causes disorders of the cardiovascular system in the form of heart palpitations (tachycardia) and blueness (cyanosis). Pneumothorax may proceed differently, depending on its cause. So, traumatic pneumothorax often runs hard, whereas spontaneous can be severe and may be imperceptible to the patient and to be a random finding in the survey.

The treatment of pneumothorax depends on what percentage of the pleural cavity takes the air. Conservative treatment (rest, painkillers and heart drugs) is appointed, if the air in less than a quarter of the pleural cavity. In some cases, air is removed from the pleural cavity through pleurocentesis (puncture). When traumatic open pneumothorax surgical treatment is carried out.

Pain in the chest during inspiration is often a sign of serious injuries or illnesses.

Galina Romanenko