Is the discovery of nodules cancer? The highest incidence rate among Chinese women! The report shows these two numbers or has been confirmed...

Expert of this article: Hu Zhongdong, Chief Physician and Associate Chief Physician of Health Management Center, Changsha Third Hospital

Many women think they have cancer when they find breast nodules during a physical examination and become panic-stricken, fearing that this is a sign of breast cancer.

According to the 2020 Global Cancer Report released by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, "In 2020, the number of new cases of breast cancer worldwide reached 2.26 million, while that of lung cancer was 2.2 million. Breast cancer officially replaced lung cancer and became the cancer with the highest incidence rate in the world!"

Breast cancer is currently the most common malignant tumor among Chinese women.

Facing the aggressive breast cancer, if a nodule is found in the breast, is it cancer? Can men also get breast cancer? Let's learn together...

Breast cancer only affects women, men will not get it?

According to statistics, male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancer patients.

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines state that the lifetime risk of breast cancer for men is about 1 in 1,000, while the risk for women is about 1 in 8. The incidence of breast cancer increases steadily with age, but the average age of diagnosis of breast cancer in men (67) is 5 years older than in women (62).

Male breast cancer occurs at an older age, is more malignant, is more likely to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to distant sites, and has a higher mortality rate.

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A large-scale study published in JAMA Oncology, a top international oncology journal, shows that the mortality rate of male breast cancer patients is higher, 19% higher than that of female patients.

Risk factors for male breast cancer include family history of breast cancer, history of breast or chest radiation therapy, carrying susceptibility genes (such as BRCA2, BRCA1, CHEK2, PALB2), use of exogenous estrogen, and diseases associated with excess estrogen (such as Klinefelter's syndrome).

Once a nodule is found in the breast, does it mean it is cancer?

The nodules reported by breast ultrasound can be divided into benign and malignant. Benign nodules are usually not a big problem, and only malignant nodules need to be vigilant.

BI-RADS stands for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, which refers to the American College of Radiology's breast imaging reporting and data system. The BI-RADS grading system divides breast lesions into grades 0-6, and the higher the grade, the greater the chance of malignancy.

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So how does a breast ultrasound report differentiate between benign and malignant breasts?

If the breast ultrasound report shows "BI-RADS 0, 1, 2", it means it is safe and the possibility of malignancy is 0%.

If it shows "BI-RADS 3", it means it is relatively safe and you only need to insist on regular check-ups (usually once every 6 months).

If "BI-RADS 4" is displayed, and level 4 is divided into 4a, 4b and 4c, it means there is a possibility of malignancy and a biopsy is required to confirm it.

If the report shows "BI-RADS 5, 6", it means that malignancy or breast cancer is highly suspected and early treatment is needed.

Characteristics of malignant breast nodules:

Single unilateral nodules are common, with poor mobility, unclear boundaries, rich blood flow, lack of complete capsule, hard texture, tiny calcifications, frequent adhesion to the skin, and rapid growth.

Typical symptoms of malignant nodules

1. Breast lumps;

2. Nipple discharge;

3. Skin changes, such as "dimple sign" (caused by local skin pulling and shrinkage) and "orange peel-like changes" (caused by skin edema);

4. Abnormalities of nipples and areolas;

5. Swollen axillary lymph nodes.

How is breast screening performed?

The World Health Organization has clearly listed early breast cancer as a curable disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are the best ways to improve the cure rate of breast cancer.

Every woman should learn to do a breast self-examination. Premenopausal women should choose to do a breast self-examination 7-14 days after the onset of menstruation, but please note that self-examination cannot replace cancer screening.

If you find symptoms such as breast lumps, nipple discharge, changes in nipple retraction, or localized bulging or indentation of the breast skin, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

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Regular physical examinations and screening can detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, thereby improving cure and survival rates, and can also save some patients from having a breast removed.

Breast cancer screening age:

People at average risk should start breast cancer screening at age 40.

1) For people aged 40 to 70, a mammogram should be performed every 1 to 2 years; for people with dense breasts, it is recommended to combine it with ultrasound examination.

2) People over 70 years old should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

For high-risk groups (such as those with a clear family history of breast cancer, pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2 or other breast cancer-related genes, etc.), breast cancer screening should be started before the age of 40, once a year. In addition to mammography, imaging methods such as MRI can also be used.

How to prevent breast cancer?

1. Get pregnant, give birth, and continue breastfeeding.

Being unmarried at an advanced age and giving birth at an advanced age are high-risk factors for breast cancer. It is recommended that women get married at an appropriate age, give birth before the age of 30, and insist on breastfeeding for at least 6 months.

2. Get enough sleep and improve sleep quality.

Arrange your work and rest schedule reasonably and ensure adequate sleep time. The sleep time for adults is 7 to 9 hours, and for people over 65 years old it is 7 to 8 hours.

Try to avoid staying up late and do not work in a job that reverses your day and night schedule for a long time.

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3. Maintain a regular daily routine and combine work and rest.

Keep a happy mood and a good attitude.

4. Control your weight and exercise scientifically.

Engaging in 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week can effectively help prevent cancer.

5. Eat a healthy diet and quit smoking and drinking.

Try not to smoke or drink alcohol, and choose a variety of foods. Avoid high-sugar and high-fat foods, drink less beverages, and reduce red meat intake.

It is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially green leafy and cruciferous vegetables.

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6. Make sure your underwear fits well and be careful about hormones.

High estrogen is an important factor in the development of breast cancer. In daily diet, it is recommended that ordinary people do not consume royal jelly in large quantities for a long time. In particular, it is not recommended for breast cancer patients with positive hormone receptors to take royal jelly.

Wearing a bra is not one of the high-risk factors for breast cancer. However, wearing an inappropriate bra for a long time will restrict the breasts, causing poor blood circulation, which is not good for breast health and will also affect the shape of the breasts.

It is best to try on underwear in person before buying it, and it is usually replaced every six months or so.

Breast enhancement products or health supplements on the market may contain estrogen ingredients, so try to avoid their use.

If you need hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives, please do so under the guidance of a doctor.

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