Breast cancer is the most prevalent in PHMANILA, PhilippinesBreast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most prevalent form of cancer in the country, the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) warned Wednesday.Doctor Felycette Gay Lapus, PSMO president, also said that the Philippines had the lowest survival rate of people with breast cancer among 15 Asia countries.So, we are number one for breast cancer in Asia. Three out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast cancer before age 75 and one out of 100 will die before reaching 75, Lapus said at a PSMO press conference in Edsa Shangri-La hotel in collaboration with pharmaceutical giant Roche.The medical community has designated October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.(Breast cancer accounts) for 15 percent of all new cancer cases (in the Philippines) for both sexes and eight percent of all cancer deaths. So, you can just imagine the magnitude of the problem, Lapus said.With these distressing statistics, Lapus emphasized the importance of women checking their breasts for lumps every month and to have them checked by their physicians annually.We cant stress enough the importance of early detection in breast cancer management. This is especially true now when there are options for treatment that werent available to everyone before, she said.Lapus said that PhilHealth, under its Z Package, now provides P100,000 for members who are in the early stages of breast cancer. They also need not go to Manila if they are in far-flung areas as PhilHealth has designated hospitals across the country where people with breast cancer can seek treatment.The earlier the cancer is detected, diagnosed, and treated by the team of medical oncologists the better the success rates. Treatment for early breast cancer, stages 0-3, is very important in terms of survival, she said.Doctor Corazon A. Ngelangel, of the Philippine General Hospital, said doctors were still trying to find out why breast cancer had overtaken lung cancer as the most common form of cancer in the country.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. The term breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancers stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original.Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a mistake in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the wear and tear of life in general.Stages of Breast CancerStageDefinition

Stage 0Cancer cells remain inside the breast duct, without invasion into normal adjacent breast tissue.

Stage IAThe tumor measures up to 2 cmANDthe cancer has not spread outside the breast; no lymph nodes are involved

Stage IBThere is no tumor in the breast; instead, small groups of cancer cells -- larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters are found in the lymph nodesORthere is a tumor in the breast that is no larger than 2 centimeters, and there are small groups of cancer cells larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters in the lymph nodes.

Stage IIANo tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm)ORthe tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodesORthe tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

Stage IIBThe tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodesORthe tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

Stage IIIANo tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastboneORthe tumor is any size. Cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, which are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Stage IIIBThe tumor may be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breastANDmay have spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Inflammatory breast canceris considered at least stage IIIB.

Stage IIICThere may either be no sign of cancer in the breast or a tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breastANDthe cancer has spread to lymph nodes either above or below the collarboneANDthe cancer may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Stage IVThe cancer has spread or metastasized to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Breast CancerInitially, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. A lump may be too small for you to feel or to cause any unusual changes you can notice on your own. Often, an abnormal area turns up on a screening mammogram (x-ray of the breast), which leads to further testing.In some cases, however, the first sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast that you or your doctor can feel. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But sometimes cancers can be tender, soft, and rounded. So it's important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer: swelling of all or part of the breast skin irritation or dimpling breast pain nipple pain or the nipple turning inward redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin a nipple discharge other than breast milk a lump in the underarm areaThese changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. Its important to get any breast changes checked out promptly by a doctor.TreatmentBreast cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, and radiation. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment. Surgery.An operation where doctors cut out and remove cancer tissue. Chemotherapy.Using special medicines, or drugs to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given through an intravenous (IV) tube, or, sometimes, both. Hormonal therapy.Some cancers need certain hormones to grow. Hormonal treatment is used to block cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Biological therapy.This treatment works with your body's immune system to help it fight cancer or to control side effects from other cancer treatments. Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments. Biological therapy is different from chemotherapy, which attacks cancer cells directly. Radiation.The use of high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells. The rays are aimed at the part of the body where the cancer is located.It is common for doctors from different specialties to work together in treating breast cancer. Surgeons are doctors that perform operations. Medical oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with medicines. Radiation oncologists are doctors that treat cancers with radiation.What can I do to reduce my risk of breast cancer?Lifestyle changes have been shown in studies to decrease breast cancer risk even in high-risk women. The following are steps you can take to lower your risk:Limit alcohol.The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol including beer, wine or liquor limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.Don't smoke.Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.Control your weight.Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.Be physically active.Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly, plus strength training at least twice a week.Breast-feed.Breast-feeding may play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy.Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer.If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. You may be able to manage your symptoms with nonhormonal therapies, such as physical activity. If you decide that the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risks, use the lowest dose that works for you.Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution.Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, use high doses of radiation, which have been linked with breast cancer risk. Reduce your exposure by having such tests only when absolutely necessary. While more studies are needed, some research suggests a link between breast cancer and exposure to the chemicals found in some workplaces, gasoline fumes and vehicle exhaust.Can a healthy diet prevent breast cancer?Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables hasn't been consistently shown to offer protection from breast cancer. In addition, a low-fat diet appears to offer only a slight reduction in the risk of breast cancer.However, eating a healthy diet may decrease your risk of other types of cancer, as well as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. A healthy diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight a key factor in breast cancer prevention.