Breast cancer can cause mental and emotional turmoil to the patient and family members. The malignant growth and division of cells onsets this deadly disease. Though men too can get breast cancer, that accounts for less than a percent of all breast cancer cases. The condition can be treated easily if detected early. As the cancer advances, treatment becomes more extensive. It pays to know the risk factors involved with breast cancer. Often, there are some factors you can’t control and some factors you can control.

Risk factors for breast cancer you can’t control:

• Age
• Dense breasts with more connective tissues
• Any history of cancer including family history
• Your genes
• Early menstruation
• Late menopause
• If exposed to radiation earlier

Risk factors for breast cancer you can control:

• Drinking alcohol
• Your level of physical activity (Very low or no physical activity increases the risk)
• Weight issues
• Reproductive history including first pregnancy after the age of 35
• If you don’t breastfeed
• Taking hormones

The most common treatments for breast cancer are elaborated below. Your doctor will study your condition, the causes, and other factors like:

• The type of breast cancer you currently have
• The size of the tumor and how much it has spread
• If the tumor has receptors
• Your age

1. Surgery
This treatment includes: Lumpectomy that involves removing only the tumor and tissues around the lump. This is called breast-conserving surgery and may or may not involve chemotherapy. Mastectomy involves the removal of the entire breast including the breast tissues and the surrounding skin.

2. Radiation therapy
High-power beams of energy like X-rays and protons are given to kill cancer cells. A large machine has energy beams directed at your body after undergoing a lumpectomy. It’s also aimed at the chest wall after undergoing a mastectomy. Treatment can last from as little as three days to a maximum of six weeks depending on your situation and the location of the tumor. This treatment can cause side effects like fatigue and a sunburn rash at the aimed location. Other serious problems like heart or lung damage may occur but are extremely rare.

3. Chemotherapy
One of the most common treatments for breast cancer, chemotherapy is the use of medications that kill fast-growing cells like cancer cells. It’s usually given:

• Before surgery for women with larger breast tumors to shrink its size for easy removal.
• After surgery to decrease the recurrence of cancer.
• When cancer has spread to other parts of the body to control it decreases the symptoms.

Common side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, vomiting, fatigue, and hot flashes. Very rare side effects include early menopause, infertility, kidney or heart damage, and blood cell cancer.

These common treatments for breast cancer are performed with the intention to achieve two goals. One is to eradicate the maximum amount of cancer possible from the body. Another primary goal is to prevent cancer from recurring.