It is vitally important that everyone do regular self-examinations of their breasts in order to detect breast cancer as early as possible. If you feel a lump or see or feel anything unusual in your breast, visit a doctor immediately. He will most likely suggest two major scans. The first is a mammogram. It is probably a good idea to get regular mammograms, even if you do not feel a lump, but especially if it is possible you may have breast cancer. The other scan is a magnetic resonance imaging device, or MRI. New studies are showing that MRIs can help to prevent catastrophic cancerous incursions, especially if taken early on.
New diagnostic innovations are the first step in the battle against breast cancer. The new ductal lavage is a process in which fluid is taken from the milk ducts and examined for anomalous or suspect cells. The results of the test can tell whether the patient is at high risk for breast cancer and may need breast cancer radiation treatment in the future.
It is also crucial to prevent the cancer cells from spreading, even after a lump has been surgically removed. A lymphadenectomy can help prevent the spread of cancer from the breasts and into the lymph nodes, which can increase proliferation in the rest of the body. A lymphadenectomy is a procedure in which the surgeon removes a lymph node while the patient is still under anesthesia. The procedure allows early detection of any spreading cancer cells and allows for more targeted breast cancer radiation treatment.
In bone marrow aspiration, surgeons remove a small portion of bone marrow from the hip with a tiny tool especially for this purpose. After the surgery, pathologists analyze the bone marrow sample to see if cancer cells have moved from the breast tissue into the blood stream and bones. If such dangers are detected, more aggressive breast cancer radiation treatment can begin promptly.
In addition to preventive measures, more targeted breast cancer radiation treatment is possible with the advanced technology. Lasers are used to focus on a specific spot instead of having to irradiate an entire area with harmful radiation. With more targeted regimens, breast cancer radiation treatment is less harmful to surrounding tissues, and can be finished more quickly. But all of these preventative procedures are necessary so that the targeted breast cancer radiation treatment can be used.
