Breast Cancer Informative Speech

869 Words2 Pages

Introduction
Breast cancer treatment aims to get rid of all cancer cells, but sometimes a few remain in the body. These cells can then grow and cause the cancer to return (recur). If this happens, the goal is to find the cancer as soon as possible. Cancer can recur just a few months after treatment or years later. Most cases of recurrent breast cancer develop 3–5 years after treatment.
Will my cancer return?
There is no way to know if your breast cancer will return. However, your chance of developing recurrent breast cancer is greater if you had:
Breast cancer before 60 years of age.
Breast cancer that involved the lymph nodes.
A tumor that was bigger than 2 inches (5 cm).
A high-grade tumor. These are tumors that grow more quickly than other …show more content…

This means that the space between the tumor and normal, noncancerous cells was small.
Inflammatory breast cancer.
HER2 cancer. This is type of cancer that grows as a result of a protein called HER2.
Surgery to remove the tumor but not the entire breast (lumpectomy), and you had no radiation therapy.
What are the symptoms of recurrent breast cancer?
Examine your breasts every month. You may find it helpful to do this on the same day each month. Mark your calendar as a reminder. Let your health care provider know immediately if you have any signs or symptoms of recurrent breast cancer. Signs and symptoms of recurrent breast cancer vary. Symptoms will depend on where the cancer is and how the original cancer was treated.
Symptoms of a cancer that comes back in the same spot (local recurrence) after a lumpectomy, or a recurrence in the opposite breast, may include:
A new lump or thickening in the breast.
A change in the way the skin of the breast looks (such as a rash, dimpling, or wrinkling).
Redness or swelling of the breast.
Changes in the nipple (it may be leaking fluid, or it may be red, puckered, or swollen).
Symptoms of a recurrence after breast removal surgery (mastectomy) may include:
A lump or thickening under the

Open Document