Breast cancer is a globally leading cause of death in women. Breast cancer is a disease which causes uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal malignant cells in breast area. Breast cancer ratio is steadily increasing over the years. Major healthcare reports reveal that one in fifteen women develop this cancer at some point in their lives. Rarely men can also get breast cancer. In 2017, an estimated 655,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women worldwide.
What is Mucinous Carcinoma?
Also known as ‘mammary gelatinous carcinoma’, mucinous carcinoma is a rare kind of breast cancer that causes abnormal cell multiplication in the milk duct of breast. Malignant tumor cells contain a large proportion of mucous and hence this cancer is generally referred to as mucinous breast cancer. According to researchers, it accounts for merely 1 % of breast cancer cases. It is highly observed in women above 55 years of age. Some studies have found out that it is mostly caused due to hormonal influence.
Signs and Symptoms of Mucinous Carcinoma
Some of the major signs and symptoms of mucinous carcinoma of breast are described as follows:
- Soft lump in breast
- Swelling and irritation of breast
- Significant change in size of breast
- Axillary lymph node region that is soft to touch
- Thickening of breast
- Inversion of nipple
- Redness and severe inflammation in nipple area
- Pain in breast
- Abnormal bloody discharge from nipple
A jelly-like appearance of tumor may indicate the presence of mucinous carcinoma during diagnosis test.
Treatment Options for Mucinous Carcinoma
The enumerated list specifies various effective mucinous carcinoma treatments.
- Lumpectomy Surgery - It is also known as ‘breast-conserving surgery’. It is a widely performed procedure to treat breast cancer. It does not require removal of entire breast. Oncologists remove the abnormal tissue by cutting the specific malignant portion. Early stage breast cancer can be completely cured by lumpectomy
- Mastectomy Surgery - Mastectomy is a medical intervention used to remove the entire cancerous breast. This breast cancer surgery is performed for patients with multiple or large portions of mucinous carcinoma.
- Radiation Therapy - This treatment method involves high intensity radiation to destroy breast cancer
- Hormonal Therapy - Hormonal therapy uses essential medications like aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen to destroy abnormal cells and help manage the symptoms of breast cancer.
- Chemotherapy - It involves intake of powerful drugs and medications to help stop the multiplication of cancer causing cells.
Oncologists may decide an appropriate treatment option depending on the extent of spread of breast cancer.
Important Questions to Ask Oncologists Regarding Mucinous Carcinoma
If patients are diagnosed with mucinous carcinoma, it is essential for them to discuss every doubt and understand their treatment procedure. Patients can ask the following important questions during pre-treatment consultation.
- What is mucinous carcinoma?
- Can you please explain my diagnosis reports?
- Could I possibly benefit from taking medicines?
- Which surgical procedure do you recommend? Will you remove my breast during surgery?
- What are the possible risks & complications related to recommended surgical procedure?
- How much time will it take for me to recover following breast cancer surgery?
- Will I be able to live a normal life following my breast cancer surgery?
In addition to these questions, patients can freely ask anything they want to with respective oncologists and take the next step.
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