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Breast cancer

September 19, 2023 — published by Pyramidale Communication

At Pyramidale Communication Agency, we leverage our expertise for various oncology conditions. Breast cancer is one of them.

Key numbers for breast cancer ^1,2

The most common cancer in women: accounts for 33% of female cancer cases ;
The 1^st cause of cancer death in women ;
12,100 deaths in 2018 ;
88 % of patients, all stages combined are alive 5 years after diagnosis ;
The median age at diagnosisis 64 years.

What is breast cancer? ³

Breast cancer is the result of a disorder in certain cells that multiply and form a tumor. There are different types of breast cancer, with varying rates of progression. These tumors can spread to other organs, in which case it is referred to as metastatic breast cancer.

Diagnostic criteria and medical care

The Screening is carried out viamammography and a clinical examination which should be performed every two years. ¹

The diagnosis is made when the mammogram reveals masses or lesions that cannot be detected by palpation. These findings are then confirmed using other imaging modalities, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If suspicious images are identified, a biopsywill performed and analyzed under a microscope to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. ^1,4

Medical care depends on the characteristics and extent of the tumor. Five types of treatment can be used alone or in combination: ^1,5,6

Surgery: the essential step to remove the tumor mass ;
Radiotherapy: often administered in addition to surgery to the tumor region, frequently combined with chemotherapy. It can also be prescribed before surgery to reduce tumor size and facilitate removal ;
Chemotherapy: may be used preoperatively or postoperatively ;
Hormone therapy: used in patients whose tumor cells express hormone receptors that can be targeted ;
Targeted therapies: specifically directed against tumor cells.

Want to learn more about breast cancer?

Check out META’CAST, our medical podcast dedicated to metastatic breast cancer.

This podcast is available on:

Depending on the episode, this podcast features either healthcare professionals or patient testimonials.

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References:

Fondation pour la recherche médicale – tout savoir sur le cancer du sein. https://www.frm.org/recherches-cancers/cancer-du-sein/focus-cancer-sein
Institut national du cancer, édition 2023 – Panorama des cancers en France.
Institut national du cancer. https://www.e-cancer.fr/Patients-et-proches/Les-cancers/Cancer-du-sein/Les-points-cles
Wekking D, et al. Breast MRI: Clinical Indications, Recommendations, and Future Applications in Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Curr Oncol Rep.
2023;25(4):257-267.
Haussmann J, et al. Recent advances in radiotherapy of breast cancer. Radiat Oncol. 2020;15(1):71.
Trayes KP, Cokenakes SEH. Breast Cancer Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(2):171-178.