This Morning’s Josie Gibson, 40, reveals terrifying cancer scare after finding lump in her breast

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. There are more than 55,000 new cases in the UK every year and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the USA, it hits 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?

What is breast cancer?

In one of the breasts, it comes from a cancerous cell that develops in a channel or lobule lining.

When it spreads to the tissue surrounding breast cancer, it is called ‘invasive’. Some people are diagnosed as ‘Situ carcinoma’ in no cancer cells beyond the channel or lobule.

Most cases develop in those over 50 years of age, but young women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, but this is rare.

Staging indicates how large the cancer is and whether it is spread. Stage 1 The earliest stage and stage 4 means that cancer is spread over another part of the body.

Cancer cells are rated from low, ie mean slow growth, which grows rapidly. High -grade cancers are more likely to return after the first treatment.

What causes breast cancer?

A tumor with cancer begins from an abnormal cell. The exact cause of a cell cancer is uncertain. Something is thought to damage or change certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and ‘does not come out of control’.

Although breast cancer may develop for a significant reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chances of genetics.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, but most of them are not cancerous and benign fluid -filled cysts.

The first ground where breast cancer is usually spread is the lymph nodes under the armpit. If this occurs, you will develop a swelling or lump in a armpit.

How to diagnose breast cancer?

• First assessment: A doctor examines his breasts and under armpits. Mammography can perform tests such as a special X -ray, a special x -ray of breast tissue that can show the possibility of tumors.
• Biopsy: Biopsy is when a small tissue sample is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to search for abnormal cells. Sample can verify or exclude cancer.

If it is confirmed that it is breast cancer, other tests may be required to assess whether it is spread. For example, blood tests, ultrasound screening of the liver or a breast x -ray.

How is breast cancer treated?

Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Generally, one combination of two or more of these treatments is used.

• Surgery: Removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumor.
• Radiotherapy: A treatment that uses high -energy radiation beams focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells or prevents them from hitting. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
• Chemotherapy: Cancer therapy using anti-cancer drugs that kill or prevent proliferation of cancer cells.
• Hormone Treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ estrogen, which can encourage cancer cells to divide and proliferate. The treatments that reduce the level of these hormones or prevent their operation are widely used in people with breast cancer.

How successful is the treatment?

The appearance is best diagnosed when the cancer is still small and is not spread. Surgical removal of a tumor at an early stage can then give good treatment.

Routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means that more breast cancer is diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

For more information, visit MececaCernow.org or call a free help line on 0808 800 6000