Breast Surgery and Plastic Surgeons Co-Editor-in-Chief, Tracy E. Austin, MD Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 07:01 PM Breast Cancer in Younger Patients Say the words breast surgery and many people will think either plastic surgery or breast cancer. These are the two most prominent reasons for breast surgery. However, breast care is also another part of the breast surgery field that many people forget. The prevention of breast problems, breast cancer in particular, is something that many surgeons advocate. Recently, however, there has been more and more cases of breast cancer in younger womenâ€"even young girls and boys! There are a few reasons for the phenomenon, of which have breast surgeons and the breast care field pushing prevention and detection methods. Early Detection Although age 40 opens the breast awareness, women as young as 20 are being encouraged to begin self-examination to help in early breast cancer detection. This is because breast cancer was found to be one of the top killers of women under age 40. Many people dispute these numbers because only 10 percent of the 250,000 women diagnosed annually with breast cancer are under age 45. The problem is that the cancer is not detected in younger women before the tumors reach the critical stages. Risk Factors One of the most important indicators for early onset of breast cancer is: The presence of breast cancer in the young woman’s health or family history. A defect in the genes, a BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation actually increases a young women’s chance of getting cancer. The number of biopsies performed on the breast. The age of the woman at her first period. The woman’s age at which she had her first child If a doctor determines that, the young woman’s risk factors for early onset of breast cancer, then screening can start at any age. Others are encouraged to perform self-exams and get regular screenings starting at age 40. Other Complications Younger women also have denser breast tissue, which makes detection more difficult, even using a mammogram. Child bearing accelerates the growth of breast cancer tumors. Thus, small lump can become aggressive and spread quickly while the woman is pregnant. Awareness Breast care professionals agree that the number one hindrances to early detection are awareness. Many young women do not know that their family history can put them at risk for early breast cancer. Others do not know to check for lumps through self-examination. Thus, breast cancer awareness is very important in detecting the cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body. It is estimated that cancer detected early gives 90 percent of all women the chance of survival. Treatment Breast cancer treatment is the same no matter the age of the woman. A lump is usually removed during surgery. During the lumpectomy, tissue around that lump is also taken to ensure complete removal of the cancer. A mastectomy is also used. The breast is removed to prevent the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. The breast surgeon will also examine the nearby lymph nodes, removing those that may have been affected by the cancer. Radiation therapy is used after a lumpectomy to kill any remaining cancer cells. After a mastectomy, chemotherapy follows. Hormone therapy may also be needed to ensure that the cancer will not return. Breast Cancer in Children Although breast cancer largely affects adult women, cases of breast cancer in children and even men are not unheard of. It seems that the reports of breast cancer in children draw more attention. A case reported in May 2009 of a 10 year old girl with breast cancer did just that. The girl was said to have invasive secretory carcinoma, which is rare in children. She reportedly underwent a mastectomy and then chemotherapy to rid her body of the disease. In fact, breast cancer in males of all ages is extremely rare. Secretory carcinoma is form of cancer was also found in a boy age 17, which is said to be even rarer than findings in girls. The average age of diagnosis for secretory carcinoma is 25. However, it is still called juvenile breast cancer. Despite the moniker, any breast cancer in children is very rare. Secretory carcinoma makes up one percent of all breast cancer case for all sexes and ages. In addition, the age of the patient does not change the course of action for eradicating the cancer. Other than genetic mutation, there is no evidence that breast cancer in children is caused by the food, the environment, pesticides, etc. Plastic Surgery after Mastectomy Another area of breast surgery is plastic surgery after mastectomy. Many mastectomy patients elect to have implants placed after the removal of the breast to fight cancer. It restores the breast to a natural look. This is done to not only boost the mental well-being of the patient but also to provide a return to one’s physical appearance. It also helps patients to avoid the use of breast prosthesis. For referenced resourced information, go to http://www.smilemd.com/breast-surgeon/breast-surgery-and-plastic-surgeons.aspx
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