Breast cancer is a common malignant tumor in women, which originates from uncontrolled proliferation of breast epithelial cells. The incidence rate of breast cancer has increased year by year since the age of 20, and reached its peak at the age of 45~50. In the world, the incidence rate and mortality of breast cancer rank first among female cancers. In China, the number of breast cancer cases accounts for 30% of the world's total, and it has been increasing year by year in recent years.

Symptoms of breast cancer

Most of the early symptoms of breast cancer are not obvious. The main manifestations are breast lumps, nipple discharge, axillary lymph node enlargement, etc. Some patients may have systemic symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. With the development of the disease, advanced breast cancer can cause distant metastasis of cancer cells, resulting in multiple organ diseases throughout the body, which directly threaten life.

Etiology of breast cancer

The etiology of breast cancer is not completely clear, but known high risk factors include heredity, estradiol exposure (such as early menarche, late menopause, infertility), chest radiation in childhood, etc. In addition, long-term or repeated exposure to X-rays, dietary factors, obesity, and long-term use of sex hormones may also increase the risk of disease.

The latest treatment for breast cancer

There are various treatments for breast cancer, and with the progress of medical technology, new treatments are constantly emerging. It mainly includes the following types:

Surgical treatment: Surgical treatment is the main method for breast cancer, including breast preservation surgery and total mastectomy. The latest surgical techniques such as axillary lymph node dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy can reduce the impact of surgery on the patient's body while improving surgical outcomes.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment method that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. In recent years, some new chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, such as paclitaxel analogues and platinum drugs, which can be used to treat advanced and refractory breast cancer.

Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy drugs can attack specific molecules in cancer cells, inhibiting their growth and spread. For example, targeted therapeutic drugs such as Herceptin and Partoluzumab can be used for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy treats breast cancer by enhancing the attack of the human immune system on cancer cells. Immunotherapeutic drugs such as pabolizumab can be used to treat hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. The latest radiation therapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, can more accurately target tumor tissue and reduce damage to normal tissue.

Other treatments, such as endocrine therapy (hormone therapy), gene therapy, vaccine therapy, also play an important role in the treatment of breast cancer.

To sum up, breast cancer has a variety of treatment methods, and doctors will develop personalized treatment plans according to the specific conditions of patients. At the same time, with the continuous progress of medical technology, the therapeutic effect of breast cancer is also improving.