What are Breast Diseases?

Breast diseases include benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous) lumps, infections and other abnormal conditions that occur in the breast. Breast cancer, in particular, is caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast tissue. Early diagnosis is crucial in the treatment of diseases such as breast cancer. At our hospital in Çiğli, Izmir, we provide early diagnosis of these diseases and offer timely and effective treatment to our patients.

What are the Diagnostic Methods?

• Mammography It is an X-ray method used to see changes or masses in the breast. It is especially effective in detecting masses at an early stage.
• Ultrasonography: Examines the breast using sound waves and visualizes the masses in the breast tissue in more detail.
• MR Imaging: A detailed image of the breast tissue is obtained with the magnetic resonance method. It allows us to see suspicious areas clearly.
• Biopsy A small sample of suspicious tissue is taken and examined in the laboratory. It is used to find out whether the masses are benign or cancerous.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms that can be seen in breast diseases may be as follows:

• Feeling a hard, palpable mass in the breast or armpit
• Bloody or transparent fluid coming from the nipple
• Noticing a change in breast shape or size
• Redness, dimpling or orange peel appearance of the breast skin
• Nipple retraction or shape change

What are the Treatment Methods?

A treatment plan is drawn up taking into account the type and stage of the disease and the person’s general health. Treatment methods are as follows:

• Surgical Intervention: Surgical procedures such as removal of cancerous tissue in the breast (lumpectomy) or removal of the entire breast (mastectomy). This helps to prevent the spread of cancer cells.
• Radiotherapy Cancer cells are destroyed by applying special rays to the cancerous area. It can be applied after the surgical procedure or alone.
• Chemotherapy Cancer cells are killed with the help of drugs. It can be used before or after surgery.
• Hormone Therapy: Aims to stop growth by blocking the effect of hormones on cancer cells. It is especially effective in hormone-sensitive cancers.
• Targeted Therapies: These are treatment methods that target specific molecules in cancer cells and neutralize these cells.

These treatment methods are planned and applied in the most appropriate way, taking into account the patient’s condition. The aim of treatment is to stop the progression of the disease, accelerate the healing process and improve quality of life.