Breast cancer that affects both breasts is called bilateral Breast cancer. The most common type of breast cancer is single breast cancer, but the incidence of bilateral breast cancer has increased with advances in imaging sensitivity. 

According to the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment study, this type of cancer currently occurs in about 3% of breast cancer patients. 

Causes and Risk Factor of Bilateral Breast Cancer

First, breast cancer usually occurs in women aged 30 or younger. When there is a family history of gene mutations or breast cancer. It is more prevalent among people who are at risk of developing bilateral breast cancer. 

People described above are generally at a higher risk of developing this cancer compared to unilateral breast cancer. Following are the reasons that lead to bilateral breast cancer:

1. Being woman
2. Being overweight or obese after menopause
3. Drinking alcohol
4. If having family history of breast cancer or gene mutation 
5. Having thick breasts
6. Sedentary lifestyle

Symptoms of Bilateral Breast Cancer

Bilateral breast cancer is usually painless. Common symptoms of this cancer and unilateral breast cancer are similar. The symptoms are given below:

1. Breast or nipple pain
2. Breast discharge other than breast milk
3. Nipples or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking or pus
4. The nipples are inwardly curved
5. Sometimes the skin looks like an orange peel
6. Swelling of all parts of the breast
7. Lump notes appear in the breast or underarms
8. The breast size and shape may change

Sometimes our body does not show any symptoms, That’s why regular screening for breast cancer is so important for women. 

Types of Bilateral Breast Cancer

Both breasts may have cancer cells at the same time or the cancer may occur at different times. There are two types of Bilateral breast cancer:

Synchronous Bilateral Breast Cancer (SBC): With this cancer, cancer cells as a tumor develop in both breasts at the same time. Tumors usually develop between three and twelve months apart in both breasts. Synchronized tumors typically account for only 0.6% of bilateral breast cancers.

Metachronous Bilateral Breast Cancer (MBC): If 3% of people have bilateral breast cancer, 0.2% of them are off Metachronous Bilateral Breast Cancer. It is usually 12 to 15 months after a cancer is diagnosed in one breast that cancer can develop in another breast. Metachronous Bilateral breast cancer is also considered a secondary cancer because it develops on its own

Diagnosing Bilateral Breast Cancer

Bilateral breast cancer is usually diagnosed through a variety of physical examination and imaging tests. If there is any cause of suspicion, a breast biopsy is performed on the suspected cancer cells. In case of this cancer, both breasts are examined. In a breast biopsy, it involves taking a sample of breast tissue so that a pathologist can examine the breast to see if it contains cancer cells. Biopsy is the only method by which doctors are used to confirm whether the body has cancer cells. 

These tests may include the diagnosis:

1. Mammogram
2. Ultrasound
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatment for Bilateral Breast Cancer

In case of bilateral breast cancer, doctors first need to check whether the cancer has spread outside the breast.

People who are affected with this cancer often do surgery to have both breasts removed. 

So that the cancer cell does not spread to different places. Generally, after diagnosis, treatment is given depending on the stage of cancer. Here is given below the treatment process of Bilateral Breast Cancer:

Chemotherapy: Chemo targets rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, and can be given intravenously to destroy the cancer cell. Chemotherapy is usually used after surgery. In some cases, chemotherapy may also be given before surgery after diagnosis of the stage of cancer. 

Bilateral Mastectomy: When someone has bilateral mastectomy, both breasts are surgically removed. Doctors recommend this type of procedure to those who have a genetic predisposition to cancer in both breasts. People who have breast cancer after breast surgery and radiation treatment and have cancer in another breast can add this session.

Radiation: Radiotherapy is the therapy given through radiation. After breast surgery, one uses invisible and painless beams of energy to destroy cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Harmony Therapy: Hormone therapy is also called Endocrine therapy. This type of treatment is used for bilateral breast cancer that indicates the cancer cells are using these hormones for their growth. There are several options like Tamoxifen, Aromatase inhibitors, Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, selective estrogen receptor degraders.

Targeted Therapy: This therapy uses medicine that targets specific proteins the cancer cells may have and which may disrupt their growth. Here is some option for HER2 positive cancer included:

• Herceptin
• Margenza
• Perjeta

This drug is called anti- HER2 Therapies, HER2 Inhibitors, or HER2 Targeted therapies.

Discussion of survival rates in patients with bilateral breast cancer

Generally, After diagnosis, the cancer patient’s ability to survive decreases with age. Because until that age, she does not have the resistance to take the treatment process. In that case, the risk of death of the patient also increases. However, there are exceptions in some cases where the patient can afford the treatment and may live more than a year. However, if the disease is caught at an early stage and in middle age, the patient has a higher chance of survival. 5 and 10 years replacement free in patients with bilateral breast cancer. 60%, 51%, 54% and 38% patients can survive depending on the status of auxiliary notes’ tumor size treatment etc. 

Is there a prognosis for bilateral breast cancer?

Research has shown that people with bilateral breast cancer have a slightly worse prognosis than people with unilateral breast cancer. As with any cancer, your personal outlook can vary depending on a number of factors. This includes:

• Hormone receptor status
• How fast the tumor is growing in each breast
• If the cancer has spread to the breast area or distant organs
• Lymph nodes are involved
• Tumor size
• Tumor type

Conclusion

Any type of breast cancer increases the risk of being diagnosed, and knowing you have the disease can double the anxiety. It should be noted that there have more effective options for breast cancer than ever before. You can play an active role in meeting this challenge by learning what you can about the specific stage of your cancer and talking to your doctor about the therapy that makes the most sense for you. So after 40 years you should always check your breasts.

FAQ

How many years can people survive after treatment for bilateral breast cancer?

If the disease is caught at an early stage and in middle age or younger age, then the patient has a higher chance of survival for too many years.

What type of treatment is used for bilateral breast cancer?

Chemotherapy, Bilateral Mastectomy, Radiotherapy, Harmony therapy, targeted therapy is used to treat bilateral breast cancer.