Pathological diagnosis is very interesting, especially when it is completed with a homoeopathic prescription-Royal E.S.Hayes, M.D.
Mammary cancer in woman is that from of cancer which in the order of its frequency and malignity takes third place as a cause of death in statistics throughout the world, the first place belonging to cancer to the womb and the second place to cutaneous cancer.
Inheritance, unique or continual traumatism and endocrinous factors, especially ovarian disorders in which are a verification on follicular hyperfunction, are pointed out by Velpeau, Gross, Williams, Winiwarter, Hubbard, Nunn, Ewing, etc., etc., as a predisposing cause of mammary cancer. (Zuckermann).
There are many classes of mammary cancer, which have been elaborated under the basis of clinical interpretations and histological investigations; so we find:
1st – Cancer of glandular epithelium, simple carcinoma or cancerous scirrhus.
2nd – Adenocarcinoma which embraces intracanalicular adenocarcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma and gelatinous adenocarcinoma.
3rd – Cancer of plain epithelium of this mammary region, which includes; Pagets carcinoma, pagetoid cancer of the ducts and epidermoid cancer.
Simple carcinoma or cancerous scirrhus is of all cancer of the mammae the most frequent and it is clinically demonstrated by a hard and non-encapsulated tumor with an infiltrative character that sends prolongations to the surrounding tissues which adheres very soon to the skin and nipple of the breast. The volume of this tumor according to the phase in which the patient is observed varies in size form one half inch to four or more inches.
In regard to their evolutive form, cancers follow different course according to the character of scirrhus, Bloodgoods adenocarcinoma,. Pagets carcinoma, etc., proving that these malignant neoplasias show a variable tendency to propagation whether local, regional or metastatic to distant organs and can invade the viscera and osseous system. (Hellner).
Simple carcinoma, cancerous scirrhus of the breast or cancer of the glandular epithelium, is the most frequent mammary cancer and for that reason I am going to make mention of it.
In most cases, cancerous scirrhus is asymptomatic at the beginning and the only thing that the sick woman and the physician can appreciate is a mobile nodule or induration lightly fixed to the pectoral muscles, with imprecise borders and irregular edges; in advanced cases there exists a firmness of the tumor, alternations of the skin, taking on the aspect of ranges peel due to the adherence of the tumor of the periphery, the nipple of the breast is retracted and changes position.
The most frequent place of this tumor belongs to the supra external quadrant of the mammary region, and the zone which follows in frequency is that placed behind the nipple of the breast region. In advanced cases there is no possible localization because the tumor has invaded all the tissues.
The evolutive period is slow, but the march is progressive and of great propagation, especially in the axillary, intercostal, paraexternal and supraclavicular ganglia. This symptom is one of the most serious, because it reveals intrathoracic propagation.
The prognosis of this disease is serious, the average of life to these patients is from 2 to 3 years (Wakeley, fahler, Parry, etc.), notwithstanding one can find case of low evolution whose period is of several years. This prognosis is based upon the sick womans age, race, as well as the size, localization and variety of the tumor, pregnancy influence, lactation, etc.
From the point of view of prognosis and treatment, the Traditional School only employs the early axilla-mammary surgical intervention. X-Rays, radium and hormonotherapy.
As a prophylactic measure, castration by Roentgen rays of those women predisposed to cancer is proposed and feeding by a wet-nurse or artificial preparations in order to avoid the possible factor of cancerism in mothers milk when any cases of cancer in any of its clinical forms have been registered in the line of ancestors. (Bitter). In the same way radical mastectomy is proposed even in benign tumors of the breast. (Reed).
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.
From the point of view of Hahnemannian therapeutics, we have a great number of remedies that, on account of their selective action on the glandular and endocrine system and their constitutional effects, are perfectly well indicated in precancerous states, as well in the different types and evolutive periods of mammary cancer in the female sex.
