Rita Wilson Has Breast Cancer; 10 Symptoms & Treatment Facts You Should Know

Actress Rita Wilson shared last Tuesday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She expects to return to work next month in Larry David's play in Broadway Fish in the Dark.

Wilson shared that her husband, actor Tom Hanks, was by her side when she went to get the operation last week after a diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, according to the New York Daily News.

The 58-year-old actress shared in an article by Huffington Post that she hopes that women get a second opinion regarding any health issue.

"No one ever thinks to get [a second opinion on pathology]. That's what saved me," she said. "I am on my way to full recovery. Feeling stronger every day."

In a statement to People magazine, the actress shared "I am recovering and most importantly, expected to make a full recovery," and added, "Why? Because I caught this early, have excellent doctors and because I got a second opinion." Wilson hopes that others would get encouraged to pursue a second opinion and to trust their gut if they feel that "something isn't right."

10 Symptoms & Treatment Facts You Should Know About Breast Cancer

In the United States, one in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer. There is an estimated 220,000 women in the country who will be diagnosed with the disease annually, according to the National Breast Cancer Organization. However, early detection and treatment can improve chances of survival. Monthly breast self-exams can help identify abnormalities or changes in the breast. With the exam, you can watch out for the following:

1.) Tenderness in the nipples or a lump/thickening in the breast or underarm area. (Please remember that not all lumps are cancerous. You can consult a health professional if you want to make sure.)

2.) Enlargement of pores in the skin or an irregular skin texture which is described as something similar to the texture of an orange peel.

3.) An unexplained change in the usual size or shape of one's breast such as dimpling, swelling in one side, shrinkage, and nipples that are slightly inverted or turned inward.

4.) Scaly, red or swollen areola, nipple, or breast skin.

5.) Any bloody or clear discharge in the nipples. A milky discharge for women who are not breastfeeding should be checked by a health professional.

 If you have some of these signs and symptoms, you can talk to your doctor if you think that you should have it investigated or screened.

There are numerous available standard treatments that an individual can select as part of the breast cancer treatment plan:

1.) Surgery is the most common form of treatment. There are different kinds of surgery based on the stage and condition of the cancer. The three most common surgeries used are lumpectomy - removal of the cancerous tumor, mastectomy - removal of the entire breast, lymph node removal and lymphedema, and reconstruction - done to rebuild the shape of the breast.

2.) Chemotherapy uses a blend of drugs to slow down the growth or eliminate cancer cells. It is administered throughout a number of weeks to allow normal cells to recover.

3.) Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is usually opted after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

4.) Hormone therapy is advised if the cancerous cells have hormone receptors. The inhibitors or blockers kill cancer cells as it cut off their hormone supply.

5.) Targeted therapy uses drugs that can block the specific growth of cancer cells but with lesser side effects. This therapy is used together with chemotherapy.