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Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer that women in the United States develop behind skin cancer and the second leading fatal cancer in women behind lung cancer. Ninety-nine percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are to women. It is estimated that more than 182,000 women in the United States will develop breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 women will die. Some statistics indicate that women have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives, though this statistic only holds true for women who live to be 95 years of age or older.

Early detection and treatment of breast cancer is the factor most likely to yield a favorable prognosis. If breast cancer is detected early, a patient has a ninety-five percent chance of surviving past five years. Breast cancer is often symptomatic and painless in the early stages. Therefore, frequent self-breast examinations and mammography testing are crucial to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

There are different stages of breast cancer. Eighty percent of all breast cancer tumors develop in the mammary ducts which function to carry milk from the lobules to the nipples. The other twenty percent of breast cancer tumors begin in the lobules, or milk producing sacs of the breasts. Breast cancer tumors often grow slowly: it can take up to ten years for women to develop a palpable lump. Many breast lumps, conversely, are not cancerous. Therefore it is important to seek medical attention if you develop a lump in the breast, collarbone, or armpit area.

When the tumor is localized only to the lobule or the mammary duct, the condition is called carcinoma in situ (meaning "in place"). This is often considered a pre-cancerous stage because the tumor has not yet metastasized (spread beyond its location of origin). Invasive breast cancer, of which there are three stages, occurs when the cancerous cells spread to other tissues and/or areas of the body. Localized invasive breast cancer is the stage where the cancerous cells exist only in the breast tissues. In regional invasive breast cancer the cancerous cells have spread to the area around the breast. In distant invasive breast cancer, the cancerous cells have spread to other areas of the body, such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and bones.

There are many factors that may increase a person's risk of developing breast cancer. Sex- being female- is the number one factor that predisposes a person to develop breast cancer. Age also increases a person's risk of developing breast cancer. For comparison, a 30-year-old woman has a one in 280 risk of developing breast cancer in the next ten years, whereas the risk is one in 30 for a 60-year-old woman. There are genetic factors that can predispose a person to breast cancer. Some inherited abnormal genes can increase a person's risk by 85 percent. Hormonal factors such as early onset of menstruation, late menopause, using hormone replacement therapy, and other factors may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

Some studies show that having children before the age of 30 may provide some protection against breast cancer. Young adults and teens that eat right and exercise regularly also reduce their risks of developing breast cancer. Regular breast examinations are also important in preventing breast cancer.

Several steps are often required to positively diagnose or rule out breast cancer. Symptoms are not often present before a breast cancer diagnosis. Patients discover breast lumps in eighty percent of all breast cancer cases. When symptoms are present they can include: breast discharge in one breast or bloody discharge, newly developed nipple inversion, and changes in breast skin (i.e. redness, texture, and puckering). The medical diagnosis of breast cancer begins with a thorough breast examination. A mammography, ultrasonography, and biopsy may also be conducted to diagnose breast cancer. A biopsy is the only definitive way to diagnose breast cancer.

There are many treatment methods available to treat patients with breast cancer. The type and invasiveness of breast cancer treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. Treatment is also affected by the preferences of the patient and her doctor. Traditional treatment methods include: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone-blocking drugs.

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