Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women. It affects approximately one out of eleven to twelve women at some stage of their life. Next to lung cancer, breast cancer is the second most fatal cancer in women. The breast is composed of identical tissues in males and females, that is why breast cancer can also occur in males but the incidence is very low, less than one percent.
What is breast cancer? Breast cancer occurs when the cells in the breast begin to grow uncontrollably and invade the nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body, they are not cancerous. They are rarely life threatening, and generally benign tumors can be removed and don’t usually grow back. Malignant tumors on the other hand, can invade and destroy nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, they are cancerous. They may be life threatening. They can be removed but they sometimes grow back. Cells from malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original or primary tumor and entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
When breast cancer cells spread, they are often found in lymph nodes near the breast. Breast cancer can also spread to almost any part of the body; the most common are the bones, liver, lungs, and brain. This new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same primary tumor, which results to different types of cancer.
What are the risk factors of breast cancer? The exact cause of this disease cannot be determined but doctors often explain why one woman develops breast cancers and another does not. One thing is for sure, bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause cancer. It is also not contagious. Research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely to develop the disease. Here are some risk factors for breast cancer:
Age. As a woman gets older the chances of getting the disease goes up. Most cases occur in women over 60. The disease is not common before menopause.
Personal history of breast cancer. If a woman has had breast cancer on one of her breast, there is an increased rate of getting cancer on the other breast.
Family history. If a family member has had breast cancer, like the mother, sister or daughter, or other relatives (either the mother’s or father’s side) the risk of breast cancer is higher.
Certain Breast Changes. Some women have abnormal cells in the breast called, atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ, increases the risk of breast cancer.
Gene Changes. Changes in genes increases the risk of breast cancer, this includes BRCA1, BRCA2, and others.
Reproductive and Menstrual History. The older the woman is when she has her first child increases the chance of having the disease. Women who had their first menstrual period before age 12, women who went through menopause after age 55, women who never had children, women who take menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin, have risk to having breast cancer.
Race. More often, breast cancer is diagnosed in white women than Latin, Asian, or African American women.
Other risk factors include: radiation therapy to the chest before age 30, breast density (more dense or fatty tissue are at increased risk), taking DES (diethylstilbestrol), being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity and alcohol. Other possible risk factors are under study, including certain substances in the environment.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer? Unfortunately, early stages of this disease may not have symptoms. Following screening recommendations or having regular breast check-ups is important. As a tumor grows in size, it produces a variety of symptoms that include:
* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
* change in size or shape of the breast
* nipple discharge or nipple turning inward
* redness or scaling of the skin or nipple
* ridges or pitting of the breast skin
Having or experiencing these symptoms may not necessarily mean that you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor. Early detection and treatment of the disease if diagnosed can save you from illness or maybe even death.
Posted by admin in Health
Breast Cancer Awareness May Change Your Life
More and more women are faced with breast cancer every day. This is Breast Cancer why breast cancer awareness is so important to any female. Read any breast cancer information you can find so you won't be a statistic. Important ... Breast Cancer Awareness May Change Your Life
Breast Cancer Test
... risk is to frequently go in for a breast cancer test. The 15% likelihood of developing breast cancer is slightly skewed in that you are actually much more likely to get it if there is a history of such cancer in your family, and significantly less likely to develop it if there isn't. This is good news if you don't have any one in your immediate family that had breast cancer, but unfortunately many families do have such a history. With or without a family history, you still need to stay vigilant and go in for breast cancer tests regularly. The breast cancer test I'm Breast Cancer referring to is of course your basic mammogram. Unpleasant, uncomfortable, and only a few steps away from medieval torture, it is the most effective affordable breast cancer test available. Waiting for symptoms to develop before getting treatment is a bad idea, as symptoms don't usually become clear until the cancer is already in its later...
Breast Cancer Support Groups
... across the country to help women and their loved ones learn about breast cancer, and how to deal with certain aspects of the disease process and treatments. If there is not a local group or you are unable to attend, sign up for an online breast cancer support group for answers to questions and information regarding diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes. Breast cancer research is ongoing, and there is yet to be a cure found. One of the most well known breast cancer support groups per se is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which sponsors the Race for the Cure, and raises awareness as well as funds for ongoing breast cancer research through sponsored events held across the country. For more information on Race for the Cure events and the latest news about breast cancer research, breast cancer support groups, and treatments visit www.komen.org. Any type of cancer can be devastating, and people newly diagnosed as well as those going through treatment and in remission, can...
Breast Cancer Month
... gynecologist. It is also recommended that women over the age of forty have an annual screening to detect any changes in breast tissue, or more frequently depending on personal or family history and other risk factors. Early detection is presently the best way to fight the disease, which is why regular monthly self breast examination and mammography is so important. Breast Cancer Month and the Pink Ribbon campaign have been extremely successful in raising awareness, and increasing support for more breast cancer research focused on prevention and a cure. Most everyone recognizes the significance of the pink ribbon; it stands for awareness of a devastating disease that does not have a cure, and the need for continued research and early detection. Breast cancer treatments have proven...
Cancer Information
... sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, www.cancersociety.com, and the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at www.cis.nci.nih.gov. If you are looking for cancer information from more personal sources, say from real people who have cancer, then you may want to join an online chat forum or local cancer support group. A few people have even posted their experiences and thoughts on their own personal websites, and you can visit with these folks via email as well. You may just have something in common, and this could be a great way to learn more about your situation and what to expect. Other good sources of Breast Cancer cancer information include your primary care physician or gynecologist for various types of female concerns, including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers. If you are looking for cancer information on a specific type, you can do a search just on that alone, which will narrow down your...
How to lose man boobs
Gynecomastia is the development of prominent breast tissue in the male. Males with gynecomastia usually experience psychological and social issues rather than physical problems. Some medicines may cause enlargement of the male breast. The most common cause of gynecomastia in the male is puberty. Gynecomastia is actually quite comment in adolescent males however in 90% of cases the condition will disappear by the time they're 18 years old. Other males who have breasts consisting mainly of breast tissue, will not be able to remove them by exercise, surgery seems to be their only option at present. This condition does not increase a man's risk of developing male breast cancer. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis...
Advice On The Latest Prostate Cancer Treatments
... to dwell on the obvious. This is known as chemotherapy. Even with prostate cancer treatment, chemotherapy is often involved. This is scary! Or at least it is to me. I don’t really fancy the idea of poisoning my body in order to make it well. There has to be an alternative prostate cancer treatment somewhere. Breast Cancer Well, one thing I do know is the prevention process. This is even more important in my book. If you can prevent ever acquiring prostate cancer, then you’re golden. After doing a little recon work, I came up with these reasons. One way to help prevent the on-set of prostate cancer is through tomatoes. Yes, I said tomatoes. Specifically tomato sauce. This vegetable/fruit provides essential minerals such as lycopene, which help prevent cancer. Also there...
Deal With Colon Cancer
A team of scientists has discovered a gene that, when it stops working, causes the appearance of colon cancer in it's sporadic (noninherited) form. This discovery is predicted to create new treatments and new ways of preventing colon cancer. These researchers found out that this particular gene can be activated again by a special medicine, increasing the vulnerability of the colon cancer. This research reconfirms that this gene, called hMLH1, has a major importance in the fight against Breast Cancer colon cancer. More on Colon Cancer and Colon Cancer support
About Colon Cancer
Staging is a method of evaluating the progress of colon cancer in a patient. That is, it looks at the colon cancer (tumor) and the extent to which the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Once doctors know how far along the colon cancer is, they can decide on the best course of treatment. Today, the most common used system for the staging of colon cancer is the American Joint Committee on Cancer's (AJCC) TNM staging system. This staging system places patients Breast Cancer into one of four stages (Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV). More on Colon Cancer and Treatments For Colon Cancer
Hormone Treatment For Prostate Cancer
... getting into the prostate cancer cells. Inhibiting the body's use of testosterone would mean taking medications that prevents testosterone in reaching Breast Cancer said cancer cells. Anti-androgens as bicalutamide, nilutamide and flutamide are used. These medications are in tablet form, and are usually taken one to three times a day - depending on the brand. Decreasing the body's production of testosterone would require the individual to take luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists, which places a chemical blockade that prevents your testicles in receiving signals to produce more testosterone. Medications as goserelin and leuprolide are usually injected once every three months into your body. The downside though of hormone treatment for prostate cancer is that there are side effects one has to deal with. These are reduced sex drive, impotence, weight gain, breast enlargement and reduction in bone mass to name just a few. These...
Whey Protein And Cancer
... building muscle mass, there are more health benefits than what was predominantly thought. There have been a number of laboratory tests conducted on animals exposed to cancer causing chemicals and the effects of introducing whey protein concentrate in their diet. A powerful carcinogen called dimethylhydrazine Breast Cancer is injected in several lab rats and later fed with whey protein, and so far it has shown promising results. Scientists have found out that the rats that were given whey protein concentrate showed lesser number of tumors than those that were just injected with dimethylhydrazin. It furthered sowed that whey protein have offered significant protection, I n comparison to other protein sources like soy. Other in vivo research made on whey protein and cancer has also shown that whey protein concentrate have considerably aided in inhibiting...
About Colon Cancer
Symptoms and diagnosis of colon cancer: Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, blood spots in stool or any unusual bowel related activity/uneasiness can be a symptom of colon cancer. However, these are not conclusive symptoms of colon cancer since these could be just normal digestion related problems. In any case, you should get the advice of a qualified doctor and tell him all the symptoms properly in order to facilitate fast and correct diagnosis. The doctor may prescribe certain tests/ examinations for proper diagnosis of colon cancer. More on Colon Cancer and Technology Advances Breast Cancer For Treatments Of Colon Cancer
Explaining Androgen Deprivation Therapy For Prostate Cancer Treatment
... course, as I've mentioned it is percentage driven. Testosterone in majority is produces in the testicles, but other gonads do build testosterone, and one of them is the prostate itself. Another method in castration is the Chemical Castration. It is done by making the pituitary gland over-stimulate the Leydig Cells, thus making the requirement for stimulation too high that it will have a reduced stimulated ability and wearing the cells out. Leydig Cells Breast Cancer is primarily responsible for testosterone secretion. The effects of chemical castration include sexual dysfunction, among other things. Today's practice for Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer Treatment is decidedly different, thank God. That means we men can keep what makes us men in the first place. The practice of today is blocking the switching of testosterone into DHT. By using enzymes like 5-AR inhibitor Finasteride or the more potent Dutasteride (Proscar and Avodart, respectively), the testosterone is prevented from turning into DHT. This is...
A Special Gift
... in some way to breast cancer research and awareness. St. Jude's Hospital is a personal favorite of mine. I choose to select a special gift for nearly everyone on my shopping list from this special organization because St. Jude's Hospital provides so many helpful services. Nothing strikes fear into a parent's heart worse than finding out that his child is sick with cancer. St. Jude's Hospital supports families during this horrible time in their lives by helping them stay close to their child while the child is in the hospital. Many families fly hundreds or even thousands of miles to get proper care for their sick children. St. Jude's makes sure that they are financially able to stay close to their little ones. Choosing a special gift from this Breast Cancer organization helps you help others while giving a precious item to a loved one. There are many other organizations that support a number of causes from which to choose. If...
Cancer Fighting Diet - Green Tea.
... others? Well, the truth is that much of this lies in your hands. While there is no disputing genetics, there are choices when it comes to our lifestyles. Staying physically fit is always a wise decision. Eating right is probably even more imperative when it comes to afflictions such as prostate and stomach cancer. You want to get your daily vitamins and minerals, but avoid the junk that so many shove into their systems daily. High levels of sodium and saturated fat are clearly bad for us. Regarding cancer, its also been proven that high levels of calcium from dairy products are malicious as well. Steer your grocery cart more in the direction of SOY products and fresh Breast Cancer fish. These are just the basics, but being proactive now...