Breast Cancer Is Scary Stuff!

Introductioncancer, and may have an increased risk of
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignantdeveloping other cancers. Age and health history
(cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Itcan affect the risk of developing breast cancer.
is the leading cause of death among womenEach woman's risk may be higher or lower,
between 40 and 55 years of age,the seconddepending upon several factors, including family
overall cause of death among women (exceededhistory, genetics, age of menstruation, and other
only by lung cancer). and is on the rise worldwide.factors that have not yet been identified. Breast
Breast cancer is more easily treated and oftenfeeding for several months also seems to reduce
curable if it is found early.breast cancer risk.
LumpsTreatment
Most breast tumors (abnormal lumps or massesTreatment for breast cancer usually depends on
of tissue) are benign (not cancerous). Using thethe type of cancer and whether it has spread
fingertips, a lump may be detected within theoutside of the breast to the rest of the body.
breast. If a lump in the is found, the doctor mayTreatment for includes surgery, radiation,
need to cut out a small piece of the lump. Fourchemotherapy, and endocrine/anti-hormone
types of biopsies are as follows: Excisional biopsy:therapy. Treatment for male breast cancer is
The removal of an entire lump or suspicioususually a mastectomy, which is surgery to
tissue. Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of aremove the breast.
lump or suspicious tissue. Needle biopsy: TheConclusion
removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, orPreviously a malady that mostly afflicted white,
fluid, using a thin needle. Core biopsy: The removalaffluent women in the industrial hubs of North
of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wideAmerica and Western Europe, breast cancer is
needle.everywhere. But in China, as in most other
A group of rapidly dividing cells may form a lumpemerging economies, it is a relatively new
or mass of extra tissue. For example, fibrocysticconcern, something that both patients and
change is a non-cancerous condition in whichdoctors are only haltingly learning how to treat.
women develop cysts (accumulated packets ofBut the latest age-specific data in Denmark show
fluid), fibrosis (formation of scar-like connectivethat the incidence of breast cancer is maximal for
tissue), lumpiness, areas of thickening, tenderness,women born between 1945 and 1950, and is on
or breast pain.the decline for women born more recently. More
Risksthan 90 out of 100 women whose cancer is
Women who have an altered gene related tofound early will be cured. The leading cause of
breast cancer and who have had cancer in onebreast cancer is said to be the use of
breast have an increased risk of developinganti-perspirant. The good news is that it is a
cancer in the other breast. These women alsodisease that can be treated and cured.
have an increased risk of developing ovarian