| When it comes to cancer, any type is something | | | | comes as no surprise that the vast majority of |
| to be concerned about. For women, the most | | | | breast cancer cases are not discovered by |
| common occurrence is breast cancer regardless | | | | doctors. Instead, upwards of 80 percent of cases |
| of race, body type, geographic location or social | | | | are identified by the patient as they do self |
| status. It is simply a universal threat. | | | | examinations feeling for lumps. This is true even |
| How big of an issue is breast cancer? It is the | | | | though most women undergo an annual |
| second most common form of cancer in the | | | | mammogram. |
| world. It accounts for approximately 1 percent of | | | | When performing a self-diagnosis, the finding of a |
| all deaths in the world regardless of cause | | | | lump is not the end of the world. In fact, the |
| whether they be car crashes, war or disease. The | | | | majority of breast lumps are not cancerous. |
| latest statistics show roughly half a million people | | | | Instead, they are often found to be cysts or |
| dying each year from breast cancer. | | | | fibrotic changes to the breast. That being said, |
| What is breast cancer? As with any cancer, it is | | | | don't take a chance. If you do find a lump, make |
| the growth of abnormal cell structures. As the | | | | sure to get it checked out by your doctor. |
| name suggests, it appears in the breasts of | | | | Treatment for breast cancer is highly dependent |
| women as well as men. The first impression is | | | | on when it is discovered. Small tumors are often |
| typically as a small tumor. As time passes, the | | | | removed with localized surgery and the treated |
| tumor will spread to surrounding tissue. Eventually, | | | | with radiation and hormonal therapy. Advanced |
| the cancerous cells will reach a point where they | | | | cases are treated through aggressive surgical |
| can spread throughout the body. With breast | | | | removal of the breasts and lymph nodes around |
| cancer, this typically occurs when they spread to | | | | the underarm area. In cases where death occurs, |
| the lymph nodes found in the underarm area. | | | | it is usually due to the late discovery of the |
| Once introduced, they are spread throughout the | | | | cancer wherein the cancerous cells have already |
| body via the lymphatic system. | | | | spread throughout the body. |
| Given this description of breast cancer, it probably | | | | |