| Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) | | | | coming back Many experts now believe that the |
| growth that begins in the tissues of the | | | | main reason for this is because they have |
| breast. Over the course of a lifetime, one in | | | | faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic, and |
| eight women will be diagnosed with breast | | | | American Indian women have a lower risk of |
| cancer. Breast cancer is a cancer of the | | | | getting breast cancer. Certain types of |
| breast tissue, which can occur in both women | | | | abnormal biopsy results can be linked to a |
| and men. Breast cancer may be one of the | | | | slightly higher risk of breast cancer.Women |
| oldest known forms of cancer tumors in | | | | who have had radiation treatment to the chest |
| humans.Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth | | | | area (as treatment for another cancer) |
| most common cause of cancer death (after lung | | | | earlier in life have a greatly increased risk |
| cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and | | | | of breast cancer |
| colon cancer). Breast cancer kills more women | | | | |
| in the United States than any cancer except | | | | Some pregnant women were given the drug DES |
| lung cancer. Today, breast cancer, like other | | | | (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought |
| forms of cancer, is considered to be a result | | | | to lower their chances of losing the baby. |
| of damage to DNA. How this mechanism may | | | | Recent studies have shown that these women |
| occur comes from several known or | | | | (and their daughters who were exposed to DES |
| hypothesized factors (such as exposure to | | | | while in the uterus), have a slightly |
| ionizing radiation, or viral mutagenesis). | | | | increased risk of getting breast cancer. Use |
| Some factors lead to an increased rate of | | | | of alcohol is clearly linked to a slightly |
| mutation (exposure to estrogens) and | | | | increased risk of getting breast cancer. |
| decreased repair (the BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53) | | | | Women who have 1 drink a day have a very |
| genes. Alcohol generally appears to increase | | | | small increased risk. Those who have 2 to 5 |
| the risk of breast cancer. | | | | drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk |
| | | | of women who drink no alcohol. The American |
| Breast cancer can also occur in men, although | | | | Cancer Society suggests limiting the amount |
| it rarely does. Experts predict 178,000 women | | | | you drink.Being overweight is linked to a |
| and 2,000 men will develop breast cancer in | | | | higher risk of breast cancer, especially for |
| the United States. There are several | | | | women after change of life and if the weight |
| different types of breast cancer. First is | | | | gain took place during adulthood. Also, the |
| Ductal carcinoma begins in the cells lining | | | | risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is |
| the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and | | | | in the waist area. Breast-feeding and |
| accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. | | | | pregnancy: Some studies have shown that |
| Second is Lobular carcinoma begins in the | | | | breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer |
| milk-secreting glands of the breast but is | | | | risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts |
| otherwise fairly similar in its behavior to | | | | 1½ to 2 years. This could be because |
| ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast | | | | breast-feeding lowers a woman's total number |
| cancer can arise from the skin, fat, | | | | of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy. |
| connective tissues, and other cells present | | | | Women who began having periods early (before |
| in the breast. Some women have what is known | | | | 12 years of age) or who went through the |
| as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short | | | | change of life (menopause) after the age of |
| for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, | | | | 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast |
| is a gene that helps control cell growth, | | | | cancer. |
| division, and repair. When cells have too | | | | |
| many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds | | | | Symptoms of Breast Cancer |
| up. | | | | |
| | | | 1.Lumps. |
| Causes of Breast Cancer | | | | |
| | | | 2.Rash. |
| Simply being a woman is the main risk for | | | | |
| breast cancer. While men can also get the | | | | 3.Breast Pain. |
| disease, it is about 100 times more common in | | | | |
| women than in men. The chance of getting | | | | 4.Cysts. |
| breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. | | | | |
| Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found | | | | 5.Nipple Discharge. |
| in women age 50 or older. About 5% to 10% of | | | | |
| breast cancers are linked to changes | | | | 6.Inverted Nipple. |
| (mutations) in certain genes. The most common | | | | |
| gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 | | | | Treatment of Breast Cancer |
| genes. Breast cancer risk is higher among | | | | |
| women whose close blood relatives have this | | | | 1.Hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen). |
| disease. The relatives can be from either the | | | | |
| mother's or father's side of the family. | | | | 2.Chemotherapy. |
| Woman with cancer in one breast has a greater | | | | |
| chance of getting a new cancer in the other | | | | 3.Radiotherapy. |
| breast or in another part of the same breast. | | | | |
| This is different from the first cancer | | | | 4.Surgery. |