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