Valuable Information on Breast Cancer

Cancer is a general name for a group of diseases where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues. These cells can spread freely throughout the body using the blood and lymphatic systems. Each cancer is different, but when left untreated can cause serious illness and even death.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a potentially dangerous tumor which develops in the cells of the breast. It begins with the mutation of a single cell in a duct or lobule, causing it to grow out of control and turning it into a malignant tumor. Sometimes the group of cancer cells may invade surrounding tissues, or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body, and attacking other organs.

Breast cancer occurs almost exclusively in women, but because the breast is composed of identical tissues in males and females, it can also occur in men. Scientists have not been able to determine exactly what triggers breast cancer, but they do know it is not contagious, and that breast cancer in teenagers is rare. The chances of getting breast cancer do increase as women get older; in fact, about 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are age 50 or older. Most women with breast cancer do not have a history of breast cancer within their families, but if close relatives were diagnosed, it doubles the risk to get this disease. In addition, an increased risk of breast cancer has been detected in families with other inherited disorders. A woman who already had cancer in one breast is at higher risk of getting it in the other.

Breast cancer risks increase depending on diets and lifestyle, and show up more frequently in women with extended exposures to female hormones, such as estrogen. This may affect women who have a history of:

• A first menstrual period before age 12
• Late menopause
• No pregnancies
• Pregnancy after age 30
• Use of birth control pills / oral contraceptives
• Extended use of Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Early breast cancer usually is painless. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. As the cancer grows the following changes may occur:

• A lump or thickening in or near the breast, or in the underarm area.
• A change in the size or shape of the breast.
• A discharge from the nipple.
• A colour, or skin texture change of the breast, areola, or nipple
• Nipple may look dimpled, puckered, or scaly and feel tender
• Nipple turns inward into the breast

Breast cancer screening is an attempt to find abnormal tissue cells. If tests or specific symptoms suggest cancer the physician may request a mammogram, other imaging procedures, or a biopsy. Removed, abnormal tissue will be examined under a microscope and, if the tissue cells do not show cancer, the benign lump may not need treatment, although can be removed if causing discomfort.

Cancerous tumors need to be extracted. The procedure is called a lumpectomy. If the cancer has spread, the surgeon may have to remove the entire breast, a process known as a mastectomy. Whether a lumpectomy or a mastectomy is in order will depend on the size and the kind of tumor. Follow-up treatment may include radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. This treatment plan will destroy the remaining cancer cells (if any are left) and stop them from returning. Some breast tumors need hormones to grow, and hormone therapy will prevent cancer cells from taking, or using, the much needed natural hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone.

Because chemotherapy kills cancerous as well as healthy cells, researchers are concentrating on finding less harmful drugs and treatment plans. People who are, or have been, treated for breast cancer need regular breast exams for as long as they live. Because of limited scientific understanding and treatment knowledge, it is still impossible to prevent breast cancer from occurring, although some risk factors can be eliminated or reduced. Exercising, losing weight and a healthy lifestyle can lower the risks for breast cancer. Through education, informed women can often recognize cancer symptoms early on, and when detected in its early stages, the cancer can then be removed before further harm is done.

About the Author
Irida Sangemino is an international copywriter/journalist/editor with multiple interests