Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer which causes serious illness and death in women. There is lot of information about breast cancer on the internet and in various books and magazines. This cancer forms in breast tissue ducts and milk producing glands of the breast. The following information briefly describes some of the symptoms, risk factors,and diagnostic studies available for breast cancer.
Symptoms:
Early breast cancer has practically no symptoms it can may only be confirmed by self examination and palpation of a breast lump. A lump may be present sometimes next to the collar bone or underneath the armpit, and if you are not sure, seek immediate medical attention.
Abnormal or bloody discharge from the breast;
Changes in the nipple;
Changes in the breast skin;
Early detection of breast cancer improves the survival rate.
Risk factors:
Irreversible risk factors include age, and genetics. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and also increases if the women has family members with breast cancer. Women who start menstruation at an early age also have an increased risk.
Reversible risk factors: These reversible risk factors include the use of hormonal estrogen therapy, oral contraceptives, alcohol use, and obesity.
Diagnostic evaluation for the early detection of breast cancer includes yearly mammography, ultrasound, MRI or ultrafast CT imaging, and if necessary, stereotactic biopsy to confirm with a pathologic diagnosis.
Treatment:
Surgical treatment includes mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by breast reconstruction;
Adjuvant therapy includes radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.
Breast cancer is the malignant proliferation of epithelial cells that line the ducts or lobules of the breast. In 2004 there were about 216,000 cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,000 breast cancer deaths in the United States.
Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent disease. For example, women without functioning ovaries and who never received estrogen replacement do not develop breast cancer.
Nearly half of all patients who are treated for apparently localized breast cancer develop metastatic disease. And half of all initial cancer recurrences occur more than 5 years after initial therapy. Although a very small number of these patients can enjoy long remissions when treated with combinations of systemic and local therapy, most eventually succumb to their cancer.
