Breast cancer: is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, or a red scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin.
(Wikipedia)
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.
Substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped create advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease. (Mayoclinic)
Causes of Breast Cancer
Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know the main risk factors. Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many with no known risk factors do develop breast cancer. Among the most significant factors are advancing age and a family history of breast cancer. Risk increases for a woman who has certain types of benign breast lumps and increases significantly for a woman who has previously had cancer of the breast or the ovaries.
A woman whose mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease, particularly if more than one first-degree relative has been affected. Researchers have identified two genes responsible for some instances of familial breast cancer. These genes are known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. About one woman in 200 carries the genes. Having one of them predisposes a woman to breast cancer but does not ensure that she will get it.
Generally, women over age 50 are more likely to get breast cancer than younger women, and African-American women are more likely than Caucasians to get breast cancer before menopause.
A link between breast cancer and hormones is clear. Researchers think that the greater a woman's exposure to the hormone estrogen, the more susceptible she is to breast cancer. Estrogen tells cells to divide; the more the cells divide, the more likely they are to be abnormal in some way, possibly becoming cancerous.
A woman's exposure to estrogen and progesterone rises and falls during her lifetime, influenced by the age she starts and stops menstruating, the average length of her menstrual cycle, and her age at first childbirth. A woman's risk for breast cancer is increased if she starts menstruating before age 12, has her first child after age 30, stops menstruating after age 55, or has a menstrual cycle shorter or longer than the average 26-29 days. Women who have taken birth control pills in the recent past may have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This risk goes away if you have not taken birth control pills for at least 10 years. Some studies suggest that taking hormone replacement therapy for menopause with combined estrogen and progestin may increase risk, especially when taken for more than five years. The jury is still somewhat out on this matter, though. Heavy doses of radiation therapy may also be a factor, but low-dose mammograms pose almost no risk.
The link between diet and breast cancer is debated. Obesity is a noteworthy risk factor, and drinking alcohol regularly -- particularly more than one drink a day -- may promote the disease. Many studies have shown that women whose diets are high in fat are more likely to get the disease. Researchers suspect that if a woman lowers her daily calories from fat -- to less than 20%-30% -- her diet may help protect her from developing breast cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
Breast cancer may include:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- A newly inverted nipple
- Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange (Mayoclinic)
With breast cancer, early detection is key. The earlier the disease is diagnosed the less it has progressed, and the better the outcome with treatment.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (an alliance of cancer centers) recommends annual screening beginning at age 40.
The ACS says women ages 40 to 44 should have the option to begin screening every year. It recommends annual screening for women ages 45 to 54. At 55, a woman can decide to continue annual screening or go for her mammogram every other year for as long as she is healthy and has 10 more years of life to live. (Health dot com)
Treatment
There are several ways to treat breast cancer, depending on its type and stage.
Local treatments: Some treatments are
local, meaning they treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. Types of local therapy used for breast cancer include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
Systemic treatments: Drugs used to treat breast cancer are considered
systemic therapies because they can reach cancer cells almost anywhere in the body. They can be given by mouth or put directly into the bloodstream. Depending on the type of breast cancer, different types of drug treatment might be used, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
Many women get more than one type of treatment for their cancer.
How is breast cancer typically treated?
Most women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the type of breast cancer and how advanced it is, you might need other types of treatment as well, either before or after surgery, or sometimes both.
Typically, treatment plans are based on the type of breast cancer, its stage, and any special situations:
- Invasive breast cancer (stages I-IV)
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Breast cancer during pregnancy
- Triple- negative breast cancer
Your treatment plan will depend on other factors as well, including your overall health and personal preferences. (American Cancer Society)
Please visit the Breast Cancer website for additional information or to make a donation.
Click for Breast Cancer website
References by MayoClinic, Health.com, American Cancer Society, WebMD
