Things to Know About Breast Cancer

Mostly a concern of women, but also some men, breast cancer, as the name implies, strikes the breast. The breast is composed of a collection of glands and fatty tissue which lies between the skin and chest wall. After the birth of a baby, these glands in a womans breast begin to produce milk to nourish the infant. Each milk gland is composed of 1520 lobes. Special ducts (tubelike structures) serve to transfer the milk from the glands to the nipple. As milk is produced and fills the breast, the glands and ducts enlarge. Fatty tissue in the breast is the primary factor determining the size and shape of the breast. If a tumor is ever found to be growing in the breast, it should be checked by a doctor as it might be cancerous.

Abnormal cells, growing at an out of control rate, are the building blocks of a cancerous tumor. A tumor that is incapable of spreading through the body is referred to as benign, or noncancerous. A malignant tumor is one that is capable of spreading throughout the body and referred to as cancerous. The term breast cancer is used when malignant tumors are found within the breast. Though it is possible for any breast tissue to develop malignant tendencies, normally cancer cells develop in either the ducts or glands. The number one cancer diagnosis for North American and European women is breast cancer. Over 200,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. Breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer for American women, with lung cancer being first.

Just because a woman develops breast cancer, it does not mean the disease will take her life. A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer; however she also has a 1 in 28 chance of dying from it. The largest risk for a woman to develop breast cancer is her age. Women who are older have a higher risk for breast cancer. A woman who started menstruating at a young age has an increased risk.Other factors also figure in, such as her age at the time of her first pregnancy; a history of breast cancer in her family and BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations 310% of breast cancers are related to gene mutations, so if a woman knows there is breast cancer in her family, she is advised to undergo genetic testing as a precaution. If a woman will exercise regularly, limit her alcohol consumption (no more than 5 drinks per week) and maintain a healthy weight, she will reduce her risk of breast cancer. It is also believed a woman may lower her risk of breast cancer if she has her first child prior to age 30, breastfeeds the infant and when she reaches menopause, avoids the use of longterm hormone replacement. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. The use of this drug for five years has shown to help a woman reduce her risk of developing a tumor by 50%.

Early detection is a womans best defense when it comes to surviving and curing breast cancer. Three important ways to aid in early detection are with the use of selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms. {{{Between the ages of 2039, a woman should undergo a clinical exam every three years. | A woman between the ages of 20 and 39 is advised to undergo a clinical exam once every three years. | A clinical exam should be part of a womans health care every three years between the ages of 20 and 39. | Between the ages of 2039, women are advised to have a clinical exam once every three years

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