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Breast Cancer - 101
The cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide
uncontrollably invading near by tissue and spreading to other parts
of the body via blood stream or lymphatic system.
Similarly, in breast cancer, a single cell begins to divide and
grow abnormally. This is the most common kind of cancer in women.
Besides being women, age is the other important factor for
developing breast cancer. The breast is made up of lobes and ducts.
Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many
smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny
bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are
linked by thin tubes called ducts.
The breast cancer is classified into:
-Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
-Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
-Inflammatory breast cancer
-Recurrent breast cancer
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which
begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes
or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in
both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory
breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the
breast is warm, red, and swollen. Recurrent breast cancer that has
come back after it has been treated. Early detection through
regular breast self-exams and a regular program of mammogram and
physical exams show excellent results in curing it. Breast self
exam is the process developed by the American cancer society for
women to examine the breasts monthly. This process can reveal
breast problem. Any swelling or unusual lumps or hardness in the
breast is the indication of breast disease and a reason to rush to
your doctor.
There are various factors, which increases the chance of getting
disease as a breast cancer. Like:
1) Older age
2) A mother or sister with breast cancer.
3) Drinking alcoholic beverages.
4) Being white.
5) Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who
have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of
developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have
an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an
increased risk of developing other cancers.
Tests related to detect and diagnose breast cancer are:
1) Mammogram - In which X ray is done of the breast.
2) Biopsy - The removal of cells or tissues so they can be
viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of
cancer. If a lump in the breast is found, the doctor may need to
cut out a small piece of the lump.
3) Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure
the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in
cancer tissue. If cancer is found in the breast, tissue from the
tumor is examined in the laboratory to find out whether estrogen
and progesterone could affect the way cancer grows. The test
results show whether hormone therapy may stop the cancer from
growing.
There are different 4 types of treatment option for breast
cancer patients:
1) Surgery- Most patients with breast cancer have surgery to
remove the cancer from the breast.
2) Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment
that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill
cancer cells.
3) Chemotherapy -Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses
drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the
cells or by stopping the cells from dividing.
4) Hormone therapy - Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that
removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from
growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and
circulated in the bloodstream.
For latest information about Breast Cancer please
visit medicineworld.org. You can get
more information through dedicated breast cancer message board, breast cancer
support forum at bcancer.com
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