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

In The News:


TopNews

Growth Factor Predicts Poor Outcome In Breast Cancer
Science Daily (press release) - 20 hours ago
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Activity key to breast cancer patients' survival
Reuters UK, UK - 18 hours ago
By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who stay active after being diagnosed with breast cancer -- and even those who take up exercise for the ...

Does Liezl Martinez have breast cancer?
ABS CBN News, Philippines - 5 hours ago
... Albert Martinez and daughter of veteran actress and showbiz icon Amalia Fuentes, is recovering from surgery as part of treatment for breast cancer. ...

Double Mastectomy to Fight Breast Cancer
KSEE, CA - 12 hours ago
By KSEE News 36-year-old actress Christina Applegate recently announced she had breast cancer and chose to have a double mastectomy. ...

With Child, With Cancer
New York Times, United States - 8 hours ago
She was 32 weeks pregnant and had breast cancer. Lizette Irvin had four rounds of chemotherapy while pregnant. Lizette Irvin at home with her newborn ...

“Medical Marijuana” Takes On New Meaning for Metastatic Breast Cancer
PR CannaZine (press release), UK - 15 hours ago
Together they found that Id-1 is the “orchestra conductor” that directs breast cancer cells to grow and spread. And that CBD inhibits Id-1; it turns it off, ...

Malaysia Star

Auction aims to raise funds for breast cancer society on Ladies ...
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 14 hours ago
By NATALIE STONEHAM A HORSE Auction to benefit the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) will be held in conjunction with Ladies Day at the Sungai Besi ...

Research Project Focuses On Breast Cancer In Marin
FoxReno.com, NV - 17 hours ago
The high occurrence of breast cancer in Marin County has led the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a new breast cancer ...

BBC News

Reason why breast cancer survivors relapse discovered
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Aug 28, 2008
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor The reason why many women with breast cancer see the disease return after apparently successful treatment has been ...
Normal Cells May Predict Cancer Virulence Washington Post
Cancer's Unwelcome Return Science Now
Cancer spread 'happens earlier' BBC News
Xinhua - The Press Associationall 27 news articles

FDA Grants IND For Pro-Pharmaceuticals' DAVANAT® To Treat Breast ...
Medical News Today (press release), UK - 4 hours ago
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 180000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and ...
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