Breast Cancer for Beginners

Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.

Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor.

Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.

Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.

Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.

Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.

Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.

Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that.

Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.

Suresh gupta writes about breast cancer topics.

Canada.com
MRIs Don't Improve Breast Cancer Care, Outcome
Washington Post, United States - 5 hours ago
6 (HealthDay News) -- Women who receive an MRI after a new diagnosis of breast cancer not only delay the start of treatment, but they are also more likely ...
Breast MRIs delay cancer treatment by weeks: study Reuters
Do MRIs help or hurt breast cancer patients? USA Today
Routine Use Of MRI Scans To Evaluate Breast Cancer Challenged Science Daily (press release)
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Canada.com
Weekend to End Breast Cancer raises $4.1m for research and treatment
Canada.com, Canada - 13 hours ago
Charity walker and breast cancer survivor Tanya Dang, when asked what was needed from the federal government to find a cure for cancer, just smiled and ...
More than $4.1 million raised for breast cancer in 60-km walk Vancouver Sun
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ChattahBox
We Fought Cancer…And Cancer Won
HealthNewsDigest.com, NY - 5 hours ago
She pauses, musing on how the uplifting stories and statistics—death rates from female breast cancer have fallen steadily since 1990; fecal occult blood ...
Genome analysis used to decode brain cancer: study AFP
Scientists Find More Genes Associated With Cancer – May Lead To ... Best Syndication
In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem Wall Street Journal
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Marin helps find a cure for breast cancer
Marin Independent-Journal, CA - 6 hours ago
Researchers are attempting to collect saliva samples and questionnaires from women seeking mammograms in a study of breast cancer causes. ...

New way to spot breast cancer shows promise
CTV.ca, Canada - Sep 4, 2008
A radioactive tracer that "lights up" cancer cells could prove better at detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. ...

New breast cancer screening tool shows promise
Reuters - Sep 3, 2008
Mammography is used commonly to screen for breast cancer, but about a quarter of women have dense breast tissue -- and mammogram X-rays may not see through ...

New Detection Tool Possible For Breast Cancer
MyFox Kansas City, MO - Sep 4, 2008
Mammograms are far from a perfect tool in detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Now there are new possibilities for better detection in ...

CTV British Columbia
Man walks 120 km over weekend for breast cancer
CTV British Columbia, Canada - 1 hour ago
One man is so committed to today's Walk to End Breast Cancer event that he's flying thousands of kilometers to walk 120 km in both Vancouver and Toronto. ...
Walking to end breast cancer Toronto Sun
Walkers fight breast cancer Vancouver Sun
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HealthNews
New Breast Cancer Technology: Molecular Breast Imaging
HealthNews, CA - 1 hour ago
A new screening tool that is being used to detect breast cancer is shown to work three times better than mammography at finding tumors in women who have ...

Khaleej Times
Guinness Book of Record attempts to raise awareness for global ...
AME Info, United Arab Emirates - 8 hours ago
Donations of Dhs 20 and upwards are suggested with all proceeds funding global research and awareness for Breast Cancer through the international Estee ...
Ribbon of hope Khaleej Times
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