Breast Cancer - A Scary Disease!

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Breast Cancer - A Scary Disease!

Author: RichardHEalom Total views: 7 Word Count: 492

INTRODUCTION: Breast Cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the breast tissues. It is the leading cause of death for women between 40 and 55 years of age, the second overall cause of death among women (exceeded only by lung cancer) and is growing worldwide. It is more easily treated and often curable if it is found early.

LUMPS: Most breast tumors (abnormal lumps of tissue) are benign (not cancerous). Using your fingertips, a lump may be detected within the breast. If a lump is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump (called a biopsy).

There are four types of biopsies: Excisional Biopsy (The removal of an entire lump or suspicious tissue); Incisional Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue); Needle Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle); Core Biopsy (The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wide needle).

A group of rapidly dividing cells may form a lump of extra tissue. For example, fibrocystic change is a non-cancerous condition in which a female develops cysts (accumulated packets of fluid), fibrosis (formation of scar-like connective tissue), lumpiness, areas of thickening, tenderness, or breast pain.

RISKS: Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had cancer in one breast have a high risk of developing cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer as well as other cancers.

Age and health history can have an affect on the risk of developing breast cancer. A woman's risk may be higher or lower, depending upon several factors, including family history, genetics, age of menstruation, and other factors yet not identified. Breast feeding for several months also seems to reduce the cancer risk.

TREATMENT: Treatment for breast cancer usually depends on the type of cancer and whether it has spread outside of the breast to the rest of the body. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine/anti-hormone therapy. Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast.

CONCLUSION: Previously a disease that afflicted mostly white, affluent women in the industrial hubs of North America and Western Europe, breast cancer can now be found everywhere. But in China, as in most other growing economies, it is a relatively new concern, something that both patients and doctors are only beginning to learn how to treat.

The newest age-specific data in Denmark show that the incidence of breast cancer is maximal for a woman born between 1945 and 1950, and is on the decline for women born since that time. Greater than 90 out of 100 women whose cancer is found early will be cured. The leading cause of this form of cancer is said to be the use of anti-perspirants. The good news is that it is a highly curable disease when it is found and treated early.

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About the Author

About the author: Richard H. Ealom is an expert ezinearticles.com writer with more than 50 articles on diseases,causes,cures. To learn more about Cancer visit "Cancer Breakthrough USA!" You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

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