Breast Cancer in Laymens Terms

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. These glands within a womans breast begin to produce milk after the birth of a baby. Special lobes, numbering somewhere between 1520, compose each gland. The milk is transferred to the nipple through tubes, called ducts. As the breast fills with milk, both the ducts and glands enlarge. The fatty tissue within the breast is the key component in determining size and shape. Tumors, which can sometimes grow in the breast, have the potential of being cancerous.

A malignant tumor (cancerous) is composed of an outofcontrol growth of abnormal cells. Noncancerous (benign) tumors are incapable of spreading through the body. Cancerous tumors are also referred to as malignant and capable of spreading throughout the body. When a patient is given a diagnosis of breast cancer, it means a malignant tumor has been found. Cancer cells normally develop in the ducts or glands; however, it is possible for them to appear in any portion of the breast. The most common form of cancer diagnosed in the women of Europe and North America is breast cancer. The number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year exceeds 200,000. Though second in death rates among American women (lung cancer being first), a diagnosis of breast cancer is still very dangerous.

Though it needs to be given serious attention, breast cancer does not always result in death. The chance of a woman developing breast cancer is 1 in 8; but her chance of dying from it is 1 in 28. The largest risk for a woman to develop breast cancer is her age. Each year of a womans life increases her risk for breast cancer. A woman who started menstruating at a young age has an increased risk. Additional factors affecting a woman include: a history of breast cancer in her family, how old she was at the time of her first pregnancy and the possibility of mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Gene mutations can be tied to 310% of breast cancers, so a woman with breast cancer in her family lineage should undergo genetic testing as a precaution. By maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol consumption to no more than five drinks per week, a woman can lower her risk of developing breast cancer. It is believed a woman can also lower her risks if she bears her first child before the age of 30, breastfeeds the baby and avoids longterm hormone replacement. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. Using this drug for a period of five years has been shown to help reduce a womans risk of developing a tumor by 50%.

With early detection, a woman stands a greater chance of surviving and curing breast cancer. Selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms are a womans three best aids in early detection. {{{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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