Early detection is so far the best defense against breast cancer attack. The reason is not far-fetched as early detection enhances timely treatment of infection. This can be done through regular breast examination.

These days, a lot of information are found in different publications on breast self examination. Women are advised to make use of information from health care professional This notwithstanding, the following guidelines are in agreement with the American Cancer Society’s recommendations.

1. By getting a mammogram done annually if you are over 40 years of age.

2. Through proper annual clinical breast examination (CBE) by a health care professional if you are over 40 years of age – preferably around the time that you receive your mammogram.

3. By having a CBE done once every three years if you are 20 to 39 years of age.

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Using known risk factors for breast cancer, mathematical models can be developed to help answer important questions. These mathematical models are useful tools for researchers and for patients as follows:

• 1. Research on risk factors – The Claus risk assessment model was used to discover the subpopulation of people who had an autosomal dominant genetic allele that increased their risk from 10% to 92%. This led to the discovery of the BRCA genes associated with breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
• 2. Clinical trial eligibility – The Gail risk assessment model was developed to help researchers determine who to enroll in the NSAPB Breast Cancer Prevention Trials

where chemoprevention was shown to reduce breast cancer risk. (more…)

Determining the breast cancer stages is important since it enables the patient and doctor to identify the treatment necessary for one’s condition. Also, it is essential in assessing the risk of the given condition and what lifestyle changes the patient can do to improve their health.

Identifying A Breast Cancer’s Stage

When talking about breast cancer stages, it is aimed at describing the extent of the cancer in the body. So, if you ask how a breast cancer is staged, doctors often start to classify whether it is invasive or non-invasive. Other factors considered are the tumor size, number of nymph modes involved, and what other parts of the body it has managed to affect.

Determining a cancer’s stage is helpful during prognosis and deciding on a treatment option.

To determine the stage, a few standard procedures are done by the doctor on a patient. They undergo physical exam and biopsy to acquire the data needed by the doctor for the diagnosis.

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. In 2008, approximately 184,450 patients were estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an estimated 40,930 were estimated to die of this disease. Furthermore, over 50,000 female carcinoma in situ breast cases would have been diagnosed. The etiology of breast cancer is poorly understood with multiple genetic and environmental factors involved in the initiation and progression of cancer.

Scandinavian Twin Study: For years, there has been a hot debate as to whether the cause of breast cancer is genetic or environmental. Then in 2000, Lichtenstein and his colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden published their study of 44,788 pairs of twins from the Swedish, Danish, and Finnish twin registries. In this study, they looked at cancer risk with 28 different types of cancers and did statistical modeling of genetic and hereditary contributions in eleven different cancer types. (more…)

Overview

When a group of cells display uninhibited growth, which refers to division beyond the normal limits, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as cancer. Other characteristics include an attack and destruction of surrounding tissues, and the spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood, which is known as metastasis.

These malignant, which refers to a severe and progressively worsening disease, properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited and do not invade or metastasise.

A tumor refers to a swelling or lesion formed by an unusually high growth of cells and occurs with most cancers. However, some, like leukemia, do not produce tumors.

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Breast cancer type

Breast cancer type is categorized by whether it begins in the ducts or lobules, the organs responsible for breast milk production. Medullary carcinoma accounts for 15% of all breast cancer types. This breast cancer type represents 5% of all diagnosis. IPR015525 Breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein Header EBIDatabasesInterPro Search Open in usermanual InterPro: ” /> Jump to: InterProScan Databases Documentation FTP site Help Click on the icon for context sensitive help from the user manual. The breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein (BRCA2) is a breast tumour suppressor with a potential function in the cellular response to DNA damage. Some breast cancer types express one or more of these proteins on their cell surface, while others express none. Media Relations Contacts Online Press Kit Rumors, Myths, and Truths Glossary About the American Cancer Society Breastfeeding, Other Factors May Affect Risk of Breast Cancer TypeAtlanta 2008/08/25 -Factors such as age at menopause as well as a woman?s breastfeeding practices can influence her risk of developing certain types of breast cancer.

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Breast cancer treatment is usually a multi-pronged approach. The most common breast cancer treatment plan, in this order, involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. But there are many different types of breast cancer, so there are many variations in treatment. Also, the stage of breast cancer (0 through IV) will determine which treatments are best.

Surgery

Surgery is often the first step in breast cancer treatment. Removal of the lump and the cancerous tissue is imperative in most cases to keep the cancer from spreading any further. Depending on the stage (which is judged by the size and the spread of the disease) a woman with breast cancer may have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy.

A mastectomy is removal of the entire breast, where a lumpectomy saves the majority of breast tissue but removes only the lump itself and the very nearby affected breast tissue. A doctor will recommend which is the safest course of action for each type of cancer. (more…)

Despite progress of medical science, breast cancer continues its destructive effects in all social class, poor and rich, black and white. It is estimated that breast cancer will affects one woman in eight will develop cancer during their lifetime. With around 42 000 new cases each year, this disease is a real trouble in the feminine world; cancer is the most feared disease in the 21st century. However, if curing breast cancer is hypothetic, its prevention can be different; there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of its development or its reoccurrence (if you are already a victim):

Avoid Hormone therapy for menopause symptoms – menopause itself is not a disease, it is a natural hormonal change in your body that often occurs after age 45; but some hormonal treatment against the symptoms of menopause can have serious effects on your health. Long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may lead to breast cancer. According to WHO (world Health Organization), MHT is a risk factor for breast cancer especially when taken for more than 5 years. In addition, Studies show that hormone therapy can also increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Practice Prolonged Breastfeeding - it can sound old fashion, but studies have showed that prolonged breastfeeding reduces considerably the risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding provides many benefits in the physical and mental development of the infant. By breastfeeding you increase the chance of your infant to be healthy, and decrease your risk of developing breast cancer. It’s not archaic to breastfeed; if times have changed, the causes leading to breast cancer remain the same, reduce your risk of breast cancer by breastfeeding your child.

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