Breast Cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, although it can strike men as well, and it is the second most common cancer to cause death in women.
Breast Cancer is a compilation of a variety of cancers that occur within the breasts. Each different breast cancer type will generally be categorized by two main factors - 1) Location of the cancer cells 2) Is the cancer spreading or going to spread?
It is also important to note that Breast Cancer that occurs in the milk ducts of the breast is called ductal carcinoma [DUK-tal kar-sin-OE-ma], and the breast cancer that forms in the lobules where breast milk is made is called lobular carcinoma [LOB-u-lar kar-sin-OE-ma]. The "Carcinomas" that do not spread outside of the duct or lobule are called in situ [in SY-too] cancers, which mean "in place." If ductal or lobular carcinoma spreads into nearby tissue, it is said to be invasive.
Another common condition that is important to mention here is Inflammatory Breast Cancer which is a type of breast cancer that involves the skin of the breast. This type of cancer comprises less than 4% of all breast cancers diagnosed each year in the US. The physical symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include redness of the skin of the breast and a general swelling of the breast. In some cases, a lump may be present.
It is important to know the core important signs and symptoms of breast cancer, recognizing these indicators early on may help save your life. early detection enables you to take advantage of more treatment options and a better chance elimination of the underlying factors that may be playing a role in the development of any detected cancer.
Most breast lumps aren't cancerous. Yet the most common sign of breast cancer for both men and women is a lump or thickening in the breast. , the lump is painless. The breast cancer usually shows no signs of pain, and in fact may cause no symptoms at all.
There are some warning signs and symptoms to be aware of:
- Changes in the contour of the breast, including flattening or indentation.
- Redness and pitting of the skin.
- Discharge in the form of clear or bloody liquid from the nipple.
- The nipple retracting or indentations.
- Lumps in the breasts.
The breast can change in size or feel, this does not always mean it is cancer, but should be checked by a physician and a mammogram, even if a recent mammogram was normal. This can also because by other conditions including fibrocycstic changes, fibroadenomas, infection and cysts.
There are several different types of Breast Cancer:
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Lobular carcinoma
- Ductal carcinoma
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is one of the more rare forms of cancer and is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. The symptoms of this type of cancer are that it develops quickly, the breast will appear read, swollen and tender.
This is termed an advanced type of cancer, because it moves quickly and can spread to surrounding tissue and possibly to the lymph nodes. The early warning signs may not be present in this form of cancer, because it often is not until tumor cells block the lymphatic vessels. Fluid then backs up and the breast will swell and become discolored.
These signs can also be a breast infection and if it is inflammatory breast cancer antibiotics will not lessen the symptoms.
Invasive lobular carcinoma is a cancer that makes up approximately 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancers and approximately 20,000 women are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year. This type of cancer begins in the milk producing glands and is less likely to show up on mammograms.
Lobular carcinoma is often found in women that are premenopasual and having biopsies done for another reason, usually a breast lump and it does not show up in mammograms. This is cancer in the lobules located at the end of the breast ducts.
Many physicians do not recognize this type of cancer as cancer, instead it is thought of as abnormal tissue. While not thought of as cancer, it increases the risk of invasive breast cancer by approximately 7 times.
Ductual carcinoma is a growth in the milk duct and forms from abnormal cells that multiply. This is considered a noninvasive form of cancer, as it has not spread out of the milk ducts. This type of cancer can be found on some mammograms and is not considered cancer, but a marker for an increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Please read the Primary Risk Factors, warnings and alerts page - Click Here.
Obviously women develop breast cancer more than men, having more breast cells than men, women are constantly being exposed to the growth-promoting effects of the female hormones Estrogen and progesterone. Men do actually develop breast cancer, but it is 100 times more common in women than in men.
Family history
A woman’s chances of breast cancer are higher if other woman in the family, such as a mother or sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer prior to age 40.
History
A person's history of breast cancer; someone that has had breast cancer in one breast. Abnormal cells in the breast that is atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma increase the chance of breast cancer.
Age
The chance of breast cancer increases as women at and can occur in women over 60 years of age, while it is not as common for women to be diagnosed with breast cancer prior to menopause.
It is well documented by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that age is the number 1 factor in incidence rates. Incidence rates increase dramatically with age as age plays the key factor that should not be ignored in women 50 or older. It is also well documented that certain reproductive stages, and a woman's age at which they happen, are contingent factors of subsequent breast cancer risk. Approxiametly 17% of invasive breast cancer diagnosis are of women in their 40's, and 78% in those women over 50.
More fresh statistics on women who have never given birth or have had their first child after age 30 is indicating increased odds of cancer development. An early onset of menstuation is posing as a growing factor that needs attention. Similarily, late menopause after the age of 55 seems to be a growing trend. Equally subjective as men, a woman's breast tissue is easily vulnerable to radiation exposure.
Genetics
Additional Breast Cancer elements that play a prominent development role is your gentics factor which dictates your predisposition to cancerous cells. Quite commonly this does not specifically mean that just because you have a genetic predisposition to cancer that you will get cancer. However, without addressing the key factors that add to the conditions where cancer can proliferate and grow - if you have previously had and survived cancer, the odds of development in the remaining breast tissue rises.
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens.
When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. These free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function and divide normally.
Diet
|
