Because Breast Cancer Affects You



Breast cancer in women

Facts
The emotional trauma of cancer in women highlights the importance of breast cancer awareness than it really is. Unknown to many, breast cancer is a single disease but a group of diseases that originates in the lobules and ducts of the female breast. According to the study of the American Cancer Society in 2007, breast cancer ranks alongside cancer-melanoma skin not the most common cancer in women. In 2006, another important ACS said the number of new cases of breast cancer have decreased significantly compared to the levels in 2002 and 2003. For cancers that have spread to the surrounding tissues, the survival rate of four-twenty-three percent. However, those who stage breast cancer later, a rate of only twenty percent of survival. Overall, the survival rate for all stages of breast cancer is eighty percent for a period of five and eighty percent for ten years.

Screening
Today, cancer screening has become an integral part of the comprehensive approach to preventing disease suffered by women. There are several ways in which breast cancer screening. This includes monthly self examination of breasts, physician performed clinical breast examination and mammography. When a mass or lump on hold during these tests, a biopsy is performed to analyze the seeds for the presence of cancerous cells. Breast cancer biopsy may be done using fine needle aspiration, large database of needle or surgical dissection.
The combination of all these tests, the doctor gives an idea on how the cancer may respond to treatment. This also helps a doctor predict the life expectancy of a patient.


Treatment
Cancer Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor or the entire breast. Sparring mastectomy and breast surgery are two ways to accomplish removal of the tumor. During these procedures, a lymph node or complete sentinel node is also done to check if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Depending on the stage of cancer, procedures such as radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy may be made to fully liberate the body of cancer cells. Breast Cancer Chemotherapy follows the same principle, but in a greater extent. Hormone therapy, in turn, is used in cases where cancer cells are Estrogen Receptor-positive. The drugs are used to cut off the supply of estrogen or progesterone to cancer cells to stop their growth and spread to other parts of the body.

Breast Cancer Staging
As mentioned earlier determines the type of treatment required for a particular case of cancer. The cancer is usually divided into five phases. Phase 1 occurs when the cancer has formed a mass of less than 2 cm. At this stage, the cancer has not to affect the nearby lymph nodes. Step 2 is where the cancer is about 2-5 centimeters and has not affected the axillary lymph nodes. Phase 3 is when the cancer has affected the lymph nodes in the armpits and measures more than 5 cm.

Risk factors and symptoms
Do note that the hormone estrogen plays a key role in cancer development. Some breast cancer cells have estrogen receptors that facilitate their growth and progression. Even if a woman is already in the menopause, the other parts of the androgenic hormone product body which is converted to fat deposits and finally estrogen. This is the main reason why women with more fat are at higher risk of breast cancer.

More than ever, the methods of the new and improved treatment of breast cancer have helped more women fight against the disease and live longer, more meaningful life. However, sometimes, the cancer may recur even with removal of the tumor and lymph nodes affected. This is why breast cancer survivors are usually advised to continue to have regular appointments with your doctor.
A patient may suffer complications or side effects caused by treatment. Radiation therapy, for example, can cause temporary pain, pain and swelling of the chest area. If you notice a lump in the breast or armpit, if you are over forty years and have not had a mammogram in the preceding year if you are over thirty-five years, a report once that had an ovary breast cancer or colon, and finally, if you are unsure about your health and want to learn how to perform breast self-examination.
In closing, your best ally against breast cancer is yourself. Awareness of breast cancer risk factors and signs and symptoms is your best prevention against this unwanted disease.

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