Facts You Should Know About Breast Cancer
By Phillip Dye
Though men are not immune, cancer that strikes the breast is commonly a concern of women. Between the chest wall and skin lies a collection of fatty tissues and glands which compose the breast. After the birth of a baby, these glands in a womans breast produce milk to nourish the infant. 1520 lobes compose each gland. The milk is transferred to the nipple through tubes, called ducts. As milk is produced and fills the breast, the glands and ducts enlarge. The main factor determining the size and shape of the breast is fatty tissue. Occasionally tumors may form in the breast and should be checked to see if they are cancerous.
Malignant (cancerous) tumors are created when abnormal cells begin to reproduce at a rate much faster than normal.A benign (noncancerous) tumor is not capable of spreading through the body. Malignant (cancerous) tumors are those that are capable of spreading throughout the body. Breast cancer is diagnosed when malignant (cancerous) tumors are found in the breast. Breast cancers normally begin in the ducts or glands; but they are capable of developing in other regions of the breast.For North American and European women, cancer of the breast is the most common form of cancer. Each year, more than 200,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed. Breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer for American women, with lung cancer being first.
Though dangerous, breast cancer does not have to be deadly. Women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer, but a 1 in 28 chance of dying from it. A womans great risk factor for breast cancer is her age. Each year of a womans life increases her risk for breast cancer. A womans risk also increases if her first menstrual cycle occurred at a younger than normal age. In addition, other factors to consider are whether or not there is a presence of breast cancer in the womans family; how old she was at the time of her first pregnancy and the possibility of mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. 310% of breast cancers are related to gene mutations, so if a woman knows there is breast cancer in her family, she is advised to undergo genetic testing as a precaution. A woman can help reduce her risk of breast cancer if she will maintain a healthy weight, limit her alcohol consumption to no more than five drinks per week and exercise regularly. Other ways a woman might help protect herself from breast cancer is to have her first child before the age of 30, breastfeed the baby for at least six weeks, and avoid prolonged use of hormone replacement when she reaches menopause. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. By using this drug for a period of five years, it has been shown a woman stands a chance of reducing her risk of developing a tumor by 50%.
A woman is offered a greater chance to survive breast cancer with early detection. 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
About the author
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