Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Throughout her life, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast tissue, which can occur in both women and men. Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancerous tumors in humans. Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer). Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any other type of cancer except lung cancer. Today, breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be the result of DNA damage. The way in which this mechanism can occur stems from several known or hypothesized factors (such as exposure to ionizing radiation or viral mutagenesis). Some factors lead to an increased mutation rate (estrogen exposure) and a decrease in repair genes (the BRCA1, BRCA2, and p53 genes). Alcohol generally seems to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Breast cancer can also occur in men, although it rarely occurs. Experts predict that 178,000 women and 2,000 men will develop breast cancer in the United States. There are several different types of breast cancer. First, ductal carcinoma begins in the cells that line the ducts that carry milk to the nipple and accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. Second, lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-secreting glands of the breast, but is otherwise quite similar in behavior to ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast cancer can arise from the skin, fat, connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast. Some women have what is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, is a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds up.
Causes of breast cancer
The simple fact of being a woman is the main risk of breast cancer. While men can also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. The chance of getting breast cancer increases as a woman ages. Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found in women age 50 and older. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are related to changes (mutations) in certain genes. The most common genetic changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The risk of breast cancer is higher among women whose close blood relatives have the disease. Relatives may be on the mother’s or father’s side of the family. A woman with cancer in one breast has a higher chance of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from the return of the first cancer. Many experts now believe that the main reason for this is that they have faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of breast cancer. Certain types of abnormal biopsy results may be linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Women who have received radiation therapy to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a much increased risk of breast cancer.
Some pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to decrease the chance of miscarriage. Recent studies have shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in utero) have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Alcohol consumption is clearly associated with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Women who drink 1 drink a day have a very small risk. Those who drink 2 to 5 drinks a day have about 1½ times the risk of alcohol consumption compared to women who do not drink alcohol. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting how much you drink Being overweight is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, especially for women after life change and if the weight gain occurred during adulthood. Also, the risk appears to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. Breastfeeding and pregnancy: Some studies have shown that breastfeeding slightly reduces the risk of breast cancer, especially if breastfeeding lasts 1.5 to 2 years. This could be because breastfeeding reduces a woman’s total number of menstrual periods, just like pregnancy. Women who started having periods early (before age 12) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after age 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
Symptoms of breast cancer
1.Lumpy.
2. Rash.
3. Breast Bread.
4. Cysts.
5. Discharge from the nipple.
6. Inverted nipple.
Breast cancer treatment
1. Hormone therapy (with tamoxifen).
2. Chemotherapy.
3.Radiotherapy.
4. Surgery.
