Interesting Facts about Breast Cancer

Author:

Wendy Fewks

Without any doubt, cancer is still considered to be the worst among all the diseases. Though there are different types of cancer having their own levels of complexities, the word itself is sufficient to scare people. Millions of dollars are spent on research and development of drugs aimed at reducing the effects of cancer and finding a cure. But in order to prevent the disease to have life-threatening effects, early diagnosis is extremely beneficial. Effective treatment can be provided if all the known cancer types are discovered at an early stage. Due to the technological advancements in the field of medicine, there are medicines and procedures in place for treating patients who are in the early stages of cancer.

There are many women in this world who are affected with breast cancer. In this type of cancer, the breasts in women develop a tumor over a period of time and if not controlled, affect other parts of the body. There is another form of breast cancer where the tumor remains in its place of origin. The common breast cancer symptoms include increase in the shape and size of breasts, retraction of nipple, pain in breasts and abnormal discharge from nipples. Men are also prone to breast cancer, but they are very few in number as compared to women. The symptoms that are found in women are the same in case of men.

Self-examination can go a long way in determining the presence of lumps or mass around the breast. A hard lump in the breast is one of the most common symptoms of the disease that occurs in the early stage. A hard mass in the armpit can be a sign of the advancing of tumor. It is advisable for women to do self-examination of the breast periodically in order to detect the early symptoms of breast cancer. If any lumps are detected, the doctor can be consulted as soon as possible and this can avoid cancer from spreading. Older women must get mammography done once a year to detect the presence of any abnormal cells.

A biopsy reveals the presence of breast cancer in the patient and doctors determine the exact stage of the disease with the help of the report. Treatment is done according to the stage of the cancer, depending on whether or not it has spread to the other parts of the body. There are approximately four breast cancer stages and can be determined by different types of scans with the inclusion of blood test.

The main purpose behind any breast cancer treatment is to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease to other parts of the body. The patient\'s present medical condition determines the type of treatment provided by the doctor. The best way to remove the harmful cells in case of breast cancer responsible for the spread of the disease is surgery. Patients who get a part or the entire portion of breast removed can go for implants to get the breast in shape.

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About the Author

Maryann is the author of this article on Breast Cancer Symptoms. Find more information, about Breast Cancer here

Breast Cancer Type: Know The Sign And Treatment

Author:

alvis walter
The best treatment for breast cancer can be provided if the breast cancer type is known. Therefore knowing the different breast cancer types is important. After breast cancer diagnosis, the doctor may work to know the specifics of the tumor. The breast cancer type can be determined using a tissue sample from a breast biopsy or the tumor if surgery has been already performed. The treatment for breast cancer and breast cancer symptoms will depend on the type.
The following information is needed to determine breast cancer type:
Invasive or noninvasive cancer?
Knowing whether the cancer is invasive or noninvasive helps the doctor to determine if the cancer has spread further than the breast. The appropriate treatments and the risk for further development of cancer are also determined.
1. Noninvasive breast cancer: Noninvasive or in situ breast cancer refers to a type of cancer where the cells have remained within the place of origin and have not spread to tissues of the breast near the duct or lobule. The common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal cancer in situ. This cancer is confined to the lining of the milk ducts. The cells have not spread to the surrounding tissue of the breast.
2. Invasive breast cancer: Invasive breast cancers invade the surrounding tissues and spread outside the membrane that lines a duct or lobule. The caner cells thus travel to other regions of the body, including lymph nodes. A stage of I, II, III, or IV is indicative of invasive breast cancer.
Cancer began at which part of the breast?
The severity of breast cancer depends on the nature of tissue affected. It also indicates how the cancer will progress. The following are some areas where breast cancer develops:
1. Milk ducts: The most common form of Breast Cancer Type is ductal carcinoma. It affects the lining of the milk duct present within the breast. The ducts are the carriers of breast milk from the lobules to the nipple.
2. Milk-producing lobules: Lobular carcinoma originates in the breast lobules. This is the site of milk production. The lobules are connected to the ducts.
3. Connective tissues: Breast cancer rarely originates in the connective tissue that comprises of muscles, fats, and blood vessels. Cancer that develops in the connective tissue is known as sarcoma. Phyllodes tumor and angiosarcoma are two types of carcinomas that can develop in the breast.
What is the appearance of cancer cells?
The following factors are taken into consideration when a sample of the cancer is place under a microscope.
1. Cells with novel appearances: Invasive ductal carcinoma cells take on unique and novel appearances when viewed under a microscope.
2. Difference between cancer cells and normal ones: Cancer grade is decided based on the difference between cancer cells and normal ones. This will also affect breast cancer symptoms.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/breast-cancer-type-know-the-sign-and-treatment-2089585.html
About the Author
Alvis Walter is a cancer consultant and a guide for Breast Cancer Type . To know more information about Male Breast Cancer, Gamma Knife, malignant mesothelioma, breast cancer symptoms, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Rhabdomyosarcoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma visit www.cancery.com

Breast Cancer Types

Author:

Health News

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 15of all breast cancer types. This breast cancer type represents 5of 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.

The investigators found that reproductive risk factors varied considerably by breast cancer subtype. Their analysis included 1,023 women with breast cancer whose cells express the estrogen and progesterone receptors (called luminal cancers), 39 women with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, and 78 triple-negative cases (no expression of estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 receptors). The study also included 1,476 women without breast cancer. ? They added that additional studies on the causes of breast cancer subtypes are needed to better understand the biology of the disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information. The study?s results suggest that there are distinct and separate hormonal risk factors associated with different subtypes of breast cancer. Women with what is referred to as "triple-negative" breast cancer are more likely than other women with breast cancer to experience a relapse, a new study by Canadian researchers shows. Despite having a high risk of early recurrence, the study indicates that triple-negative breast cancer patients who remain disease-free for eight years are unlikely to die of breast cancer and may be "cured" of their disease.

Breast Feeding Will Lowers Risk Of Breast Cancer

Breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was associated with a lower risk of luminal cancer as well as triple-negative cancer, a type that can be particularly aggressive and difficult to treat. Understanding the specific type of breast cancer can help you ask better questions and work with your physicians to get the best breast cancer treatments. For more information on the types and stages of breast cancer, watch Beyond the Shock®. Medullary carcinoma accounts for 15of all breast cancer types. Infiltrating lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that usually appears as a subtle thickening in the upper-outer quadrant of the breast. Making up about 2of all breast cancer diagnosis, tubular carcinoma cells have a distinctive tubular structure when viewed under a microscope. Typically this type of breast cancer is found in women aged 50 and above. Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and very aggressive type of breast cancer that causes the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast to become blocked.

Breast Cancer Risk

The study\'s results suggest that there are distinct and separate hormonal risk factors associated with different subtypes of breast cancer. Amanda Phipps, a predoctoral research associate at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and her colleagues conducted a study to better understand the specific risk factors for the subtypes of breast cancer, which are classified by expression of the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the HER2 receptor. The investigators found that reproductive risk factors varied considerably by breast cancer subtype. Breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was associated with a lower risk of luminal cancer as well as triple-negative cancer, a type that can be particularly aggressive and difficult to treat. Both late age at menopause and use of estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy were associated with an increased risk of luminal disease. Finally, no differences in risks associated with number of children or the age when a woman first gave birth were observed by subtype. The study authors concluded that their results indicate that "certain reproductive factors may have a greater impact on risk of certain molecular subtypes of disease compared to others. Despite having a high risk of early recurrence, the study indicates that triple-negative breast cancer patients who remain disease-free for eight years are unlikely to die of breast cancer and may be "cured" of their disease. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and changes in the signaling of growth hormones and steroid hormones associated with diabetes may affect the risk of breast cancer. Despite many proposed potential pathways, the mechanisms underlying an association between diabetes and breast cancer risk remain unclear, particularly because the 2 diseases share several risk factors, including obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and possibly intake of saturated fat and refined carbohydrates, that may confound this association. Although the metabolic syndrome is closely related to diabetes and embraces additional components that might influence breast cancer risk, the role of the metabolic syndrome in breast carcinogenesis has not been studied and thus remains unknown.

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