Breast Cancer Information

Breast Cancer for Beginners


Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.

Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor.

Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.

Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.

Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.

Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.

Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.

Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that.

Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.

Suresh gupta writes about breast cancer topics.


MORE RESOURCES:

Family, faith, friendships strengthened as wife battles breast cancer
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 4 hours ago
After a whirlwind of doctors’ appointments our worst fears were confirmed: Margie was diagnosed with breast cancer. We agreed to the traditional treatment: ...
Video: 'Don't Delay Cancer Treatment' CBS
Importance of Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer WLNS
High Tech Breast Cancer Treatment Comes to the First Coast First Coast News
all 4 news articles


UI shooting survivor dies of breast cancer
Chicago Tribune, United States - 13 hours ago
AP IOWA CITY, Iowa - Miya Rodolfo-Sioson (SEE'-o-sohn), the only survivor of a shooting rampage at the University of Iowa in 1991, has died of breast cancer ...


Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Announces Recipients of 2008 Komen ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
Brinker Award is highest award of merit from the nation's leading breast cancer advocacy organization. DALLAS, Dec 04, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Two ...
IPA Supports Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation PR.com (press release)
all 8 news articles


European origin may up Latinas' breast cancer risk
Reuters India, India - 7 hours ago
Latina women generally have a lower risk of breast cancer compared with European, African-American or non-Latina white women do, according to the report, ...
Threat to breast cancer testing after controversial patent ruling Independent
European Ancestry May Raise Breast Cancer Risk in US Latinas Cancerpage.com
all 7 news articles


NECN

Mammogram still breast cancer screening test of choice
NECN, MA - 11 hours ago
(NECN) - People are pretty familiar with breast imaging radiology, the technology and mammograms used to detect breast cancer early, but there is some new ...


More high-risk women pre-empt breast cancer, become 'previvors'
Lex 18, KY - 11 hours ago
By the time she found the third lump, she was 25 and had watched her grandmother die of breast cancer (after being diagnosed at 55) and her mother endure ...


Health Newstrack

New Mammography Technology Effective In Detecting Breast Cancer
Science Daily (press release) - Dec 2, 2008
The ability of x-ray mammography, a standard screening tool for breast cancer, to detect lesions is reduced when performed on dense breasts, where tissue is ...
RSNA Releases Findings on New Technologies and Therapy for Breast ... DOTmed.com (press release)
New Breast Cancer Scan Cuts False Alarms WebMD
RSNA: New Techniques Improve Breast Cancer Diagnoses Breast ... Drug Topics Magazine
U.S. News & World Report - MarketWatch
all 66 news articles


HER2 may be key in treating metastatic breast cancer
Cancerfacts.com, WA - 18 hours ago
3, 2008 – Women with HER2-positive breast cancer benefit from lapatinib (TYKERB®), while women with HER2-negative breast cancer gain no incremental benefit, ...
Cardiff research finds Tamoxifen can stimulate cancer WalesOnline
all 7 news articles


Ramona teams top $111000 for breast cancer cure
Ramona Sentinel, CA - 4 hours ago
By Julie Njaa Fifty-two women representing Ramona walked 60 miles as part of the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure from Nov. ...


Family History of Breast Cancer Increases Risk Regardless of BRCA ...
Cancer Consultants, ID - 9 hours ago
Women with a significant family history of breast cancer but no BRCA mutation are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the general ...

Breast-Cancer - Google News

home | index |site map
© 2006