In 1999, over 175,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer(one every 3 minutes), and 43,000 died (one every 12 minutes). Additionally, 1,300 men were diagnosed with male breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all ages. It is the leading cause of death, from all causes, of women between the ages of 35 and 54.
A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors such as smoking can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family history, can't be changed. All women are at risk for breast cancer.
Breast cancer, like all cancers, originates from abnormal cells. These cells do not follow the regular life pattern of normal cells and as a result become out-of-control.
When a normal cell reproduces, it divides into two daughter cells just like itself. Through time, the "mother" cell eventually dies and the daughter cells reproduce, and eventually also die.
The problem begins when the number of cells being reproduced outnumbers those cells that are dying, causing an overpopulation of cells, called neoplasia. These clustered cells form a tumor which can either be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancerous and do not grow and spread the way cancer does. They can usually be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells from the tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body. There they can continue to grow. This spreading process is called metastasis.
There are more than 100 different varieties of cancer, which can be divided into six major categories. Carcinomas, the most common type of cancer, originate in tissues that cover a surface or line a cavity of the body. Sarcomas begin in tissue that connects, supports or surrounds other tissues and organs. Lymphomas are cancers of the lymph system, the circulatory system that bathes and cleanses the body's cells. Leukemia involves blood-forming tissues and blood cells. As their name indicates, brain tumors are cancers that begin in the brain, and skin cancers, including dangerous melanomas, originate in the skin. Cancers are considered metastatic if they spread via the blood orlymphatic system to other parts of the body to form secondary tumors.
Most kinds of cancers are named after the part of the body where the cancer first starts. For example, breast cancer begins in the breast tissue.
Breast cancer can be diagnosed by a variety of procedures, but a physician prescribes the method that is just right for each individual.Although professional examinations are necessary for a complete diagnosis, a self breast examination is also essential for breast cancer detection.By being familiar with your body, you can detect any changes and abnormalities. If you find any changes report them immediately to your physician.
