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Breast Cancer in Laymens Terms

Mostly a concern of women, but also some men, breast cancer, as the name implies, strikes the breast. Between the chest wall and skin lies a collection of fatty tissues and glands which compose the breast. These glands within a womans breast begin to produce milk after the birth of a baby.These glands are composed of somewhere between 1520 lobes each. Special ducts (tubelike structures) serve to transfer the milk from the glands to the nipple. As the breast fills with milk, both the ducts and glands enlarge. The fatty tissue within the breast is the key component in determining size and shape. Tumors, which can sometimes grow in the breast, have the potential of being 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. Cancerous tumors are also referred to as malignant and capable of spreading throughout the body. When a patient is given a diagnosis of breast cancer, it means a malignant tumor has been found. Breast cancers normally begin in the ducts or glands; but they are capable of developing in other regions of the breast. The most common form of cancer diagnosed in the women of Europe and North America is breast cancer. Each year, the number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed exceeds 200,000. The most deadly form of cancer for American women is lung cancer, with breast cancer running a close second.

Keep in mind, just because breast cancer is serious, there are many who survive it. The chance of a woman developing breast cancer is 1 in 8; but her chance of dying from it is 1 in 28. A womans great risk factor for breast cancer is her age. A womans risk for breast cancer increases through the years. A woman who started menstruating at a young age has an increased risk. Other factors to consider regarding a womans risk include: the possibility of mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, did anyone in the womans family history develop breast cancer and how old was she at the time of her first pregnancy? 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. Exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight will help a woman reduce her risk of breast cancer. It is believed a woman can also lower her risks if she bears her first child before the age of 30, breastfeeds the baby and avoids longterm hormone replacement. On a final note, if a woman is at high risk of developing breast cancer, she should consider discussing the use of a drug called Tamoxifen with her doctor. Women who use this drug over a period of five years have been shown to reduce their risk of developing a tumor by 50%.

A woman is offered a greater chance to survive breast cancer with early detection. Chances of early detection are greatly increased through the use of selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms. {{{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

Article Source: http://articleaddict.com

Check out ecanceranswer.net for all kinds of Cancer information from Cancer Treatment to ecanceranswers.net/cancer_risk_factors.php">Cancer Risks Factors and ecanceranswers.net/treatment_and_diagnosis.php">Cancer Diagnosis.

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