How Dangerous Is Breast Cancer

How dangerous is breast cancer? Well, breast cancer is really dangerous but there are now lots of treatments available. You’re free to choose between conventional treatments and alternative treatments. Through accurate diagnosis, the doctor can provide you with the proper treatment plan that can cure your cancer.

If you were diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago, it would have been a hopeless case. Thanks to the developments in the medical industry, the cancer treatments today are very effective and the survival rates are also high.

Most cancer patients are women but there are also men who develop the disease. In the US alone, more than 200,000 people are diagnosed breast cancer. Breast cancer is also the leading cause of deaths among women and it is also the highest so far as compared to other types of cancer. Women who are already in their menopause stage are prone to breast cancer; not only that, women taking HRTs and pills are also susceptible to the disease. Excessive alcohol intake and being overweight can also lead to cancer. Certain genes cause breast cancer and if one of these genes is present in your family, you’re at high risk.

When you have breast cancer, the tissues in your breast are already cancerous. It usually appears like a lump or tumor in the breast area. Not all lumps in the breast area are cancerous because some of them are just normal lumps but you need to be sure.

Some of the symptoms of breast cancer are swelling or lump in the breast, increased breast size, change in color or dimpling of the skin, and unusual nipple discharge. In order to cure breast cancer, early detection is vital. When the cancer has reached the advanced stage or Stage 4, it will be a bit difficult to treat.

There are different ways to detect breast cancer. Every year, you can undergo a medical exam conducted by a doctor. Women over 40 years can undergo mammogram or ultrasound. Doctors usually employ biopsy to determine if the lump or mass is cancerous. Some individuals also conduct BSE wherein they examine their breasts for any abnormality.

Some of the treatments available for treating breast cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, and radiation therapy. If you find these treatments quite costly, you can opt for alternative treatments like natural medicines and homeopathy.

Since breast cancer is considered a dangerous disease, prevention is the key to stop its development. Some of the treatments can damage the body and so the patients often feel exhausted and stressed. For those who want to feel relaxed instead of tired, they can undergo a massage therapy or any other alternative treatment. Prevention is still better than cure and this applies to all kinds of health problem. If breast cancer runs in your genes and if you’re already aging, you need to be more aware if there are any changes in your breasts. Keep in mind that breast cancer does not discriminate.

So what are you waiting for? Have your breasts examined if you’re suspicious of any lump or mass in your breast. How dangerous is breast cancer? It can cause you your life so don’t take it lightly. Many people die of breast cancer and if you don’t want to end up like them, examine your breast area regularly.
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Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about women's issues, parenting and other health related stuffs. Click on the link to learn more about How Dangerous is Breast Cancer...

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Age And Physical Risk Factors In Breast Cancer

Age is likely the most important overall factor associated with breast cancer risk. Breast cancer risk increases in the older post-menopausal population. For this reason, all breast cancer screening recommendations are based primarily on age. Obesity, however, may be the single most preventable risk factor associated with breast cancer. With the dramatic increase in obesity in the U.S., this may be the number one reason for a persistently high incidence in breast cancer. Other physical factors also play some roles in breast cancer risk. These include height, body shape, breast size, and mammographic density. These physical factors are summarized below.

Body Weight and Breast Cancer: A woman's body weight does affect her risk of breast cancer but the effect is different for premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer. Most studies have found that heavier women (weighing more than 175 pounds) have a lower risk of breast cancer before menopause and higher risk of breast cancer after menopause, compared to thinner women (weighing less than 130 pounds). Since 80% of breast cancers occur after menopause, the negative effects of obesity far outweigh the beneficial effects. The results are the same whether body weight is examined directly or if body mass index is used to adjust for the effects of height on body weight.

Body Shape and Breast Cancer: Several human studies have found that women who carry more of their body fat on their stomach (apple shaped) have higher rates of postmenopausal breast cancer compared to women with more of their body fat around their hips (pear shaped). This seems to be true regardless of women's body weight. The relationship of the location of fat on the body and premenopausal breast cancer risk has not been clearly determined

Height and Breast Cancer: A woman's height has been associated with breast cancer risk in many studies. Taller women (5' 9" or taller) have a small increase in risk of both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer compared to shorter women (5' 3" or shorter). A person's height is determined by the interaction of genetics and nutrition. How height might affect breast cancer risk is unclear.

Breast Size and Breast Cancer: There is a popular belief that small breasts are at lower risk of breast cancer. This theory has been used to explain why women with breast implants have a smaller risk of breast cancer. However, most studies have found no association between breast size and breast cancer risk. One study, however, did find an increase in the risk of breast cancer among lean women with larger breasts. In this study, more than 4,000 women were grouped according to their bra size before childbirth. Women who were lean (chest size less than 34 inches) and had larger breasts (size B, C or larger cups) were at higher risk of post menopausal breast cancer relative to women of the same chest size with an A or smaller cup size. Women with other chest sizes had no association between breast cup size and breast cancer risk. More studies are needed to confirm these results

Mammographic density: Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that breast density as measured on mammograms is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer associated with the highest category of density has been estimated to be much greater than in the lowest density category. Mammographic density appears to be predictive for developing invasive cancer after DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). Increasing density is associated with increasing breast cancer risk in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, with the effect persisting for ten years after mammography. Mammographic density has also been shown to be a risk factor for breast cancer in women with a family history of the disease. Mammographic density is probably important even in patients who are BRCA gene positive. In fact, mammographic density may actually have a substantial heritable component.

Dr. Mai Brooks is a surgical oncologist/general surgeon, with expertise in early detection and prevention of cancer. More at www.drbrooksmd.com, thecancerexperience.wordpress.com and progressreportoncancer.wordpress.com.

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The Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer that is clinically negative for expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) and HER2 protein. It is typified by its unique molecular profile, aggressive behavior, distinct patterns of metastasis, and lack of targeted therapies.

It is known that breast cancer is not one appearance of cancer, but lots of various "subtypes" of cancer. Its subtypes are in general diagnosed based upon the presence, or lack of, three "receptors" known to fuel most breast cancers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal development factor receptor 2 (HER2). The most successful treatments for breast cancer target these receptors.

Unluckily, none of these receptors are discovered in women with triple negative breast cancer. In other words, its diagnosis indicates that the offending tumor is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative and HER2-negative, therefore giving rise to the name "triple negative breast cancer."

It is simply in the last few years that professionals investigating breast cancer have concluded that it is not one disease, but lots of various forms of cancer all creating in the breast. Depending on its stage of diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer could be very aggressive and more probable to return and metastasize than other subtypes of it.
After surgery to get rid of the cancer, chemotherapy is the best option of treatment to undertake and stop triple negative breast cancer returning.

Some usually employed breast cancer treatments like hormone therapy or Herceptin don’t run for triple negative breast cancer. These treatments require attaching to certain receptors. Its cells do not have the right receptors.

The major chemotherapy treatment for triple negative breast cancer is typically a mixture of chemotherapy drugs. The mixture should consist of a type of chemotherapy drug called an anthracycline (doxorubicin or epirubicin).

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How to Treat Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a principally aggressive kind of breast cancer that could happen in women of any age (and, even though very uncommonly, in men). It is unique since it frequently does not present with a lump and hence frequently is not detected by mammography or ultrasound.

Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon but aggressive type of breast cancer that grows speedily, making the affected breast red, swollen and tender. It's a locally advanced cancer, signifying it has extended from its point of origin to close by tissue and perhaps to nearby lymph nodes.

The early signs of more- usual appearances of breast cancer — a breast lump or suspicious part on a routine, screening mammogram — are frequently absent in inflammatory breast cancer. In its place, the breast might come out normal until tumor cells invade and block lymphatic vessels in the overlying skin. Fluid backs up, and the breast swells and becomes discolored.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) leads to alterations in the nipple and the neighboring parts. Invasion of the local lymphatic ducts impairs drainage and leads to edematous swelling of the breast. Since the skin of the breast is tethered by the suspensory ligament of Cooper, the buildup of fluid causes the skin of the breast to assume a dimpled form reminiscent of the peel of an orange. Other symptoms contain rapid increase in breast size, redness, persistent itching, skin hot to the touch. IBC frequently at first looks like mastitis, and is sometimes misdiagnosed as an insect bite.

We have been taught and are reminded often by public service announcements and by the medical community that when a woman finds out a lump on her breast she ought to go to the doctor right away. Inflammatory breast cancer typically develops in nests or sheets, more willingly than as a confined, solid tumor and thus could be diffuse all through the breast without palpable mass.

A number of women who suffer inflammatory breast cancer might stay undiagnosed for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to study the cause of her symptoms. The symptoms are close to mastitis, a breast infection and a number of doctors, not recognizing IBC, will set down antibiotics. If a reaction to antibiotics is not obvious subsequent to a week, a biopsy ought to be done or a referral to a breast specialist is necessary.

Inflammatory breast cancer could extend more rapidly than other kinds of breast cancer; consequently treatment will frequently be begun immediately. You are probable to be presented a mixture of various treatments that treat both the body as an entirety (systemic treatment), and the breast area separately (local treatment).

Treatment frequently consists of a mixture of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and also surgery. For the majority types of breast cancer, surgery is typically the first treatment. However, with inflammatory breast cancer, chemotherapy is typically given first. Giving chemotherapy before surgery is known as neo-adjuvant treatment.

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How to Prevent Your Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a complicated disease, and lots of other things besides bra wearing contribute to it. The following tips make clear a number of other things you could do to assist how prevent breast cancer.

There is no convinced method to prevent breast cancer. But there are things all women could make that may decrease their risk and assist add to the odds that if cancer does happen, it is discovered at an early, more treatable stage.

Drugs like anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane are being studied too as breast cancer chemopreventive agents in post-menopausal women. These drugs are already being utilized to assist prevent breast cancer reappearances. They act by blockading the creation of small amounts of estrogen that post-menopausal women usually make. But they could have side effects as well, like leading to joint pain and stiffness and bone loss, causing a higher risk of osteoporosis. None of these drugs is accepted for decreasing the risk of rising breast cancer at this time.

The proof is so convincing that consuming omega-3 fatty acids assists prevent breast cancer, and that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in diet is significant. One ought to not use too much of omega-6 fats with regard to omega-3 fats. The typical western diet contains up to 20 times as much omega-6 fats as it does omega-3s; the optimum ratio for health is more like 4:1. The beneficial omega-3 fats won't run almost as well in keeping you from cancer if the diet contains many omega-6 fats. This fat issue is a main factor in heart disease as well.

Research on soy and breast cancer presents a differing picture. Several studies have revealed a protecting effect, lots of have not. One study discovered that the major phytoestrogens in soy, genistein and daidzein, stimulated breast tumor development in laboratory and in animals at low attentiveness but had the conflicting effect at high concentrations. In yet another study, soy and curcumin jointly produced a 100% effect in preventing tumor development.

The reality that Japanese consume soy and have very low breast cancer a rate is frequently employed to confirm that soy could assist prevents breast cancer. But traditional Japanese diets differ from standard Western diets in several methods thus it can be something else that is leading to that. For instance, they eat many fish and seaweed. In addition, Japanese consume soy in fermented form, and typically simply as side dishes, in small amounts, and not as major staple.

Does Vitamin E Prevent Breast Cancer? LE Magazine May 2002 In-depth coverage based on reconsidering the scientific studies made regarding vitamin E and breast cancer. Proof points to the form of vitamin E called tocotrienols as effective in preventing breast cancer - and not alpha-tocopherol (the one usually on hand as a supplement).

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Ductal Carcinoma in Situ as a Type of Breast Cancer

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest likely clinical diagnosis of breast cancer and is often diagnosed with screening mammography that has detected small parts of calcification in the breast. Patients hardly ever suppose that they have breast cancer. If DCIS is untreated, about 30 percent of patients will grow invasive breast cancer an average of 10 years from the first diagnosis.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (or DCIS) refers to the most widespread kind of noninvasive breast cancer in women. In situ, or "in place," portrays a cancer that has not left of the area of the body where it initially developed. With DCIS, the cancer cells are restricted to milk ducts in the breast and have not extended into the fatty breast tissue or to any other area of the body.

Ductal carcinoma in situ is frequently earliest identified by a mammogram (an x-ray examination of soft breast tissues employed to detect lumps, cysts, tumors, and other abnormalities). It might appear on a mammogram as tiny specks of calcium, in general too small to make out by physical examination.

Treatment alternatives for Patients with Ductal carcinoma in situ are:
1. Breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy with or with no tamoxifen.
2. Total mastectomy with or with no tamoxifen.
3. Breast-conserving surgery with no radiation therapy.

Your doctor might illustrate Ductal carcinoma in situ as a so early shape of breast cancer. A number of doctors describe it a pre-cancerous condition since it might go on to grow into an invasive cancer if it is not cured. DCIS is becoming more usual. This is since it is being picked up on mammograms when women are screened for breast cancer.

Keep in mind - it is confusing, but invasive ductal breast cancer and DCIS is not the identical thing. In invasive ductal breast cancer, the cells have broken out of the ducts and thus there is a possibility they could extend into close by lymph nodes or other areas of the body.

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Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer

Women could take an active part in the early detection of breast cancer by having repeatedly scheduled screening mammograms and clinical breast examinations.

A screening mammogram is the best tool accessible for discovering breast cancer early, before symptoms come into view. A mammogram is a particular type of x-ray. They are utilized to search for breast alterations in women who have no signs of breast cancer.

Women ought to start examining their breasts every month beginning around age 20. Doctors are advised to talk to their patients concerning the restrictions of Breast Self Examination (BSE). Examination has revealed BSE plays a small role in detecting breast cancer compared with mammograms, clinical exams and self-awareness.

The usage of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for detecting breast cancer is coming out of the research stage and into clinical practice and is obtainable in chosen centers. MRI employs radiowaves and magnets, an unusual breast coil and a computer to scan the patient to create its images. Its effectiveness in detecting tissues that are abnormally active is being examined. MRI could be useful in settling on the extent of breast abnormalities, particularly for surgical resection. It is utilized along with mammography for women with dense breasts as well and those who are at high risk. It could assist inform between a benign and cancerous lump.

Mammography is an x-ray exam of the breast. There are two kinds of mammography. Screening mammography detects breast disease in a woman who does not have any symptoms. Diagnostic mammography is employed to assist make a diagnosis in a woman who has breast grievances like a lump or an abnormality that was found as long as a screening mammogram.

The aptitude of x-ray mammography, a standard screening tool for breast cancer, to detect lesions is decreased when done on dense breasts, where tissue is less fatty and more glandular. Breast MRI is efficient at detecting cancer in dense breasts and is gradually more being utilized to screen women at high risk for breast cancer. However, MRI has a high occurrence of false-positive test results that signify cancer is present when it is not. Examiners consider these false positives are due partly to hormonal alterations that happen as long as a woman's menstrual cycle.

Thermography, also named thermal imaging, has been learned for some decades. But, there is no proof that breast thermography is an effectual screening tool for early detection of breast cancer, in accordance with the American Cancer Society.

This technology is most effectual in detecting tumors that are near to the skin surface but not tumors deeper in the breast. In addition, breast thermography is not responsive enough to detect small cancers.

Breast thermography is not regularly utilized for breast cancer detection and ought to not be employed instead of mammograms. Scientists go on to examine the effectiveness of thermography in detecting breast cancer.

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