Breast Cancer Defined:
Breast cancer can be defined as a cancerous growth that inhabits the tissues in the breast. In this type of cancer, the cells in the breast region grow abnormally and in an uncontrolled way. Though breast cancer is mostly found in women, in rare cases it is also found in men. In the U.S. alone one out of every eight women has this disease.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the U.S. While the majority of new breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormality seen on a mammogram, a lump or change in consistency of the breast tissue felt with the fingertips can also be a warning sign of the disease. Heightened awareness of breast cancer risk in the past decades has led to an increase in the number of women getting mammograms. Breast cancers are being detected in earlier stages and survival rates are going up. Still, breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Although breast cancer is more common in women, it does occur in men. Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.
Research has yielded much information about the risk factors and causes of breast cancer, and it is now believed that genetic and/or hormonal factors are the primary risk factors. Staging systems have been developed to allow physicians to characterize the extent to which a particular cancer has spread and to make decisions concerning treatment options. Breast cancer treatment depends upon many factors, including the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Treatment options for breast cancer may involve surgery (removal of the cancer alone or, in some cases, mastectomy), radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
We are working on putting together a comprehensive list of local, state and national level breast cancer websites where you can go to get more breast cancer information.
