Breast Cancer

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Q. What is Breast Cancer?

A. Breast cancer is a type of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can develop in one of several areas of the breast, including the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, the small sacs that produce milk (lobules) and the nonglandular tissue.

The main forms of invasive breast cancer are:

• Invasive ductal carcinoma This type of breast cancer develops in the milk ducts and accounts for about 75% of cases. It can break through the duct wall and invade the fatty tissue of the breast, then spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

• Invasive lobular carcinoma This type of breast cancer accounts for about 15% of cases. It originates in the breast's milk-producing lobules. It can spread to the breast's fatty tissue and other places in the body.

• Medullary, mucinous and tubular carcinomas These slow-growing types of breast cancer represent about 8% of all breast cancers.

• Paget's disease This type represents about 1% of breast cancers. It starts in the milk ducts of the nipple and can spread to the dark circle around the nipple (areola). Women who get Paget's disease usually have a history of nipple crusting, scaling, itching or inflammation.

• Inflammatory carcinoma This type accounts for about 1% of all cases. Of all breast cancers, inflammatory carcinoma is the most aggressive and difficult to treat, because it spreads so quickly.

As more women have regular mammograms, doctors are detecting many more noninvasive or precancerous conditions before they become full-blown cancer. These conditions include:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) This occurs when cancer cells fill the ducts but haven't spread through the walls into fatty tissue. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage can be cured. Without treatment, about 25% of DCIS cases will lead to invasive breast cancer within 10 years.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) This is less of a threat than DCIS. It develops in the breast's milk-producing lobules. LCIS doesn't require treatment, but it does increase a woman's risk of developing cancer in other areas of both breasts.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer (after skin cancer) in women in the United States, with approximately 211,000 cases expected in 2005. It causes the death of more than 40,000 women each year, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. A woman's risk of developing breast cancer increases with age; more than three out of four breast cancer cases occur in women over age 50. Other risk factors include:

• A family history of breast cancer

• A prior history of breast cancer or certain other abnormalities of the breast tissue

• Increased exposure to the female hormone estrogen in any of three ways: having a first menstrual period before age 13, entering menopause after age 51 or using estrogen replacement therapy

• Never having been pregnant, or having a first pregnancy after age 30

• Being overweight, especially after menopause

• Drinking alcohol (cancer risk doubles with three or more drinks per day)

• Having a sedentary lifestyle with little regular exercise

Although breast cancer is much more common in women than in men, about 1,400 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in men in the United States, with 290 deaths.

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program.Please consult your physician !
Wishing You Great Health!

Glen Edward Mitchell

Any questions? Ask Glen