Aerly Sings Of Breast Cancer Be Aware

Signs of Breast Cancer

"Your mammogram is suspicious for breast cancer." "Your biopsy was positive for breast cancer." Breast cancer elicits so many fears, including those relating to surgery, death, loss of body image and loss of sexuality. What follows is a review of information on breast cancer intended to aid patients and their families in their navigation through the vast ocean of breast cancer issues.

Introduction to breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Although breast cancer in women is a common form of cancer, male breast cancer does occur and accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.

Research has yielded much information about the causes of breast cancers, and it is now believed that genetic and/or hormonal factors are the primary risk factors for breast cancer. Breast cancer treatment depends upon many factors, including thee 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.

How is the breast designed?

Each breast is made of 15 to 20 lobes. Lobes contain many smaller lobules. Milk flows from the lobules through thin tubes called ducts to the nipple. The breasts also contain lymph vessels. The lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances.

What is the cancer process?

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Tumors can be benign or malignant:

· Benign tumors are not cancer:

Benign tumors are rarely life-threatening.

Generally, benign tumors can be removed. Cells from benign tumors do not invade the tissues around them.

Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

· Malignant tumors are cancer:

Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors. Cells from malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.

Cells from malignant tumors can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

When breast cancer cells spread, the cancer cells are often found in lymph nodes near the breast. Also, breast cancer can spread to almost any other part of the body. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer. For that reason, it is treated as breast cancer, not bone cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease.