Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and affects approximately one out of every eight women in the U.S. Wordwide it affects one in every 13 women. It is well known that women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease themselves.
Recently, it has been discovered that breast cancer can develop when a woman inherits a breast cancer susceptibility gene from one of her parents. Breast cancer can be diagnosed by observing a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, a change in the size or shape of the breast, discharge from the nipple , and a change in the color or texture of the skin of the breast or areola
There are two methods of treatment - local and systemic. The right treatment method, however, depends on the size and location of the breast tumor; the results of the pathologist s review of the tumor specimen, the woman?s age, menopausal status, and general health; and the stage of the disease.
Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. There are two types: breast-sparing surgery Breast-sparing surgery, also known as lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, removes the cancerous lump but not the entire breast.
Radiation therapy (also called x-ray therapy, radiotherapy, or irradiation) uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing. Radiation is used after breast-conserving surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning in the breast.
Chemotherapy drugs are medications that kill rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells. These drugs can be given either by mouth or intravenously. Chemotherapy medications are very powerful and can have many side effects.
Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. The other treatments are Radiation therapy and Chemotherapy drugs.
Copyright © 2006 - 2007 Cancer Danger Info. All rights reserved.
Site Design by herocyn.com