Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer

Introduction

Breast Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells which starts in the tissues of breast. Usually it occurs in the inner layers of the ducts or lobules which supply milk. Apart from humans, breast cancer is also common in other mammals. The breast cancer can be invasive (spreading to other tissues within the breast) and non-invasive (not invading other tissues of the breast). The non-invasive breast cancer is also known as “in-situ.”

A number of breast cancers are also affected by the hormone estrogen, because it causes the tumor to spread. Such cancers are believed to have receptor cells on their surface known as ER-positive cancer.

Discussion

The breast or breasts are composed of fat, connective tissue and glandular. In this tissue are the milk producing glands which are born 15 to 20 ducts breast to transport milk to the nipple surrounded by areola. These lobules and ducts are located in the stroma, adipose tissue, which are also blood vessels and lymphatic's. The breast tissues are connected also with a group of lymph nodes, located in the armpit. These nodes are key to the diagnosis of breast cancer, because cancer cells spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. When speaking of sentinel node refers precisely to the node nearest to where the cancer is located.

Types of breast Cancers

Breast Cancers are of two types:

Ductal Carcinoma: the most common type of breast cancer, originating from the ducts which provide milk to the nipple.

Lobular Carcinoma: Originating from the lobules of breast.

Some women have a type of cancer known as HER2-positive, where HER-2 refers to a gene which helps the cells in growing, dividing and repairing. When this gene facilitates cancer cell in the same functions, cancer cells increase in number; thus, leading to HER2-posiive breast cancer (U.S national Library of Medicine).

Causes

Family history has an impact on an individual's risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. If a woman has a mother, sister, or daughter who has been diagnosed with either breast or ovarian cancer, she has a greater chance of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis herself. In addition, the occurrence of any of these familial diagnoses prior to the onset of menopause increases the woman's risk even further. The more prevalent the diagnosis is in a woman's family, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer. Additionally, her risk of repeated diagnosis is increased (May Clinic, 2008).

A woman's weight also affects her risk of breast cancer. This type of risk, however, is difficult to quantify. Research indicates that women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of developing other forms of cancer in addition to breast cancer. Women whose extra weight is carried mainly in her upper body, as well as women who experience significant weight gain during their adolescences or after menopause, may further raise their risk for breast cancer (Mayo Clinic, 2008).

Preventions

If a woman experienced an early onset of menstruation or a late onset of menopause, used birth control pills and/or hormone replacement therapy for longer ...