Breast Cancer Information Information Research

Tell a Friend about this Site

Breast Cancer for Beginners


Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.

Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor.

Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.

Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.

Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.

Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.

Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.

Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that.

Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.

Suresh gupta writes about breast cancer topics.


MORE RESOURCES:

Reuters

Genetics Add Little to Breast Cancer Risk Prediction
MedPage Today
The addition of genetic information only modestly improved breast cancer risk assessment in an analysis of 5600 cases. In a model that included age, ...
NCI-Led Team Explores Predictive Use of Breast Cancer Risk VariantsGenomeWeb Daily News
Breast cancer drug research on fast trackMinneapolis Star Tribune
New breast cancer treatment study may have huge impact on future drugseFitnessNow
Los Angeles Times (blog) -The Money Times -Reuters
all 126 news articles »


Daily Mail

Researchers Test Freezing Of Breast Cancer Tumors
Inventorspot
But in the Littrup breast cancer study, interventional radiologists determined sufficient temperatures that would destroy the cancerous tissue using one or ...
Breast Cancer Treated by Freezing TumorsWebMD
Freezing breast-cancer tumours avoids surgeryVancouver Sun
Freezing tumors to treat breast cancerXinhua
Times of India -WDIV Detroit -BusinessWeek
all 167 news articles »


Study seeking drugs to match each women's breast cancer tumors; 2 Illinois ...
WQAD
By AP CHICAGO (AP) — A big new nationwide study on personalizing breast cancer treatment has Illinois connections. Loyola University Medical Center and the ...
New breast cancer study has Illinois connectionsBelleville News Democrat

all 16 news articles »


Headlines: study on breast cancer drug is based on speed, co
Associated News Today (blog)
(RTTNews) – Stocks are holding onto strong gains in mid-afternoon trading on Wednesday while looking to Capitol Hill, where Federal Reserve Chairman Ben ...

and more »


Pak Watan

Older Breast Cancer Patients Should be Treated Equally, Urges MP Mr. Wilson
TopNews United States
In order to assure equal treatment for the aged females suffering from breast cancer, the campaign launched by the Breakthrough Breast Cancer for the same ...
MP bids to help older breast cancer victimsReading Post
Freezing breast tumours helps stop cancer's spread in mice, UM study findsScience Centric
New cancer treatment literally a breath of fresh air3News

all 5 news articles »


Cancer Prevention Institute of California Study of Breast Cancer in Asian ...
PR Newswire (press release)
The findings challenge the notion that breast cancer rates are uniformly low across the population of Asian women and indicate rising rates of occurrences ...

and more »


Myriad breast cancer patent very broad, study finds
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Myriad Genetics' disputed patent on the BRCA1 breast cancer gene is "surprisingly broad" and could interfere with future research, ...

and more »


Irish Independent

Soy foods may reduce recurrence risk in breast cancer patients
Cancer Network
Breast cancer patients can be assured that enjoying soy food products won't hurt them and may even impart some benefit for ...
Fashion brigade bag one for breast cancerIrish Independent

all 2 news articles »


New breast cancer support group forming
Humboldt Beacon
Earlier this month, a new breast cancer support group was formed and now meets at Fortuna Adult Day Health Services from 6 to 7:30 pm at 2280 Newburg Road. ...



TopNews United States

Some women with breast cancer may benefit by having a preventive mastectomy
Washington Post
THIS STUDY analyzed data on 107106 women, 18 to 90 years old, who had a mastectomy because of breast cancer, including 8902 women who also had a preventive ...
Women and Breast Cancer (2 Letters)New York Times
Women's car rally to create breast cancer awarenessTimes of India
Rep. Janet Cruz pushing for new breast cancer screening legislation10 Connects
Straight Goods -CBS 11 -Women's eNews
all 30 news articles »

Google News



MaineBannerExchange

home | site map
© 2006