Health Care Resources: Understanding Breast Cancer
Cancer is a generic term that is used for a diverse group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other medical terms for cancer are neoplasms and malignant tumors. Among the different kinds of cancer, breast cancer is very common in women and a major cause of death in the United States. According to the U.S National Cancer Institute, 207,090 new cases and 39,840 deaths have been reported only in 2010. The data is likely to increase in the future. It is therefore, important to raise more awareness about the disease and find effective treatments.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a severe disease in which breast cells divide abnormally to form malignant tissues which become a tumor. The tumor formed can build up into nearby tissues, or cells can cut loose and enter into the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and affect other organs. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, however, male breast cancer is more rare.
What is breast cancer: An introduction to breast cancer including stages of breast cancer.
About Breast Cancer: An overview of breast cancer, focusing on different aspects of breast cancer including causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment measures.
Signs and Symptoms
Early breast cancer is not easy to detect without frequent check ups at a doctor’s office, as it does not usually cause symptoms, however, as the tumor grows, it changes the look or feel. Some of the most common symptoms of breast cancer include lumps or thickening in the breast, a change in breast shape and size, discharge from the nipple, nipple turns inward, and red or swollen skin on the breast, to name only a few.
Breast cancer symptoms: Brief information on signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
About breast cancer symptoms: An overview on breast cancer symptoms. Includes a list of links on breast cancer.
Risk Factors
When one is diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s natural to question what may have caused the disease, but, there is no exact cause of breast cancer. Medical professionals know that touching, banging or bruising the breast does not cause the disease, and breast cancer is not contagious. There are certain risk factors such as age (risk increases with age), personal health history (having cancer in one breast increases the risk on the other), family health history (risk increases if any member of the family had breast cancer), and gene mutations (gene mutation in genes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2).
Brest cancer risk factors: An overview of risk factors such as age, race and ethnicity, family and personal history, and genetic factors, to name only a few.
About risk factors: An introduction to breast cancer risk factors including age-specific probability, relative risk, types of risk factors, risk assessment, and risk reduction strategies, and more.
Carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis is the process during which normal cells are changed into malignant cells. Breast cancer carcinogenesis develops from both genetic and environmental factors. The disease can be distinguished into inherited (familial) and sporadic (noninherited). The former contributes about 20 to 30 per cent, while the latter contributes 70 to 80 per cent of all breast cancer cases.
Basics of carcinogenesis: The paper discusses the various aspects of carcinogenesis including the process, mechanism, and theories, to name a few.
Carcinogenesis of breast cancer: The paper discusses various advances and applications associated with carcinogenesis of breast cancer.
Screening and Diagnosis:
Screening is a kind of test, which is performed on individuals without any symptoms. Screening is effective for frequent cancer types; however, the test must be cost-effective, acceptable and available to the population at risk. If the test result is found abnormal, more tests are done to confirm the disease.
Breast cancer diagnosis, on the other hand, involves the process of identifying cancer based on its signs and symptoms. Various clinical tests are performed such as mammograms, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy. Once the disease is diagnosed, the doctor may perform some special lab tests like a hormone receptor test and HER2neu test to confirm the disease type.
Breast cancer screening & diagnosis: All about screening and diagnosis including mammography screening, digital mammography and biopsy.
About Mammograms: Brief information on screening and diagnostic mammograms.
Lessoning the Risk:
There are several factors that may influence the risk of breast cancer. Some factors include smoking, alcohol drinking, and a fat rich diet to name a few. In order to minimize the risk of breast cancer, one must quit smoking, avoid frequent alcohol drinking and eat healthy food that contains proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. In addition, awareness is a must. Learn more about breast cancer and self-breast exams and consult the doctor in case of doubt, if any.
Breast cancer and smoking: Detailed information on smoking and breast cancer risk.
Alcohol and cancer risk: Effect of drinking alcohol and cancer risk such as breast cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer, to name a few.
Treatment:
There are various treatment options available for breast cancer. Some of the effective treatment options include radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Patients, however, are advised to consult the doctor and obtain all information about the procedure, side effects, and any other questions before the treatment starts. In addition, patients can also get a second opinion from other health professional specialists.
Chemotherapy: Detailed information on chemotherapy including the test, ongoing research, drugs and more.
Breast cancer treatment options: Detailed information on different treatment options for breast cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Emotional Impact and Support:
Individuals coping with breast cancer go through a lot of conflicting emotions. In such a situation, they need emotional support from their family and friends. They must stay positive and face the challenge that has come on their way. In addition to friends and family support, they can also join a support group where they can get support from individuals going through similar experiences.
About cancer survivors: The paper discusses the after cancer fears, families and relationships.
Emotional management: Brief information on support and education groups and their importance.
Epidemiology:
The pattern of distribution of breast cancer varies significantly among different groups. Females are more susceptible to breast cancer than males. In addition, Caucasians are at higher risk of breast cancer as compared to other ethnic groups. Geographical locations, and socioeconomic status also have an impact on breast cancer.
Breast cancer epidemiology: Detailed information on epidemiology of breast cancer including incidence and mortality, prevalence, stages of diagnosis and more.
Epidemiology Factors: Brief information on epidemiology of breast cancer including different factors such as family history, reproductive/hormonal, benign pathology and mammographic density.
The Pink Ribbon and Breast Cancer Awareness:
The pink ribbon is the global symbol for breast cancer awareness, and the pink ribbon expresses moral support for women with breast cancer. It was first used in association with breast cancer in 1991 at the “Komen Foundation’s Race for The Cure” where Konmen distributed pink ribbons to partakers; and from the same year, pink ribbons became the symbol for breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer awareness month is organized every year in October by major breast cancer charities worldwide.
About Pink Ribbon: All about pink ribbon including history, organization, lifestyle, breast cancer, and celebrities.
Susan Konman’s site: Detailed information on breast cancer such as understanding breast cancer, breast facts, treatment options, and more.
Research in Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is one of the most common and severe diseases in women. Scientists worldwide are doing research in the molecular level to effectively diagnose and treat the disease through genetic testing, gene therapy, clinical trials and other medically advanced methods and tools.
Breast cancer research: A list of research paper links on breast cancer.
Research and diagnosing technology: Detailed information on research and diagnostic technology such as digital mammography imaging, and bioreactor technology.
