Breast Cancer
What is a breast?
Breast is a part of the body in the upper body area that is made up of lobes and ducts.
Breast Cancer – formation of cancer cells in the tissues of the breast. Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It is called ductal because it starts in the ducts of a breast. Lobular carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules of breasts. Unlike other types of breast cancer, lobular carcinoma is often found in both breasts. Another type of breast cancer is called inflammatory breast cancer. It is less common, but its symptoms include breast warmness, redness, and swelling.
What increases the risk to develop breast cancer?
· Age.
· Personal or family history of breast cancer.
· Drinking alcoholic beverages.
· Treatment of radiation therapy to the breast and/or chest.
· A dense breast tissue on a mammogram.
· Use of hormones such as estrogen.
· Menstruation at an early age.
NOTE: Caucasian women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women of any other race.
How to detect and diagnose breast cancer?
Mammogram – an x-ray of the breast.
Biopsy – removal of cells or tissues to be checked under the microscope. There are four types of biopsies. Excisional biopsy requires removal of an entire lump of tissue in the breast. Incisional biopsy requires removal of part of a lump. Core biopsy requires removal of tissue with a wide needle. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) requires removal of tissues or fluid using a thin needle.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – a medical procedure that uses radio waves, a magnet, and a computer to take detailed pictures of the breast.
Estrogen/progesterone receptor test – a test that measures the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormone) receptors in cancer tissue. If cancer tumor is found in the breast, it is checked in the lab for the possibility of estrogen and progesterone affecting tumor’s growth. Such test will show if hormone therapy can stop the growth of the cancer.
Treatment for breast cancer
Breast cancer treatment options depend on the size and stage of the cancer. Type, speed of tumor growth, age, general health, and menopausal status play significant roles on the treatment options. Knowledge of it is a newly formed or recurring cancer is also important to be disclosed to the doctor for more accurate treatment options.
What is a breast?
Breast is a part of the body in the upper body area that is made up of lobes and ducts.
Breast Cancer – formation of cancer cells in the tissues of the breast. Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It is called ductal because it starts in the ducts of a breast. Lobular carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules of breasts. Unlike other types of breast cancer, lobular carcinoma is often found in both breasts. Another type of breast cancer is called inflammatory breast cancer. It is less common, but its symptoms include breast warmness, redness, and swelling.
What increases the risk to develop breast cancer?
· Age.
· Personal or family history of breast cancer.
· Drinking alcoholic beverages.
· Treatment of radiation therapy to the breast and/or chest.
· A dense breast tissue on a mammogram.
· Use of hormones such as estrogen.
· Menstruation at an early age.
NOTE: Caucasian women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women of any other race.
How to detect and diagnose breast cancer?
Mammogram – an x-ray of the breast.
Biopsy – removal of cells or tissues to be checked under the microscope. There are four types of biopsies. Excisional biopsy requires removal of an entire lump of tissue in the breast. Incisional biopsy requires removal of part of a lump. Core biopsy requires removal of tissue with a wide needle. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) requires removal of tissues or fluid using a thin needle.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – a medical procedure that uses radio waves, a magnet, and a computer to take detailed pictures of the breast.
Estrogen/progesterone receptor test – a test that measures the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormone) receptors in cancer tissue. If cancer tumor is found in the breast, it is checked in the lab for the possibility of estrogen and progesterone affecting tumor’s growth. Such test will show if hormone therapy can stop the growth of the cancer.
Treatment for breast cancer
Breast cancer treatment options depend on the size and stage of the cancer. Type, speed of tumor growth, age, general health, and menopausal status play significant roles on the treatment options. Knowledge of it is a newly formed or recurring cancer is also important to be disclosed to the doctor for more accurate treatment options.
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What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
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© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
home | about us |get involved | donate | resources | contact us
© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.