Breast cancer is one of the most feared diseases by women today. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 180,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed yearly. Almost 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Among them, more than one-fourth will die of the disease, making breast cancer the second most common cancer killer of women in the country, next only to lung cancer.
In the normal human body, the increase in number and size of your cells is tightly regulated. Every day, a certain number of cells die, and these dead cells are replaced by an appropriate number of new cells.
In certain conditions, it might be necessary for your body to regenerate an additional number of cells. For example, when you get pregnant, your body will release hormones and other growth factors that will instruct your breast glands to enlarge and to regenerate more cells in preparation for breastfeeding your baby. Once your breasts have sufficiently enlarged and are able to produce an adequate supply of milk, the proliferation of new breast cells also slows down until it reaches baseline level.
Breast cancer disrupts the normal growth cycle. An abnormal group of cells in your breast tissue begins to grow uncontrollably. These breast cancer cells increase in size and in number, even if your breast does not need to grow new cells. They also don't respond to your body's signals that should trigger cell suicide, causing them to live longer than normal cells do.
When enough of these abnormal cells have proliferated, they would form a lump that you might be able to feel on your breast. The mass might also be detected by your doctor during examination or seen on conventional and magnetic resonance mammography. But if undetected, this group of abnormal cells grows even more.
The breast tumor forms blood vessels that deliver nutrients stolen from your normal cells, and releases chemicals that might cause weight loss, fever or fatigue. It will invade adjacent structures such as your nipple, the skin overlying your breast, the ligaments that attach your breast to your chest wall and the lymph nodes that normally clear harmful microorganisms from your body. In advanced cases, breast cancer cells spread to distant structures such as your lungs and brain by traveling through your blood and lymph vessels.
There are several risk factors that lead to the transformation of normal breast cells to abnormal cancer cells. Genetic abnormalities in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are the best-known causes of hereditary breast cancer. You have a higher risk of developing breast cancer if you inherited mutations in these genes.
Women who had their first menstruation before age 12 or who had menopause after age 55 are also at a higher risk for breast cancer. The same is true for women who have never given birth or those who delivered their first child later than age 35. The roles of hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives, obesity, a high fat diet, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in the development of breast cancer are less established and are still under debate.
Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness
www.breastcancer.orgBreastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
Breastcancer.org Discussion Boards - Breast Cancer Discussion
community.breastcancer.orgBreast Cancer Discussion Forums - Access the shared knowledge of thousands of people affected by breast cancer
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
www.cancer.gov/bcrisktoolAn interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the NSABP to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Information, Awareness & Donations - National Breast Cancer
www.nationalbreastcancer.orgThe National Breast Cancer Foundation's mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for
Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survival
breastcancer.about.comWelcome to breast cancer information! Here is information for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, family members or supportive friends. Learn how to lower your ...
Cancer Articles - Find Cancer Related Articles on ArticlesBase.com
www.articlesbase.com HealthFind Cancer articles at ArticlesBase.com a free articles directory. Submit your articles for free distribution and find Cancer content for your website, Ezine or ...
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancerBreast cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk.
American Cancer Society Information and Resources for Cancer ...
www.cancer.orgDonate Employment Opportunities Contact UsAmerican Cancer Society. The official sponsor of birthdays. Get information on cancer, how to stay healthy, find support and treatment, explore research, get involved ...
Breast Cancer Research Charity Breast Cancer Campaign
www.breastcancercampaign.orgFind out about the leading breast cancer research charity in the UK & Ireland, researching treatments, causes and prevention of breast cancer.
Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.govBreast Cancer Types of Cancer Clinical Trials Lung CancerAccurate, up-to-date, comprehensive cancer information from the U.S. government's principal agency for cancer research.
Cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CancerCancer i known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a broad group of various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow ...
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer: The More of Us Who Walk, The
www.avonwalk.orgNew York Boston Chicago Santa Barbara HoustonJoin the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Together, we will unite with one purpose and one goal - to end breast cancer. Register for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer today!
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer American Cancer
makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_CY13...Let's Finish the Fight! Sign up to participate in a breast cancer walk today and let's finish the fight against breast cancer that the American Cancer Society started ...
BBC Science - Why is cancer so common?
www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22028516Apr 22, 2013 Hundreds of thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. It is not one disease; there are over 200 different types, each with its ...
Fight -Breast Cancer- and provide -Mammograms- with a free click!
www.thebreastcancersite.comSign a Petition: Help Change the World; Paycheck Fairness For Women Women are still fighting for equal pay for the work they do as well as men. Let's close the gender ...
Health How Tos & Tips eHow
www.ehow.com/ehow-healthDid you know that your thigh bones are stronger than concrete? Learn about your body and healthy living on eHow Health. Get health news, how to info on weight loss ...
About Cancer
cancer.about.comIn this cancer resource, you will find information about symptoms of several types of cancer, cancer causes, treatment and more. Cancer Prevention and risk factors ...
Health - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/healthTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization - ABCD - After Breast ...
www.abcdbreastcancersupport.org/...former-y-me-peer-counselors-team-upCommitment of ABCD Mentors & Y-ME Peer Alumnae Means Rapidly Expanding Helpline Hours. ABCDs Helpline, which provides One-to-One personal support from trained ...
Glossary Index womenshealth.gov
www.womenshealth.gov/glossaryA project of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
James Cancer Hospital - The Ohio State University Comprehensive ...
cancer.osu.eduPatients and Visitors. We are the only freestanding cancer hospital in the Midwest, and our cancer experts offer leading-edge cancer treatments tailored to ...
Entertainment News, Celebrity and Pop Culture - ABC News
abcnews.go.com/entertainmentGet the latest entertainment news, celebrity interviews and pop culture pulse on movies, TV and music and more at ABCNews.com.
Navigating my way through stage 4 breast cancer, marriage, and ...
gracefulwomanwarrior.comNavigating my way through stage 4 breast cancer, marriage, and parenthood one day at a time...
Home DCA Watch
dcawatch.comInvestigating what happened to DCA, the non-toxic cancer cure discovered by a large Canadian University in 2007. The short answer is they have had
0 comments:
Post a Comment