Breast Cancer

Friday, December 27, 2013

Age & Breast Cancer Risk

Posted by Unknown on 6:52 AM with No comments

There are a number of risk factors associated with breast cancer. Certain risk factors, such as being overweight or consuming alcohol, can be changed. Other breast cancer risk factors are inevitable or irreversible, however. One such example is age, which plays a significant role in a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

The risk of breast cancer increases with age. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 80 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50. Many women with breast cancer tend to be over 60. Breast cancer also becomes harder to treat among older women. The American Cancer Society reports that two out of three breast cancer cases in woman over age 55 are invasive, compared to one in eight among women under age 40.

The age a woman is when she reaches menstruation and menopause or has a baby can affect her risk of developing breast cancer. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, women who begin menstruating before age 12 and start menopause after 55 are at an increased risk. Having a baby before the age of 20 decreases the risk of breast cancer.

Although age plays a prominent role in the development of breast cancer, it is important to keep in mind that a woman can be diagnosed at any age. There are young women who become diagnosed with breast cancer. Age is not the only risk factor of breast cancer. Women with a family history of breast cancer, especially if the cancer was diagnosed under the age of 40, are at an increased risk.

Women who are older may be at a greater risk of other risk factors of breast cancer. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, obese women who have gone through menopause without using hormone therapy are more likely to experience breast cancer. Exercising for more than four hours per week and following a healthy diet can help decrease a woman's chances of developing breast cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, women should begin having yearly mammograms at age 40. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are generally recommended to begin having mammograms in their early to mid-30s, however. In some cases, they may even begin in their late 20s. Early screening is especially important if the women in their family were diagnosed before they were 40 years old. Women in their 20s and 30s should have yearly clinical breast exams.

Breast Cancer Before Age 40 Years - National Center for ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Journal List NIHPA Author Manuscripts
Approximately 7% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before the age of 40 years, and this disease accounts for more than 40% of all cancer in women in this age ...
Susan G. Komen Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors
ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/GettingOlder.html
Age is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer. The older a woman is, the more likely she is to develop the disease. In general, rates of breast cancer are ...
Breast cancer risk factors : Cancer Research UK
www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/breast...
This page contains information on breast cancer risk. A substantial proportion of the breast cancer cases experienced in developed countries can be explained by ...
Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness
www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
Definite breast cancer risks : Cancer Research UK : CancerHelp
www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../about/risks/definite-breast-cancer-risks
Definite breast cancer risks. Researchers have identified a number of things that can affect your risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer risk increases with age.
Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
envirocancer.cornell.edu
The Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors at Cornell University provides science-based information on breast cancer and environmental risk factors.
Breast Cancer Risk - BCRA
www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/breast-cancer-risk.aspx
An interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the NSABP to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer
Breast 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.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool
An interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the NSABP to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Models - EGRP
epi.grants.cancer.gov/cancer_risk_prediction/breast.html
Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Models. Absolute Risk Prediction Models; Gene Carrier Status Risk Prediction Models; Risk Prediction Models of Women at High Risk
FORCE Cancer Risk : Breast Cancer Risks
www.facingourrisk.org/info_research/risk-factors/breast-cancer...
Overview. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer and her risk increases with age. A woman in the general population faces about a 13% lifetime risk of developing ...
Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12677558
1. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 May;72(5):1117-30. Epub 2003 Apr 3. Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case ...
Breast Cancer Forum: High Risk for Breast Cancer
community.breastcancer.org/forum/47
Email to a friend. All Topics Forum: High Risk for Breast Cancer Forum: High Risk for Breast Cancer. Due to family history, genetics, or other factors.
Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survival
breastcancer.about.com
Salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel and herring - all of these fish are rich in oils that could knock your risk for breast cancer down by 14% below average.
Breast cancer risk factors Breakthrough Breast Cancer
www.breakthrough.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-risk-factors
Find out about the established risk factors which can cause breast cancer
Breast Cancer Risks - Center for Young Women's Health
www.youngwomenshealth.org/breast_health_cancer.html
Who is at risk for breast cancer? Women with certain medical conditions, lifestyle habits, or traits (referred to as risk factors) may be more likely ...
Breast cancer
www.cancer.org Second Cancers Caused by Cancer Treatment
Many studies have shown that women with breast cancer are at a 3-to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new primary cancer in the opposite breast.
Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium
breastscreening.cancer.gov
Items of Interest; Mammogram Every Two Years Has Same Benefit as Yearly Mammogram for Older Women, UCSF Study Finds. Yearly test leads to more false
Breast Cancer Learn About Cancer American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org Learn About Cancer
Staying at a healthy weight, being physically active, and limiting how much alcohol you drink can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Regular screening can often ...
Breast Cancer Risk Reduction: Can Breast Cancer Be "Prevented"?
ezinearticles.com/?Breast-Cancer-Risk-Reduction:-Can-Breast-Cancer...
Feb 16, 2012 Virtually all women have fears about developing breast cancer; for women that have already been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past, there is ...
Am I at risk? Breast Cancer Care
www.breastcancercare.org.uk/.../breast-awareness/am-i-risk/risk
Because we are all different, any of the known associated risk factors will not affect us all in the same way. Identifying the cause of breast cancer to one specific ...
Susan G. Komen Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors
ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/MenopauseatAge55orOlder.html
Going through menopause at a late age is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer. Studies show that women who go through menopause after age 55 have
GenomicsResourcesDiseasesBreast and Ovarian CancerFamily ...
www.cdc.gov Genomics Genomic Resources Diseases
May 16, 2013 Genomics and Health Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Family History Risk Categories
Breast Cancer Symptoms: lumps, swelling or skin changes can be ...
www.breastcancer.org/symptomTypes of Breast Cancer Breast Self-Exam Your Diagnosis Mammograms
Breast cancer symptoms and diagnostic tests as well as information on types of breast cancer.

Stage 2 Breast Cancer Treatments

Posted by Unknown on 10:29 PM with No comments

Factors that determine breast cancer stage include the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, whether the cancer is invasive and whether the lymph nodes have been affected. Determining the stage of breast cancer helps healthcare professionals provide patients with the most effective treatment options. For instance, stage II breast cancer treatments will differ from patients who are diagnosed with a level III or IV.

According to BreastCancer.org, stage II breast cancer is divided into two subcategories known as IIA and IIB:

There are three different scenarios that are considered stage IIA breast cancer:

1.An invasive breast cancer in which cancer cells are identified in the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes), but there is not an actual tumor in the breast.
2.A tumor in the breast that is smaller than two centimeters, but has already spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
3.A tumor that is between two and five centimeters wide that has not yet spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

Stage IIB breast cancer is used to describe either:

1.A tumor that is between two and five centimeters and has made its way to the axillary lymph nodes.
2.A tumor that has not yet spread to the axillary lymph nodes, but is at least five centimeters wide.

Women with stage II breast cancer will most likely undergo surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Because no two women are the same, however, every case of breast cancer, even those falling into the same stage, will differ. Thus, there is not one specific treatment designed for patients with stage II breast cancer.

In most cases, according to WebMD, a combination of treatments will likely be used to battle stage II breast cancer. Following are the most common treatment options.

According to WebMD, because the cancer in stage II tends to be contained to the breast and, in the worst cases, its nearby lymph nodes, most women with this type of breast cancer will undergo surgery. Depending on the size of the tumor, there are two types of surgery used to treat stage II breast cancer:

1.Lumpectomy: A breast-conserving procedure in which the tumor and some of the surrounding breast tissue is removed without misshaping the breast.

2.Mastectomy: Historically, when a mastectomy was performed the entire breast was removed. Today, there are other types of mastectomy designed to be less invasive. The type of mastectomy will depend on the size of the tumor and other factors such as the patient's age, overall health and menopause status.

Most lumpectomies are performed in conjunction with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells that survive surgery. In some cases, radiation will also be administered to patients following a mastectomy.

Chemotherapy describes treatment with cancer fighting drugs. In most cases, women with stage II breast cancer will be treated with chemotherapy in combination with surgery and radiation. The drugs are designed to kill any undetected cancer cells that may have spread to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink a tumor before surgery.

Hormone therapy is designed to prevent the body from producing naturally occurring estrogen in women whose tumors contain estrogen receptors (ER-positive). This type of cancer feeds on the body's natural production of estrogen. Doctors will likely prescribe oral pills that will block the body from producing estrogen.

According to WebMD, one of the newest treatments for stage II breast cancer is called biological therapy. This treatment is designed specifically for women with an excessive amount of the protein, HER2, which causes cancer to spread at a rapid rate. WebMD claims that about 25 percent of women with breast cancer have an excess of HER2. Biological therapy uses Herceptin, a drug designed to prevent the protein from feeding the cancer. In many cases, this stage II breast cancer treatment will be used in conjunction with chemotherapy because Herceptin is said to help advance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 2 Breast Cancer
ezinearticles.com/?Breast-Cancer-Survival-Rate---Stage-2-Breast...
Aug 21, 2007 The breast cancer survival rate for Stage 2 breast cancer can vary from 76% to 92% in the U.S. Here are statistics to help you understand the reasons for ...
Stage 3 Colon Cancer Treatment
stage-3-colon.cancertreatment.net
Since in Stage 3 colon cancer, the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but not yet to other parts of the body surgery is recommended followed by chemotherapy.
Stage 1 Breast Cancer Treatment
stage-1-breast.cancertreatment.net
Typical Stage 1 breast cancer treatment options may include surgery and hormone therapy. Stage 1 breast cancer is defined as being small in size (tumor/cancerous ...
Stage 4 Breast Cancer Treatment
stage-4-breast.cancertreatment.net
Stage 4 breast cancer treatment options are for Stage 4 breast cancer, where the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body.
Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ) - National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Health...
Stage I, II, IIIA, and Operable IIIC Breast Cancer. Primary Therapy Local-regional treatment Axillary lymph node surgery
Breast Cancer Medications and Vision: Effects of Treatments for ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Taylor & Francis iOpenAccess
Aug 05, 2011 This review concerns the effects on vision and the eye of medications prescribed at three phases of treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer
Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness
www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer
Breast 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.
Stage 2 Breast Cancer Treatment
stage-2-breast.cancertreatment.net
Stage 2 breast cancer treatment options may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer
ezinearticles.com/?Breast-Cancer-Survival-Rate---Stage-4-Breast...
Aug 25, 2007 The 5-year breast cancer survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer is very low compared to breast cancer detected at earlier stages. Here is some basic ...
Stage IV life expectancy? - Prognosis - Breast Cancer
www.healthcentral.com Breast Cancer Diagnosis Prognosis
I have a friend who is Stage IV breast cancer. This is her second round with cancer. She has lobular carcinoma. She is Stage IV. The tumors are on her spine, hi...
Stage 1 Prostate Cancer Treatment
stage-1-prostate.cancertreatment.net
Prostate cancer that has been diagnosed as Stage 1 means is small in size, has not yet spread to lymph nodes, has no indication of metastasis, has a low Gleason score ...
Cancer Treatment
www.cancertreatment.net
CancerTreatment.net is an online resource that lists Cancer Treatment Options for patients, families and friends.
Stage 3 Colon Cancer Treatment
stage-3-colon.cancertreatment.net
Since in Stage 3 colon cancer, the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but not yet to other parts of the body surgery is recommended followed by chemotherapy.
Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ) - National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/health...
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of breast cancer.
Stage 4 Colon Cancer Treatment
stage-4-colon.cancertreatment.net
Since in Stage 4 colon cancer, the cancer has spread from the colon to distant organs such as the liver, lungs or ovaries, surgery is not typically performed in order ...
Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survival
breastcancer.about.com
Welcome to breast cancer information! Here is information for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, family members or supportive friends. Learn how to lower your ...
Cancer staging - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_staging
Cancer staging is the process of determining the extent to which a cancer has developed by spreading. Contemporary practice is to assign a number from I-IV to a ...
Breastcancer.org Discussion Boards - Breast Cancer Discussion
community.breastcancer.org
Breast Cancer Discussion Forums - Access the shared knowledge of thousands of people affected by breast cancer
Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Treatment
stage-4-prostate.cancertreatment.net
Prostate cancer that has been diagnosed as Stage 4 is a large tumor that has spread beyond the prostate to organs such as the bladder or rectum, the lymph nodes or ...
Breast Cancer Stage IV w/ Bone and Liver Metastases - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxALxUEXf8I
Lucia Lizotte. After 8 months of Issels Treatment bone metastases of sternum disappeared and 4 of 5 liver metastases gone. February 2008, Lucia in her own ...
Stage 4 Breast Cancer Testimony - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmN0BCr5j58
Dr. Carrie Miller discusses the case of patient with stage 4 breast cancer. This is another story of a woman and a family that would not give up or give in ...
Colon Cancer Treatment By Stage - WebMD - Better information ...
www.webmd.com Colorectal Cancer Guide
Learn about treatment for different stages of colorectal cancer.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment
triple-negative-breast.cancertreatment.net
Triple-negative breast cancer treatment usually consists of chemotherapy and other options. The decision to follow a particular treatment regimen depends largely on ...

How Is Breast Cancer Inherited?

Posted by Unknown on 4:09 AM with No comments

While breast cancer has many risk factors, such as age and lifestyle factors such as smoking, there also is a genetic component to breast cancer. Scientists have pinpointed genes, such as mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which have been shown to contribute to the development of breast cancer. The BRCA genes are known as supressor genes, meaning that, when intact, they suppress cell growth that can lead to breast cancer.

While in most people the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes work to prevent cell growth, genetic mutations can keep the gene from doing its job of suppressing cell growth. Heredity is one way in which a person can have an "injured" BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from birth, whereas other breast cancers may be due to genes that are damaged due to other causes.

Every person, male and female, carries the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. However, in those with a family history of breast cancer, the risk is increased that the parents will pass the gene along to their offspring. If only one parent has the injured gene, there is a 50 percent chance the offspring will have an injured gene, according to BreastDoc.com. If both parents carry the mutation, there is a 100 percent chance the offspring, male or female, will have the mutation.

Women or men who have the gene mutation do not always get breast cancer. However, they are considered to be at an especially heightened risk compared with those who do not. Another consideration is that the person who carries this gene also runs the risk of passing it down to her offspring. While estimates vary, anywhere from 5 to 27 percent of breast cancers occur as a result of hereditary traits, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Certain cultures are shown to have a higher likelihood for carrying the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. These include Ashkenazi Jews, as well as people from Norway and Iceland, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

A hereditary test for breast cancer exists. However (as previously mentioned) this test does not always mean a person will or will not get breast cancer. However, it may help in decision making, particularly in the instance of family planning.

The Genetics of Breast Cancer Cancer.Net
www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/genetics/genetics-breast-cancer
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
BRCA1 & BRCA2: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing - National Cancer ...
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA
Key Points. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. Mutation of these genes has been linked to hereditary breast ...
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer
Breast 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.
Inherited Breast Cancer - NetWellness Homepage
www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/breastcancer/inheritedbreast...
Breast Cancer Inherited Breast Cancer. About 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for breast cancer other than age.
Breast Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer Institute.
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cancer.Net
www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness
www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
Genetic Test For Breast Cancer: How Much Does It Cost? -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bw0Q9SfgRw
As Kimberly Banks explains, the genetic test typically costs around $3,500 but if the test is recommended by a specialist it is usually covered by ...
Myriad Genetics Hereditary Breast Cancer BRCA1 and
www.myriad.com/treating-diseases/hereditary-breast-cancer
Hereditary Breast Cancer. Approximately 7% of breast cancer and 11 - 15% of ovarian cancer cases are caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
How is breastfeeding related to breast cancer? : Cancer
www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/...
Breast feeding can protect you against developing breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survival
breastcancer.about.com
Welcome to breast cancer information! Here is information for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, family members or supportive friends. Learn how to lower your ...
National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NHBCH
National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, Bakewell, United Kingdom. 3,524 likes 160 talking about this.
Is breast cancer hereditary - The Q&A wiki
wiki.answers.com Cancer Breast Cancer
Hereditary Breast Cancer According to the National Institutes of Health, breast cancer can be a hereditary condition. However, hereditary breast cancer only accounts ...
Breast Cancer: MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine ...
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html
Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why ...
Hereditary breastovarian cancer syndrome - Wikipedia, the free ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_breast-ovarian_cancer_syndrome
Hereditary breastovarian cancer syndromes (HBOC) are cancer syndromes that produce higher than normal levels of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in genetically ...
Breast Cancer and Genetic Testing - WebMD - Better information ...
www.webmd.com Breast Cancer Guide
WebMD helps you understanding what is involved in undergoing genetic testing to determine if you may be at risk for breast cancer.
Cancer genetics - how cancer sometimes runs in families - Cancer ...
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Causesriskfactors/Genetics...
Information about the genetic causes of cancer for anybody who is worried that cancer might run in their family
Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer - Mayo Clinic - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpwx9RBOgSk
It could be your mom, sister, aunt or best friend. One out of 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. A small subset of the women who get diagnosed ...
How one company controls your breast cancer choices - Salon.com
www.salon.com/2013/05/14/how...may_control_your_breast_cancer_choices
May 14, 2013 Myriad Genetics owns the genes that indicate breast-cancer risk and the pricey test could be costing lives
Frequently Asked Questions Genetic testing for breast cancer
www.cancer.med.umich.edu/breastgenetics/faq.html
Frequently asked questions about genetic testing in general and how it specifically relates to breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Angelina Jolie, inherited breast cancer and the BRCA1 gene ...
scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/...inherited-breast-cancer-and-the...
The news today is full of reaction to US actress Angelina Jolies decision to have surgery to reduce her chances of breast cancer. She made this difficult decision ...
Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer - Learn.Genetics
learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/brca/index.html
What is breast cancer and ovarian cancer? Cells normally grow and divide only when they are needed to keep our bodies functioning properly. But sometimes, the ...
Subject: Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast or Ovarian Cancer
mcgs.bcbsfl.com/?doc=Genetic%20Testing%20for%20Hereditary%20Breast...
DESCRIPTION: Several genetic syndromes with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance that feature breast cancer have been identified. Of these, hereditary breast ...