Breast Cancer Facts - Death Rates Declining

Breast cancer is a malignant or cancerous tumor that starts from cells of the breast. It is the most common cancer among women and is the second leading cause of cancer in its group. The disease has surpassed lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide and is the cause for more than 400,000 deaths per year (Opatt, sec.1). Women have a 1 in 8 chance of getting the disease within their lifetime. Men can also develop breast cancer, but this is fairly rare (Libby Ross Foundation, 2006).

There are several different types of breast cancer. The most common types include ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma. Ductal carcinoma in situ is early stage breast cancer. The term ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, refers to abnormal cells that are present in the lining of a milk duct, but have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. Nearly all the women diagnosed with DCIS are successfully treated, leaving no affect to their lifespan. Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, is present when abnormal cells are found within a lobule of the breast, but have not invaded the surrounding tissue of the breast. It is unknown in the medical community whether or not LCIS is an early form of breast cancer or if it is just a marker for the future development of cancer. Experts do agree, however, that women who have LCIS are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma, or IDC, accounts for the majority of invasive breast cancers. IDC occurs when cancerous cells form in the lining of the milk duct and eventually break free of the ductal wall invading the surrounding breast tissue. The cancer cells may remain localized but can spread farther throughout the body. Invasive lobular carcinoma, or ILC, is similar to invasive ductal carcinoma. ILC begins in the milk-producing lobule and then invades the surrounding tissues throughout the breast. Like IDC, ILC can also spread to other parts of the body. Invasive ductal carcinoma is harder to detect by touch and is less likely to appear on a mammogram (Mayo Clinic, 2005).

Many factors can influence a woman's risk of getting breast cancer. If a woman has one or more of the risk factors associated with breast cancer it does not necessarily mean that they will get the disease. Some women may have one or more breast cancer risk factors but may never develop the disease, while the majority of women who actually have breast cancer have no apparent risk factors (Imaginis, para.1). The biggest and most obvious risk factor for acquiring breast cancer is gender because the disease occurs mostly in women (Buechler, p. 2). Hormones are said to play a major role in the etiology of breast cancer. The most recognized risk factors associated with hormones include having a late menopause, being after the age of 55; early menarche, being before the age of 12; and becoming pregnant with a fist child after the age of 30. A woman's family history of breast cancer is also a very important risk factor for the disease. Having blood-related relatives with breast cancer on either side of the family increases the risk of acquiring the disease drastically. A woman whose mother, sister, or daughter has breast cancer has a doubled risk of getting the disease. Women who have had breast cancer in only one breast are three to four times more likely to develop breast cancer in the other breast. Dietary factors are also thought to have a major influence on the risk of developing breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is more in high in areas with high fat diets, like the United State, than it is in areas with low-fat diets, like Japan. The combination of reduced intake of whole grain products plus increased animal fat and protein is thought to increase the risk for breast cancer (Denton, p.1). The use of alcohol has also proven to increase the chances of getting breast cancer. The risk increases depending on how much alcohol is consumed. Women who consume two to five alcoholic beverages per day are about one and a half times more likely to develop breast cancer then that of a nondrinker. Consuming one alcoholic drink per day slightly increases the risk (Buechler, p. 2).

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer vary with each patient. Many patients never experience any symptoms because most breast cancers are discovered before symptoms are ever present. Signs of breast cancer may be that of a lump in the armpit or above the collarbone that does not go away. Possible symptoms of breast cancer include bloody discharge from only one of the breast, nipple inversion, or any kind of changes in the skin over the breasts including puckering, redness, and texture changes. A doctor should further evaluate any person experiencing signs or symptoms of breast cancer as soon as possible (Buechler, p. 3).

It is very important that a woman is familiar with the symptoms associated with breast cancer because early detection and treatment can significantly increase a patient's chance for recovery. There is a 95% survival rate for women who are treated quickly and proactively (Henderson, para. 2). Breast cancer can be detected early by having regular breast exams as well as yearly mammograms. Mammography is an x-ray examination of the breast and has the ability to detect a very small cancer in the breast. This procedure is very valuable as it may detect the cancer long before it may be felt by a breast examination. Dr. Edward White states that 85% to 90% of all breast cancers are detectable by mammography and that early detection by mammography has reduced the mortality rate from breast cancer by 20% to 30% in women who are 50 years old and older. A normal mammography does not exclude the possibility of breast cancer because some breast cancers are not visible on mammography. Physical examinations of the breast are important because the cancers that are not seen on the mammography can usually be felt by a physical examination of the breast. Visual examination as well as examination by palpating is also important for catching breast cancer. These exams can be done during a routine checkup and should also be done by the woman on a monthly basis (White, p. 4).

Surgery is the best option for treating breast cancer. Which type of surgery to be done is based on several factors, including how big or small the tumor is, where the tumor is located, the type of tumor, the patient's overall health as well as their personal wishes. Surgery options include having a lumpectomy, the removal of the cancerous tissue and a surrounding area of normal tissue; simple mastectomy, removal of the entire breast but no other structures; modified simple mastectomy, removal of the breast and the axillary lymph nodes; or a radical mastectomy, removal of the breast and the underlying chest wall muscles, as well as the underarm contents. Many women chose to also have radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and or hormonal therapy in addition to having surgery. Radiation therapy kills off any tumor cells that may still be present after surgery and is used most often on women who have had a lumpectomy. There are three different types of chemotherapy strategies that may be used. These include adjuvant chemotherapy, presurgical chemotherapy, and therapeutic chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given to people who have had curative treatment for their breast cancer. It is given to reduce the possibility that the cancer will return. Presurgical chemotherapy increases the chances for surgery getting rid of the cancer completely by shrinking large tumors and or killing any stray cancer cells. Therapeutic chemotherapy is administered to women whose breast cancer has spread throughout other places of the body. Hormonal therapy is used because breast cancers are frequently sensitive to changes in hormones. It may be given to prevent recurrence of a tumor or for the treatment of an existing disease. The drug Nolvadex is the most commonly prescribed hormone treatment being used as treatment for breast cancer as well as for prevention (Buechler, p. 6-7).

Death rates from breast cancer have been continuously declining since 1990 because of improved screening and awareness of breast cancer as well as advances in therapy. It is so important for women to have regular screenings for breast cancer and perform monthly self-breast examinations because breast cancer is such a treatable disease especially when it is treated early.

Works Cited

Buechler, Mary M.D. (April 13, 2007). Breast Cancer. April 21, 2007. http://www.emedicinehealth
.com/breast_cancer/article_em.htm

Denton, Graham W. (March 9, 2007). Breast Cancer Risk Factors. April 19,2007. http://www.breastcancersource.com/breastcancersourcehcp/10010_11146_5_4_0.aspx?mid=11

Henderson, Riley. (2007). Increasing Your Chance of Survival by Recognizing Breast Cancer Symptoms. April 20, 2007. http://ezinearticles.com/index.php?Increasing-Your-Chance-Of-Survival-By-Recognizing-Breast-Cancer-Symptoms&id=510539

Imaginis Corporation. (1997-2007). General Information on Breast Cancer. April 20, 2007. http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bc_risks.asp#risk

Libby Ross Foundation, (2003). Breast Cancer Facts. April 19, 2007. http://www.thelibbyross
foundation.com/facts.asp

Mayo Clinic Staff. (December 30, 2005). Types of Breast Cancer. April 21, 2007. http://www.mayoclinic
.com/health/breast-cancer/HQ00348

Opatt, Diane M., M.D. (June 23, 2006). Breast Cancer. April 21, 2007. http://www.emedicine.com
/plastic/topic521.htm