Breast Cancer : A Growing Concern

Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast tissue. Worldwide, it is the most common type of cancer in females. It affects approximately one out of nine to one out of thirteen women who reach age ninety in the Western world. It is the second most fatal cancer in women, and the number of cases has significantly increased since the 1970's, a phenomenon partly blamed on modern lifestyles in the Western world. Because the breast is composed of identical tissues in males and females, breast cancer can also occur in males, although cases of male breast cancer account for less than one percent of the total.

There are breast cancer prevention studies which are clinical trials involving women who have not had Cancer but are at high risk of developing the disease. In the cancer prevention trial, the women who received a drug called tamoxifen had a lower incidence of breast cancer than the women who did not receive the drug. There are studies all over the world for breast cancer so that we can better understand it and hopefully be able to solve all of the issues related to breast cancer.

The early signs of breast cancer : A lump is detected, which is usually single, firm and most often painless; A portion of the skin on the breast or underarm swells and has an unusual appearance;Veins on the skin surface become more prominent on one breast; The breast nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has discharge other than breast milk; a depressing is found in an area of the breast surface.

Women's breasts can develop some degree of lumpiness, but only a small percentage of lumps are malignant.

While a history of breast cancer in the family may lead to increased risk, most breast cancers are diagnosed in women with no family history. If you have a family history of breast cancer, this should be discussed with your doctor.

Some of the risk factors associated with breast cancer are:
Early onset of menses and late menopause: Onset of the menstrual cycle prior to the age of twelve and menopause after fifty causes increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Diets high in saturated fat: The types of fat are important. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil and olive oil do not appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer like polyunsaturated fats.

Family history of breast cancer: Patients with a positive family history of breast cancer are at increased risk for developing the disease. However, 85% of women with breast cancer have a negative family history. Family history includes immediate relatives, mother sisters and daughters. If a family member was post-menopausal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the lifetime risk is only increased 5%. If the family member was premenopausal, the lifetime risk is 18.6%. If the family member was premenopausal and had bilateral breast cancer, the lifetime risk is 50%.

There are several different types of breast cancer and if you should have any concerns about rather or not you are at risk then you should speak with your health provider.