Though men are not immune, cancer that strikes the breast is commonly a concern of women.The breast is composed of a collection of glands and fatty tissue which lies between the skin and chest wall. These glands within a womans breast begin to produce milk after the birth of a baby. Each milk gland is composed of 1520 lobes. Tubes (also known as ducts) transfer milk from the glands to the nipple. The glands and ducts increase in size as the breast fills with milk. The main factor determining the size and shape of the breast is fatty tissue. If a tumor is ever found to be growing in the breast, it should be checked by a doctor as it might be cancerous.
A collection of cells prone to abnormal growth tendencies, creating an out of control population comprise a tumor. A tumor that is incapable of spreading through the body is referred to as benign, or noncancerous. A tumor diagnosed as malignant is cancerous and capable of spreading throughout the body. When a malignant tumor is discovered in the breast, the patient is told she has breast cancer. Though it is possible for any breast tissue to develop malignant tendencies, normally cancer cells develop in either the ducts or glands. The most common form of cancer diagnosed in the women of Europe and North America is breast cancer. Each year, the number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed exceeds 200,000. Breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer for American women, with lung cancer being first.
A diagnosis of breast cancer does not necessarily mean a woman will die from the disease. Even though a womans chances of developing breast cancer are 1 in 8, her chances of dying from it are 1 in 28. A womans great risk factor for breast cancer is her age. Each year of a womans life increases her risk for breast cancer. A womans risk also increases if her first menstrual cycle occurred at a younger than normal age.Other factors also figure in, such as her age at the time of her first pregnancy; a history of breast cancer in her family and BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations A woman with breast cancer in her family history is advised to undergo genetic testing as 310% of breast cancers can be related to gene mutations. If a woman will exercise regularly, limit her alcohol consumption (no more than 5 drinks per week) and maintain a healthy weight, she will reduce her risk of breast cancer. It is also thought that if a woman has her first baby before age 30 and nurses it, plus limits the use of hormone replacement at menopause, she helps lower her chance of developing breast cancer. Finally, any woman with a high risk of developing breast cancer might consider discussing with her doctor the use of a drug called Tamoxifen. Women who use this drug over a period of five years have been shown to reduce their risk of developing a tumor by 50%.
A womans chances of surviving and curing breast cancer greatly increase with early detection. A womans chances for early detection will increase if she incorporates selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms in her routine medical care.{{{Between the ages of 2039, a woman should undergo a clinical exam every three years. | A woman between the ages of 20 and 39 is advised to undergo a clinical exam once every three years. | A clinical exam should be part of a womans health care every three years between the ages of 20 and 39. | Between the ages of 2039, women are advised to have a clinical exam once every three years
阅读(182) | 评论(0) | 转发(0) |
