Breast cancer refers to a devastating disease where breast cells grow rapidly and lead to the presence of malignant tumors. According to Medline Plus, one out of every eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic states that common symptoms of breast cancer include a breast lump, bloody nipple discharge, an inverted nipple and changes in the size of the breast. Anyone who notices these symptoms should consult a doctor immediately, regardless of a normal mammogram (breast X-ray).
Types
Medline Plus states that there are two types of breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma begins at the lobules (portion of the breast that is responsible for milk production). Ductal carcinoma refers to breast cancer that begins at the ducts (tubes that carry the milk into the breast).
Cause
The cause of breast cancer is still unclear, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, family history and changes in breast cancer genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 contribute to breast cancer development.
Treatment
Treatment for breast cancer involves chemotherapy, radiation and hormone treatments to alter breast cancer cells. Chemotherapy uses toxic drugs to kill cancer cells. Radiation uses intense energy to kill cancer cells. Hormonal treatments such as tamoxifen block estrogen (a hormone necessary for breast tumor growth).
Prevention
In order to prevent the development of breast cancer, you should do breast self-exams, get a breast cancer screening test, exercise daily and limit hormonal therapy use, states the Mayo Clinic. The BRCA test involves analyzing your blood for changes in one or both of the breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA 1 or 2). If there are changes in your BRCA genes, you have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. An option is to get an elective prophylactic mastectomy to definitively ensure you will not get breast cancer.
