Unlike women, there is no regular screening for breast cancer in men at average risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer in males is in general detected because the patients have some symptoms associated with breast cancer, most notably the presence...
Breast cancer is the result of cells within the milk-producing lobules or the ducts of the breast developing genetic mutations that cause them to grow abnormally quickly. Because breast cancer can be more easily treated when it is caught early,...
Mammography is the only exam as of 2010 approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to screen women with no signs of disease for breast cancer. Mammography uses low dose X-ray imaging to examine breasts and their surrounding tissue. On these...
The breasts are made up of a number of cell types that grow and develop in response to a number of hormones. Dysregulation of signalling in breast cells, or breast cell mutation, can lead to the development of tumors within the breast. Once a...
Some breast cancer tests may be for preventive purposes, such as a mammogram, while others may be for diagnostic reasons, such as a biopsy. Whatever the reason, it is important for women to know what each test is for and what to expect before...
Fat necrosis of the breast is a benign condition affecting women's breasts in which fatty tissue breaks down, causing localized inflammation and swelling. Treatment can involve complete excision of the necrotic area; alternatively, the necrotic...
Breast cancer is a prevalent and potentially fatal disease, leading to more than 200000 new cancer cases and almost 40000 deaths in the United States in 2009, according to the National Cancer Society. Although the prospect of developing breast...
Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a form of the disease that many people many not even know exists. IBC is rare; of all the breast cancer cases diagnosed in the United States, inflammatory breast cancer is the culprit less than 5 percent of...
Breast cancer develops from the ducts or lobules that make up the breast glandular tissue or within the nipple. Breast lumps, whether benign or cancerous, may be detected during a physical self-examination, clinical exam or a mammogram. Following...
The breasts contain specialized glandular tissue surrounded by fat and other connective tissues. The breasts undergo changes throughout a woman's reproductive lifespan. They grow dramatically during puberty, undergo cycles of growth during each...
When you visit your gynecologist or doctor for routine care, this usually includes a clinical breast exam. Beginning at age 20, these exams should be done at least every 3 years. At age 40, the exams should be done annually. If you have a family...
A mammogram is a test that women take to determine if they have breast cancer, precancerous conditions or any other abnormalities with their breasts. These tests have become useful in diagnosing abnormalities at an early stage. Finding breast...
Breast tissue is composed of several types of tissue, including glandular, fatty and fibrous, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It responds to the body's production and levels of sex hormones such as estrogen...
A breast cancer patient will typically have a team of specialized doctors. Some members of the medical team will be part of the patient's medical care on a recurring basis. Others doctors on the team are part of the breast cancer treatment process...
Wondering how to prepare for a mammogram? You'll be relieved to hear that the list of exercises that includes squeezing your breasts between the refrigerator doors is just a joke. Your breasts are mainly fatty and glandular tissue, not muscle....
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2010, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. They further state that a biopsy is the only way to be certain that cancer is present or not. This procedure involves the physical...
Breast biopsies serve as an important diagnostic tool in characterizing breast lumps. Although doctors can determine the size, shape and some other characteristics of a breast lump using medical imaging, such as a mammogram, these technologies do...
Many breast cancer patients with small or relatively noninvasive breast tumors undergo a lumpectomy--a type of breast-conserving surgery. A lumpectomy involves removing all the cancerous tissue from the affected breast, as well as a margin of...
A breast biopsy is a common procedure used to diagnose a breast lump and assess the characteristics of a breast tumor. Breast biopsies involve the removal of a small piece of breast tissue, which can then be analyzed using medical testing and...
Breast calcifications are deposits of the mineral calcium located in breast tissue. While breast calcifications can sometimes indicate breast cancer, most breast calcifications do not. Breast calcifications occur commonly, particularly in...
Connections between caffeine intake and breast disease have been the subject of several studies. Excessive caffeine intake is defined as 800 mg of caffeine or more per day, according to MedlinePlus. One cup of regular coffee contains about 80 mg...
According to the National Cancer Institute, a woman has about a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Routine mammography is the standard of care for early detection of breast cancer. If specific features, such as...
Breast calcifications are deposits of calcium in the breast tissue. These calcifications usually cannot be felt, but show up on a mammogram as white spots, according to the MayoClinic.com. Deposits of calcium in the breast are a common condition,...
Calcium deposits within the breast are often detected upon mammography and may sometimes be an early indicator of breast cancer progression. There are several factors that may contribute to the development of calcium deposits including age,...
Breast cancer is the presence of abnormal transformed cells that can harm healthy tissues. It is diagnosed in more than 192,000 women and almost 2,000 men each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Screening for breast cancer involves...
Breast cancer occurs when normal cells divide and multiply in an abnormal manner in the breast tissues. When the cancer cells gather together over time, they begin to form a tumor; this is called a malignancy. Performing a monthly self-exam of...
A three-dimensional ultrasound, known as 3DUS, is a new technology that creates images of the body to assist doctors in making a diagnosis. 3DUS has seen widespread use in obstectrics but is expanding to other fields as well, including cardiology,...
Mammograms are X-rays of breast tissue used for early detection of breast cancer. While it's rare for vigorous exercise to cause an abnormal mammogram, there are some exercise considerations to keep in mind before going in for a mammogram,...
Expecting a baby is exciting for many parents. The thought of either bringing your first child into the world or adding another child to your family can be overwhelming and emotional. With today's technology, it is often possible to determine...
