Breast Cancer | Most Common Cause Of Cancer In Women

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Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. While the majority of new breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormality seen on a mammogram, a lump or change in consistency of the breast tissue can also be a warning sign of the disease. Heightened awareness of breast cancer risk in the past decades has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates. Still, breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Although breast cancer in women is a common form of cancer, male breast cancer does occur and accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.

Research has yielded much information about the causes of breast cancers, and it is now believed that genetic and/or hormonal factors are the primary risk factors for breast cancer. Staging systems have been developed to allow doctors to characterize the extent to which a particular cancer has spread and to make decisions concerning treatment options. Breast cancer treatment depends upon many factors, including thee type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Treatment options for breast cancer may involve surgery (removal of the cancer alone or, in some cases, mastectomy), radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and/or chemotherapy.

With advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the death rate for breast cancer has declined by about 20% over the past decade, and research is ongoing to develop even more effective screening and treatment programs.

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Breast Cancer Support: Finding Help Through Cancer

One of the most difficult situations someone can face is a cancer diagnosis. A whirlwind of emotions blows through leaving traces of shock and fear, anger and anxiety and even depression. One of the most common emotions a patient (and their family members) experience is a feeling of helplessness. Patients feel out of control, sitting in the most terrifying seat of roller coaster ride that won't stop.

Family members and care givers undergo the same feeling, only they truly are helpless. There is nothing they can do that will make this go away, they can’t physically save their loved ones from the pain, the fear - they can only watch. Caregivers are placed in a very vital yet traumatizing role for their cancer fighting loved ones. What both the patient and care givers need to understand is that there is no "right" or "wrong" way of dealing with the news or what results. They also need to remember that they are not alone in these struggles.

Preventing Stress For a Better Recovery

One thing common with cancer patients is stress. It is constant and unrelenting and yet needs to be avoided as much as possible for a better recovery. Patients find many things to stress over, and they have a right to be concerned. A patient from the Kentuckiana Cancer Institute said “I worry for my family mostly. Who would look after them, if I was gone?” She also said that her next greatest stress was fear of the unknown. She didn’t know enough about her diagnosis, or treatments, or cures, or where she could find help. Prolonged stress can lead to other physical concerns and emotions: lack of sleep, pain, irritability, anger, depression etc. Some ways to reduce stress include:

* Accept that there are events you can not control.
* Eat well-balanced meals, high in cancer fighting properties such as avocados, blueberries, chili peppers, grapefruit, garlic, shitake mushrooms, rosemary, turmeric, broccoli, teas, etc.
* Exercise regularly, even if it is a short walk in the park. Fresh air, sunny days and being physically fit all aid in cancer fighting as well as reducing stress, anxiety and depression.
* Try as hard as possible to remain positive instead of becoming angry, combative or aggressive - the only thing to result from anger is guilt and depression for you and your loved ones. Caregivers often feel the anger directed at them instead of the cancer in general and in turn makes the care giver fight depression battles of his/her own.
* Try to keep as much of your daily routine the same before and after your cancer diagnosis. In doing this, it allows patients to keep their feeling of independence and strength.

Available Support for Breast Cancer Patients
Read more at Suite101: Breast Cancer Support: Finding Help Through Cancer http://cancer.suite101.com/article.cfm/breast-cancer-support#ixzz0gp88G3Py



Breast Cancer Support: Finding Help Through Cancer

Invasive Breast Cancer: Risks and Signs of Invasive Carcinoma

Breast cancer is not bound by age or gender and those battling the disease are not just another statistic. It is real and it is changing the lives of both women and men everywhere. According to the American Cancer Society, women in the U.S.A. have a one in eight chance of developing invasive breast cancer and some may have it without even knowing it.

What is Invasive Breast Cancer?

Invasive is simply another word for "spreading." Cancer diagnosed as "invasive" means it has spread outside the lobules or ducts from which it originated. Cancer does not become metastatic unless it has spread to another area of the body; lymph nodes, brain, bones, liver, lungs etc. The forms of invasive breast cancer include:

* Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) - In this case, the cancer cells would have started in the milk ducts and from there invaded the fatty breast tissue. This form is the most common and counts for approximately 80% of invasive cancers. It begins as ductal carcinoma in situ.
* Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) - This cancer is less common, counting for only 10-15% of invasive breast cancers. This form starts in the lobules or milk glands and spreads in the same fashion as IDC, only it is harder to diagnose. Women feel a thickening in the breast rather than a lump.

The Risks and Signs of Invasive Breast Cancer

The risks and signs vary with every person, being that every body is unique in its makeup. It can occur at any age, no matter how many precautions you take. According to the American Cancer Society, one out of eight invasive breast cancer diagnoses are given to women under age 45 and two out of every three women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when they are first diagnosed.

Breast cancer may have no signs or symptoms at all, especially during the early stages. However, you may notice one or more of the following signs:

* a lump or thickening of the breast that persists through the menstrual cycle
* a mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea
* a change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast
* nipple discharge
* a change in the skin of the breast - dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed
* a change in shape or position of the nipple
* an area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast
* a marble-like hardened area under the skin

For earlier detection, a monthly breast self exam is recommended.

Read more at Suite101: Invasive Breast Cancer: Risks and Signs of Invasive Carcinoma http://cancer.suite101.com/article.cfm/invasive-breast-cancer#ixzz0gp7OIR64

Invasive Breast Cancer: Risks and Signs of Invasive Carcinoma