Breast cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast. Under normal circumstances, the cells of the body reproduce in an orderly manner in order to facilitate growth and replace worn-out or damaged tissues. Cancer is caused when the cells grow uncontrollably into a mass of tissue, which is called a tumor. These tumors could be non-cancerous (benign) or they could be cancerous (malignant). The malignant or cancerous cells keep building up and form a tumor. Sometimes these malignant cells spread to other parts of the body through the lymph system, forming new cancers called metastases or secondaries.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
There are no symptoms and no pain in early cancer. Cancer is first suspected when an individual discovers a breast lump or when an abnormality is found on mammography. Though all breast lumps are not necessarily cancerous, it is important to get them evaluated by a doctor to rule out the incidence of cancer.
Other signs of cancer could be a lump above the collarbone or in the armpit that does not go away or nipple inversion that is a new development and was not present earlier. Breast discharge that is bloody or only from one breast are also cause for concern and should be checked by a doctor.
Risk Factors for Cancer
Gender, age and hereditary factors are the three major determining factors for breast cancer.
Gender is a critical factor and women are at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than men.
Though breast cancer can occur at any age, the risk increases with age. A 60 year old woman has a 1 in 30 chance of developing cancer as opposed to a 30 year old woman who has once chance in 280.
Women who have a family history of cancer are also at a higher risk of developing cancer.
When to seek Medical Care
Breast cancer is not an overnight development; it develops and grows over months and years. However once it is identified, treatment should be sought immediately as breast cancer is much more difficult to treat when it spreads.
It is critical that you see a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the possible symptoms of cancer or if any abnormality has been found in your mammogram.
Treatment of Breast Cancer
Treatment of cancer has the highest success rate is treatment is started in the early stages. There are several different treatment methods available, which are often used in combination taking into consideration individual circumstances.
Some of the possible treatment methods include:
Chemotherapy- where the cancer cells are controlled or killed with a course of drugs.
Radiotherapy- where the cancer cells are controlled or killed with a course of high energy X-rays.
Surgery- this could involve either a lumpectomy, where the cancer along with a small part of the breast surrounding it is removed or a mastectomy , where the entire breast is removed.
Hormone therapy- this form of treatment is used to control the growth of breast cancer that develops and grows due to changes in hormones.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Breast cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases among women. It plays second fiddle only to lung cancer as the top killer of women in the United States and the rest of the world. And since the 1970s, recorded cases of the disease have continuously increased at an alarming rate. Breast cancer can also happen to men, albeit rarely; around 12,000 American men contract this disease every year.
Despite the nasty reputation of breast cancer, doctors have yet to find out the real causes of the disease. Right now, experts believe that cancer cells in the breasts develop as a result of a combination of risk factors. Nonetheless, doctors are sure that bumping or accidentally hurting your breasts can not trigger cancer.
Many studies confirm that certain elements may put a woman in an increased susceptibility to breast cancer. Women with one or all of these risk elements may be more imperiled than other women who are free from such factors. Here are the determinants of breast cancer to watch out for.
Age
Your likelihood of having this type of disease increases as you become older. Statistically speaking, most breast cancer patients are women who are at least in their 60s. In fact before the menopausal stage, this disease may be considered extraordinary even for women.
Personal And Family History
If one of your breasts has cancer or if you had breast cancer before, your risk of having cancer on your other breast is greatly increased. In fact, the likelihood of having breast cancer under these circumstances may have quadrupled.
In the same manner, if someone in your family has been afflicted with this disease, you may be more prone to getting breast cancer. If your mother, your sister or even your child has been stricken down with this disease, you have to be careful because your risk can be higher than other women. Heredity plays a significant role in the development of this type of cancer.
Habits And Lifestyle
If you do not have close relatives who suffered from breast cancer, it does not mean that you are guaranteed to be free from getting the disease. Your habits and lifestyle can also contribute to the occurrence of cancer cells in your breasts. Women who smoke and are addicted to alcohol, for instance, have increased chances of suffering the disease. Obesity and use of contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy can also support the growth of cancerous tissues in the breasts.
Ways To Deal With Cancer
So far, mainstream cancer therapeutic procedures like chemotherapy and hormone therapy are the best steps that women with breast cancer should take. This is not to say that there are too few anti-cancer cures available; quite on the contrary, women who suffer from the disease have more medical options today than two or three decades ago.
However, there are some alternative measures that can complement regular breast cancer medication. Foremost among these measures is detoxification. Naturopaths or people who treat diseases by using natural remedies believe that the way to a healthier and cancer-free life is by eating healthy and living right.
This philosophy is not without basis. Practitioners of alternative medicine stress that the human body is not equipped to fight foreign substances brought about by pollution, chemicals and other environmental elements. Because of this, harmful substances are stored by the body and, over time, a buildup of toxins inside cells and tissues occurs.
These toxic substances are the ones responsible for the many diseases that happen today, which includes breast cancer. Cleansing the body of these poisonous substances can greatly help in preventing the growth of cancer cells in the breasts. Nevertheless, you have to think of these methods as supportive or additional steps in the fight against the disease; breast cancer patients still need help from doctors and drug medication.
There are many ways to go about your internal cleansing. You can do it by taking only water for several days, or you can use fruit juices and raw fruits or vegetables. Another option is to use products like Colpurin. For more information about how to cleanse and revitalize your internal system, you can click on
Both Gabriel Adams & Janet Martin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Janet Martin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Womens Health, Pregnancy Problems and Asthma. Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine.
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