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. After the birth of a baby, these glands in a womans breast produce milk to nourish the infant.These glands are composed of somewhere between 1520 lobes each. Special ducts (tubelike structures) serve to transfer the milk from the glands to the nipple. As the breast fills with milk, both the ducts and glands enlarge. Fatty tissue in the breast is the primary factor determining the size and shape of the breast.Tumors, which can sometimes grow in the breast, have the potential of being cancerous.

A malignant tumor (cancerous) is composed of an outofcontrol growth of abnormal cells. Noncancerous (benign) tumors are incapable of spreading through the body. A malignant tumor is one that is capable of spreading throughout the body and referred to as cancerous. Breast cancer is diagnosed when malignant (cancerous) tumors are found in the breast. Though it is possible for any breast tissue to develop malignant tendencies, normally cancer cells develop in either the ducts or glands. European and North American women receive a diagnosis of breast cancer more than any other form of cancer. Over 200,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. Though second in death rates among American women (lung cancer being first), a diagnosis of breast cancer is still very dangerous.

Keep in mind, just because breast cancer is serious, there are many who survive it. The chance of a woman developing breast cancer is 1 in 8; but her chance of dying from it is 1 in 28. Age is the largest risk factor for a woman developing breast cancer. Older women have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than younger women. A womans risk also increases if her first menstrual cycle occurred at a younger than normal age. In addition, other factors to consider are whether or not there is a presence of breast cancer in the womans family; how old she was at the time of her first pregnancy and the possibility of mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. 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 believed a woman may lower her risk of breast cancer if she has her first child prior to age 30, breastfeeds the infant and when she reaches menopause, avoids the use of longterm hormone replacement. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. The risk of developing a tumor has been shown to drop by 50% if a woman undergoes a five year course of therapy with this drug.

With early detection, a woman stands a greater chance of surviving and curing breast cancer. 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