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Breast Cancer
Abstract:
Breast cancer is a disease that forms when cells grow and divide abnormally. There are many risk
factors, yet most who do develop the disease do not have these risk factors present. Early detection is the key
for treatment and subsequently a cure. Breast cancer may develop in anyone, both male and female, so
people should be aware of what it is and the symptoms that may be present.
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Introduction
Photo #1
Body
Systems
Conclusions
Difficult words
Index
References
Body of the paper.
What is breast cancer? Breast cancer, laike any other cancer, begins in the cells. it
is a disease that forms when cells grow and divide abnormally. These extra cells form
tumors, which are either benign, non-cancerous, or malignant. Malignant tumors are
cancerous and can metastasize, or spread. The cancer cells can break away from the
malignant tumor into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This can then cause the cancer
to metastasize to other parts of the body.
Often when breast cancer metastasizes it moves to the axillary lymph nodes, lymph
nodes located in the armpit area. This may mean that the cancer has readched other
lymph nodes or organs. Even though the cancer is in a different location, it is mad up of
the same breast cancer cells, and therefore is still breast cancer. This is called Metastatic
Breast Cancer.
Although scientists do not know the exact causes of breast cancer, it is now known
who is at the higher risk. Most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and the
risk is especially high for women over the age of 60. Also, Black and Asian women have
less of a risk than White women.
However, there are also other risk factors. People, men and women, who have
already had breast cancer, face a higher risk of getting it in the other breast. This risk
complies to people who have a member of their immediate family diagnosed, as well. Also,
women who are exposed to estrogen longer than normal, for example early menstruation
(before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), or hormone replace ment therapy, are at
risk. A greater chance of receiving breast cancer can be to those whose breast are exposed
to radiation or those who drink alcohol, as well. Even though these may cause a higher
risk, most who develop breast cancer have none of these risk factors.
In addition to this, some tend to think that risk factors depend on lifestyle. Some
statements have been made to lead to the inquiry that some life choices may cause breast
cancer, for instance using antiperspirants or having abortions. Where did you get this
info? How was it disproved??Scientists have not found any information to prove either one
of these allegations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with scientists at the
National Cancer Institute did not find evidence or research data to support the allegation
that antiperspirants are linked to breast cancer. Although the relationship between
abortions and breast cancer have been thoroughly examined, evidence of a dirent
relationship is very inconsistent. This means that there is no evidence to prove this theory.
Most of all, it is best that breast cancer is detected early. Peoople can take an active
role in early detection with brest self-exams, screening mammograms, or clinical breast
exams. It is recommended that people age 40 or older have mammograms or clinical
breast exams regularly, every one or two years. In a mammogram, if the breast looks
suspicious, a doctor may advise a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which fluid or tissue
must be removed from the breast in order for the doctor to make a diagnosis.
It is very essential that symptoms be recognized to detect what may be breast
cancer. A lump or thickening in or near the breast or armpit area should be watched for.
A different look of the breast, such as ridges or pitting like the skin of an orange, swelling,
redness, scaly skin, or change in size, should be considered a symptom. Nipple discharge
and tenderness should be watched for, as well. Remembr that all symptoms should
bechecked by the doctor even if there is a chance it could be nothing. As the saying goes,
"Better safe than sorry."
Lika all cancers, treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage of the disease.
Most of treatment of breast cancer involves surgery, yet there are other treatments, which
do not involve surgery. Treatments that do not consist of surgery include radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone replacement therapy. Radiation therapy uses x-rays
or machines which administer radiation, such as linear accelerator or cobalt apparatus.
These machines areused to kill or shrink the cancer cells. This method is not used for
cancer that has already spread. Chemotherapy treats the cancer with drugs taken by
mouth or injections. The drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach areas of the body
where the cancer may have spread. Hormone replacement therapy involves hormone
replacement, alteration, or the removal of certain hormone producing organs, such as the
ovaries. This type of therapy cannot be used for all types of breast cancer. It is only for
those whoich have receptors that are affected by different hormones.
There are many types of surgery options for breast cancer treatment. These
surgeries include lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, total mastectomy, modified radical
mastectomy, and radical mastectomy. In most cases of surgeries the axillary lymoh nides
are removed and radiation treatment follows. A lumpectomy is when a tumor is removed
from the breast, as well as somesurrounding tissue. A partial mastectomy is when the
cancer tissue, along with a portion of the surrounding breast tissue, and the lining over the
chest muscle below the tumor are removed. A total mastectomy involves the entire breast
to be removed. A modified radical mastectomy requires the entire breast and the lining
over the chest muscles to be removed. A radical mastectomy is usually only used if the
cancer has certainly spread to the ches muscle because the entire breast and underlying
chest muscles are needed to be removed for this surgery.
In conclusion, everyone, males and females, should be aware of breast cancer. Even
though breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women and
incidents within men are rar, it is possible for men to develop breast cancer too. It is
approximated that in the year 2001, 1,500 males will be diagnosed and 400 men will die for
the disease. It is true that breast cancer is not yet preventable, but there are numerous
treatments and researches being done. If detected soon enough, it can be treated and
hopefully cured. Early detection is the key. It is advisable to do breast self-exams monthly
in addition to annual breast exams done by a professional.
The following table lists the Major Organ Systems in the Human Body. The effects of breast cancer are
listed, along with the reference or pictures of this effect.
top
System
Effect
Reference:
Integumentary system
Muscular system
Skeletal system
Nervous system
Endocrine system
Circulatory system
Lymphatic system
this causes the cancer to spread
throughout
www.
cancernet.n
ci.cih.gov
the body
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Urinary system
Reproductive system.
References:
1) www. cancernet.nci.cih.gov
This website is one in which doctors are a part of.
2) www.ricancercouncil.org/facts/bretreat.htm
This website contains entries which are medically reviewed.
3) www.nabco.org/resources/indes.html
The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organization is includes information from clinical
workers.
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Difficult words
benign
malignant
metastasis
axillary
biopsy
top
Definitions:
benign- non-cancerous
malignant- cancerous and can spread to the bloodstream of lymphatic system
metastasis- the spreading of cancer
axillary lymph nodes- lymph nodes located in the armpit area
screening- searching for the disease when no symptoms appear
mammogram- x-ray of the breast
biopsy- fluid or tissue which are removedto be examined under a microscope
Index: top
A. What is breast cancer?
1. like any other cancer, it begins in the cells.
2. a disease that forms when cells grow and divide abnormally
3. tumor grow
a. benign
b.
malignant
-can metastasize to bloodstream or lymphatic system
B. Risk Factors
1. women over age 50
2. Black and Asian women have less of a chance than White women
3. one breast already diagnosed
4. women who are exposed to estrogen longer
5. late childbearing
6. exposed to radiation
7. most cases do not have risk factor
C. Related Subjects
1. Antiperspirants linked to breast cancer
a. U.S. FDA and NCI find no proof
2. abortions
D. Detection
1. self-exams
a. done monthly
2. screening mammogram
a. best tool available
b. people age 40 and older should be checked every one or two years
c. if suspicious looking, a biopsy may be advised
-diagnosis made from fluid or tissue of the breast
3. clinical breast exam
a. done by a professional
E. Symptoms
1. lump
2. pitting like skin of an orange
3. swelling, redness, and scaly skin
4. nipple discharge and tenderness
5. all symptoms should be checked by a doctor
F. Treatment
1. Without surgery
a. radiation therapy
- x-rays or machines which administer radiation
- not used for cancer that has already spread
b. chemotherapy
- drugs by mouth or injections
c. hormone replacement therapy
-only for the cancers that are affected by different hormones
2. Surgeries
a. Lumpectomy
- tumor and surrounding tissue
b. partial mastectomy
- caner tissue, surrounding breast tissue, and lining over the chest muscle
c. totally mastectomy
- entire breast
d. modified radical mastectomy
- entire breast and lining over chest muscles
e. radical mastectomy
- only used if cancer has certainly spread to chest muscle
- entire breast and underlying chest muscles
G. Conclusion
1. breast cancer number two death of all women
2. men can develop breast cancer also
3. breast cancer not yet preventable
-
research and treatment
4. early detection is the key
5. get checked regularly