FREE ESSAY ON BREAST CANCER

BREAST CANCER

Breast Cancer
Cancer is not just one disease but rather a group of diseases. All forms of cancer cause
cells in the body to 
change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a
tumor. Cells from the 
tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body. There they can continue to
grow. This spreading process 
is called metastasis. When cancer spreads, it is still named after the part of the body
where it started. For example, if 
breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is still breast cancer, not lung cancer. Another
word for cancerous is malignant. 
So a cancerous tumor is called malignant. But not all tumors are cancer. A tumor that is
not cancer is called benign. 
Benign tumors do not grow and spread the way cancer does. They are usually not a threat
to life. A few cancers, 
such as blood cancers (leukemia), do not form a tumor. Most kinds of cancer are named
after the part of the body 
where the cancer first starts. Breast cancer begins in the breast tissue. This article
refers only to breast cancer in 
women. Men can also get breast cancer, although this is rare. [Women.com, pp. 6]
Inside the breasts are glands that produce and release milk after a woman has a baby. The
glands that make 
the milk are called lobules and the tubes that connect them to the nipple are called
ducts. The breast itself is made up 
of lobules; ducts; and fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue. There are several types
of breast tumors. Most are 
benign; that is, they are not cancer. These lumps are often caused by fibrocystic
changes. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs, 
and fibrosis refers to connective tissue or scar tissue formation. Fibrocystic changes
can cause breast swelling and 
pain. The breasts may feel lumpy and sometimes there is a clear or slightly cloudy nipple
discharge. Benign breast 
tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are
not life-threatening. 
[Lawrence, pp. 54] Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin
cancer. It is the second 
leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. Many great doctors predicts
that there will be 
about 184,200 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the year 2000 among women in this
country and about 41,200 
deaths from the disease. Breast cancer also occurs among men, although much less often.
Death rates from breast 
cancer declined significantly during 1992 to 1996, with the largest decrease in younger
women-- both white and 
black. This decline is probably the result of better detection and improved treatment. We
do not yet know exactly 
what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the
disease. A risk factor is 
something that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Different cancers have
different risk factors. Some 
risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family
history, can't be changed. 
[Lee, pp. 124] While all women are at risk for breast cancer, the factors listed below
can increase the chances of 
having the disease. Some studies suggest that long-term use (10 years or more) of
estrogen replacement therapy, 
sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, for relief of menopause symptoms may
slightly increase the risk of 
breast cancer. This risk applies only to current and recent users. A woman's breast
cancer risk returns to that of the 
general population within 5 years of stopping ERT. Replacement therapy also lowers the
risk of heart attacks and 
bone fractures; therefore, women should talk to their doctors about the pros and cons of
using ERT. At this time, 
there is no certain way to prevent breast cancer. For now, the best strategy is to reduce
risk factors whenever 
possible and follow the guidelines for finding breast cancer early. A personal or family
history of breast cancer may 
make genetic testing an option for some women. About 50%-60% of women with certain
genetic changes 
(mutations) will develop breast cancer by the age of 70. They also have an increased risk
of ovarian cancer. Genetic 
testing can tell if a woman has these mutated genes, but it cannot predict whether a
woman will get breast cancer. 
Genetic testing is expensive and is not covered by some health plans. People with
positive results might not be able 
to get insurance, or coverage might only be available at a much higher cost. You need to
weigh carefully the benefits 
and the drawbacks before you proceed with testing. [cancer.com, pp. 11] The drug
tamoxifen has been used for 
many years as a treatment for some breast cancer. Recent studies show that women at high
risk for breast cancer are 
less likely to develop the disease if they take tamoxifen. Another drug, raloxifene, also
blocks the effect of estrogen 
on breast tissue and some studies seem to show that it lowers the risk of breast cancer.
But raloxifene has not yet 
been approved for this use. In some rare cases, women at very high risk might consider a
preventive (prophylactic) 
mastectomy. This is an operation in which one or both breasts are removed before there is
any known breast cancer. 
The reasons for considering this type of surgery need to be very strong. They would
include one or more of the 
following: inherited mutated genes, an earlier breast cancer, a strong family history of
breast cancer, and diagnosis 
of certain conditions such as lobular carcinoma in situ. While the operation reduces the
risk of breast cancer, it does 
not guarantee that cancer won't develop in the small amount of breast tissue remaining
after the operation. The 
earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances for successful treatment. Because
early breast cancer does not 
produce symptoms, it's important for all women to follow the guidelines for finding
breast cancer early. A 
mammogram and a breast exam by a doctor or nurse (clinical breast examination) every year
for women over the 
age of 40. Between the ages of 20 and 39, women should have a clinical breast exam every
3 years. All women over 
20 should do breast self- examination (BSE) every month. Together, these methods offer
the best chance of finding 
breast cancer early. Each is covered in more detail below. [Vacan, pp. 37]
This paper has covered many things that people have learned and taught. Breast cancer is
a really serious 
type of cancer that can be treated if caught in the early stage. I have learned many
things about breast cancer such as 
how to detect it, treat it, and fight it. Breast cancer is one major fear of most women
in the world today.
Bibliography
Works Cited
Cancer.com. Cancer Facts. New York: World Wide Web, 1994: 1-16
Feigenbeum, Lawrence H. Women in the 90's. Dallas: Jovanovich, 1999
Lee, Susan A. Women Dealing With Breast Cancer. California: Harccurt, 1962
Vacan, Juile. Cancer in Women Today. New York: Teen People, 2000: 25-37
Women.com. Women on the Web. Florida: World Wide Web, 1998: 6-9