Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. There are 200,000 new cases of breast cancer each year, resulting in 47,000 deaths per year. The lifetime risk of breast cancer is one in eight for a woman who is age 20. For patients under age 60, the chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in about 400. Did you know that in 1999, 175,000 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (1 every 3 minutes).

Pathophysiology
The etiology of breast cancer remains unknown, but two Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy breast cancer genes have been cloned-the BRCA-1 and the BRCA-2 genes. Estrogen stimulation is an important promoter of breast cancer, and, therefore, patients who have a long history of menstruation are at increased Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy risk. Early menarche and late menopause are risk factors for breast cancer. Late age at Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy, birth of first child or null parity also increase the risk of breast cancer. Family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy and history of benign breast disease also increase the risk of breast cancer. The use of estrogen replacement therapy or oral contraceptives slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. Radiation exposure and alcoholic beverage consumption also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Facts:

1.Breast cancer is 100 times more common among women than men.
2.A woman's risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.
3.Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.
4.Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease, or who themselves had previous bouts of breast cancer.
5.Women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk.
6.Long time use of Hormone Replacement Therapy, after menopause, may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
7.Regular consumption of alcohol, cigarette smoking, and a diet high in polyunsaturated fats increases your risk of developing breast cancer.
8.Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women aged 40-59.
9.Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
10.Every thirteen minute a woman dies from breast cancer.
11.One in every eight women is at risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
12.During 2000, it is estimated that 182,800 women and 1,400 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
13.Approximately 40,800 women and 400 men will die with breast cancer this year.
14.During the 1990s, approximately 1.8 million women and 12,000 men were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
15.When breast cancer is confined to the breast, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent.

How to Do A Self Exam?

1.While Lying Down

Place a pillow under your right shoulder, and your right hand under your head.
Check the breast tissue using a circular, rubbing motion without lifting the fingers.

Vary pressure of your fingers to examine the different layers of breast tissue.
Light pressure: enough to move the skin, but not the underlying layers.
Medium pressure: checks the mid layer of tissue.
Deep pressure: press almost to the ribs, just short of causing discomfort.
Use one of the three techniques for your examination (remember to include the underarm tissue in your exam)

Lines: start in the underarm area and lower your fingers until they are below the breast, move back upwards toward the middle. Use this up and down movement over the entire breast area.
Circles: start at the outer edge of your breast, moving your fingers slowly around the breast in a circle. Examine the breast in smaller and smaller circles, moving toward the nipple.
Wedges: at the outer edge of the breast, move your fingers toward the nipple and back to the edge in a V shape motion. Perform the same movement around the entire breast.

2.While Standing in the Shower

(follow the same techniques outlined above)

3.Mirror Exam

With arms lowered to your sides, look for any dimpling, puckering or other abnormality.

Look for any discharge from both nipples.

After performing the following test if you have any doubts as to whether you have this disease or you feel that you should do a thorough check up then please contact your physician or an specialized doctor.