Breast Cancer—What, When and Why?

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2004 more than 180,000 cancer deaths were expected to be caused by tobacco use. Scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of the 563,700 cancer deaths expected to occur in 2004 will be related to nutrition, physical inactivity, overweight or obesity, and other lifestyle factors, and thus could also be prevented. Certain cancers are related to infectious exposures and could be prevented through behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics.

Cancer is supposed to be the second leading cause of death among Americans, and it is responsible for one of every four deaths in the United States. In 2004, more than 560,000 Americans—or more than 1,500 people a day—will die of cancer. More than 18 million new cases of cancer have been diagnosed since 1990, and about 1.4 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2004 alone. In addition, surprisingly many of the more than 1 million skin cancers that were expected to be diagnosed in 2004 could have been prevented by protection from the sun's rays. The number of new cancer cases can be reduced substantially, and many cancer deaths can be prevented. Adopting healthier lifestyles—for example, avoiding tobacco use, increasing physical activity, achieving optimal weight, improving nutrition, and avoiding sun exposure—can significantly reduce a person’s risk for cancer .

Almost every woman worries about breast cancer and would like to do everything she can to reduce her chance of ever getting the disease. And if you're a woman who has already had breast cancer, you certainly want to do everything possible to never see that cancer again.

According to BreastCancer.org, breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death (exceeded by lung cancer in 1985). Breast cancer is three times more common than all gynecologic malignancies put together. The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing steadily from an incidence of 1:20 in 1960 to 1:8 women today. The American Cancer Society estimates that 211,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year and 43,300 patients will die from the disease. Breast cancer is truly an epidemic among women and sometimes, we don’t know the exact reasons.

Breast cancer is not exclusively a disease of women. For every 100 women with breast cancer, 1 male will develop the disease. The American Cancer society estimates that 1,600 men will develop the disease this year. The evaluation of men with breast masses is similar to that in women, including mammography. The incidence of breast cancer is very low in the 20’s gradually increases and plateaus at the age of 45 and increases dramatically after 50 years of age. Moreover, 50% of breast cancer is diagnosed in women over sixty-five indicating the ongoing necessity of yearly screening throughout a woman's life.

Risk factors:

• Early onset of menses and late menopause: Onset of the menstrual cycle prior to the age of 12 and menopause after 50 causes increased risk of developing breast cancer.
  
  
• Diets high in saturated fat: The types of fat are important. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil and olive oil do not appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer like polyunsaturated fats; corn oil and meat.
  
  
• Family history of breast cancer: Patients with a positive family history of breast cancer are at increased risk for developing the disease. However, 85% of women with breast cancer have a negative family history!
  
  

So after seeing the above-mentioned facts and figures from many reputed organizations. Before you can launch an effective battle against breast cancer, it’s important to understand some basics: What is breast cancer and how does it happen? What are the stages of breast cancer, and why are they important to you? What are some of the myths about your risk of breast cancer? Knowledge is the power here.

Examining your breasts is an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it's most likely to be cured. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself. No woman wants to do a Breast Self Exam (or "BSE"), and for many, the experience is frustrating—you may feel things but not know what they mean. There's a whole world of testing that goes along with taking care of your breasts. No matter where you are on the line between healthy breasts and breast cancer, tests can be nerve-wracking. But they're an indispensable part of finding breast cancer early, when it's most treatable, helping your treatment team design the treatment that's right for you, and determining the effectiveness of your continuing care.

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