Breast Cancer

Introduction

Cancer is a dangerous disease. It could turn out to be fatal and over the years, the very term cancer has been associated with immense fear and concern for people all over the world. Statistics have revealed that cancer is the most common cause of fatalities all over the world and accounted for about 7.6 million deaths in the year 2008.The major reason for the spread of cancer is said to be the usage of tobacco, alcoholism, insufficient and poor dietary intake, and lack of physical activity. It has also been estimated that more than 30 percent of deaths caused by cancer can be prevented, but lack of awareness and lifestyle factors contribute to the rapid death rate because of the said disease. The rate is quite alarming because approximations show that by the year 2030, death rates would increase to over 11 million. Normal cells to feel the contact with neighboring cells inhibit reproduction, but the malignant cells do not have this brake. Most cancers form tumors, but some do not (such as leukemia).

Cancer is a genetic disease because the changes occur in particular genes; however, in most of the cases, cancer is not caused because of inheritance. When cancer is inherited, there is some defect in the genes of a parent or both the parents, which is then transmitted to the zygote. Moreover, when alterations occur in the genes causing cancer, the changed occur in the DNA of the somatic cells throughout the lifespan of the affected person. Once alterations occur in the genes, there is an uncontrollable spread of cancer cells which results in the formation of malignant tumors which further invades the healthy tissues near the tumor cells. Since the mid-50's, when it began mammalian cell cultures, a large number of tumor cells have been adapted to growth in culture.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a common cancer observed in females worldwide, both before and after the menopause. One out of nine women is reported to be victimized by breast cancer during her lifetime while one out of twenty seven is expected to face death. Most likely, breast cancer occurs after the age of fifty. The survival rate varies from 80% to 90% after diagnoses depending on the age and type of cancer.

Breast cancer is a highly aggressive malignant tumor due to its extraordinarily high potency of metastasis. Metastases are more frequent in the auxiliary lymph nodes - in 48-73.6%, then the supraclavicular - in 16-19%, and parasternal - in 2.4-15%. There are two known ways of metastatic breast cancer: the most common - and least common lymphogenous gemogenny. Hematogenous metastases may occur in any organ. Breast cancer is a disease of women of middle and old age. Symptoms of cancer of the body are various degrees of asymmetry of the breast, inverted nipple with serous and spotting, as well as redness and swelling of the skin over the tumor. On palpation, the tumor is determined by the different sizes, according to the form it can ...