Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant growth that starts from cells in the breast. It is one of the commonest cancers women suffer and between 40 and 55 years of age. It is unfortunately one of the main causes of female death below the age of 60 but more women now beat it than ever.
All the publicity and campaigns have raised the profile of breast cancer and women are very aware of the risks. Survival rates improve every year and the earlier the cancer is found higher the cure rate. Men get breast cancer as well but it is 100 times less common.
Breast Cancer Incidence
Compared with 20 years ago there are many more women with breast cancer. Developed countries have the highest number and poorer countries the lowest. Early diagnosis, better surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy save many more lives a year than in the past.
Death rates have been dropping steadily since 1990 and one of the keys to this is early diagnosis. Indeed medical experts attribute the decline in breast cancer deaths to both this and more effective treatments.
The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
One of the commonest symptoms of breast cancer is a breast lump. However 90% of lumps are not cancer. Other symptoms include nipple discharge, change in shape of the nipple and a red, itchy rash. If any of these symptoms appear you should see your doctor for a check up.
Treatment of Breast Cancer
The combination of treatment you receive depends on the type and spread (or stage) of the cancer. Stage 0 means the cancer is localised to the breast and stage 4 means it has gone to other parts of your body. Your treatment varies with the spread of the cancer.
Surgery, powerful cancer fighting drugs, x-rays, hormones and new drugs like Herceptin are the mainstays of modern treatment. Your treatment can be aimed locally at the tumour or more widely affect the rest of your body.
Surgery and modern targeted radiation can be used directly on your tumour. The other drug therapies are all given by injection and can affect your whole body. They can have unpleasant side effects and some days they seem to be more of a problem than the cancer.
Surviving Breast Cancer
Increasing numbers of women are beating breast cancer every year. Roughly speaking a woman with stage 0 cancer has the best chance of beating cancer and stage 4 the worst. These are only rough guides and are derived from thousands of women a year. We are all individuals and respond differently so it's important to remain as upbeat as possible. Both sexes have similar chances of beating the disease.
Breast cancer rates are increasing and affect all ages. It is devastating to be diagnosed with cancer. But with better and earlier detection breast cancer can be beaten.
Breast cancer does not mean you are going to die but it is an enormous shock, which can be taken on and overcome. Female relatives may need to be assessed as many cancers are related to particular genes.
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