Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Information

Learning about breast cancer can help you take an active role in the prevention, screening, and treatment of the disease. Becoming informed about the causes will help you understand what factors are within your control for preventing breast cancer and which ones are out of your control.

While the exact causes of breast cancer are not known, there are over twenty known factors that affect the development of breast cancer. Some of the factors associated with breast cancer include:

• Gender
• Age
• Being Overweight and Obesity
• Genetics and Heredity
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Drinking Alcohol

Importance of Early Detection

The public awareness of breast cancer has led to incredible support and research for early detection and successful treatment. The earlier the breast cancer is detected and treated, the better the chances of recovery. Approximately six out of seven breast cancer patients are diagnosed and cured at an early stage of the disease. When found at an advanced stage or after the cancer has spread (metastatic breast cancer), the chances of being cured drops to about one in seven.

Early detection of breast cancer is possible as women are aware of the symptoms and screening methods. Screening for breast cancer includes breast self-examinations, clinical exams by a nurse or doctor, and mammograms. Mammograms are x-ray pictures that can detect a breast cancer tumor even before it can be felt thru an exam. While mammograms have some limitations, the evidence is still strong that they are very beneficial in detecting early stages of cancer in many women.

Breast Cancer Treatment Options

A breast cancer patients best treatment options will usually depend on the type of breast cancer, stage of breast cancer when detected, and one's overall condition. The type of treatment will also depend on the goal of treatment, whether it is to cure the breast cancer, keep it from spreading, or to relieve the symptoms. Breast cancer surgery to remove the tumor is often the primary treatment approach. Additional breast cancer treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. Many times the recommended treatment includes a combination of treatment types.