~Important Information~
Please give time for this page to load. Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness
What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous)
tumor that starts from cells of the breast.
The disease occurs mostly in women,
but men can get breast cancer as well.
The information here refers only
to breast cancer in women.
The breast itself is made up of lobules, ducts,
fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels,
and lymph (limf) vessels.
Lymph vessels are like veins, except that
they carry lymph fluid instead of blood.
Inside the breasts are glands that produce
and release milk after a woman has a baby.
The glands that make the milk are called lobules
and the tubes that connect them
to the nipple are called ducts.
Lymph is a clear fluid that contains immune system
cells and tissue waste products.
The fluid is carried in lymph vessels that lead to small,
pea-sized collections of tissue called lymph nodes.
Most lymphatic vessels of the breast
lead to lymph nodes under the arm.
These are called axillary nodes.
When breast cancer cells reach the underarm lymph nodes
and continue to grow, they cause the nodes to swell.
Once cancer cells have reached these nodes they are
more likely to spread to other organs of the body as well.
There are several types of breast tumors.
Most are benign; that is, they are not cancer.
Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths,
but they do not spread outside of the breast
and they are not life threatening.
Some lumps aren't really tumors at all.
These lumps are often caused by fibrocystic changes.
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.
Fibrosis refers to the formation of connective
tissue or scar tissue.
Such changes can cause breast swelling and pain.
The breasts may feel lumpy and sometimes
there is a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge.
Understanding the medical language as it relates
to breast cancer can be challenging.
Here are some terms that describe the most
common types of breast cancer:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS):
This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer.
Noninvasive means that the cancer is confined to the ducts.
It has not spread through the walls of the ducts
into the fatty tissue of the breast.
Nearly all women with cancer at this stage can be cured.
The best way to find DCIS early is with a mammogram.
Infiltrating (invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC):
This cancer starts in a milk passage or duct,
breaks through the wall of the duct,
and invades the fatty tissue of the breast.
From there it can spread to other parts of the body.
IDC is the most common type of breast cancer.
It accounts for about 80% of invasive breast cancer.
Infiltrating (invasive) lobular carcinoma (ILC):
This cancer starts in the milk glands or lobules.
It can spread to other parts of the body.
About one in ten cases of invasive
breast cancers is of this type.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS):
A tumor that hasn't spread beyond the area
where it began is called in situ.
Although not a true cancer,
LCIS increases a woman's risk of developing cancer later.
For this reason, it's important that women with LCIS have
a physical exam two or three times a year,
as well as a mammogram every year.
How Many Women Get Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer
among women, other than skin cancer.
It is the second leading cause of cancer
death in women, after lung cancer.
About 211,300 women in the United States
will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2003.
About 39,800 women will die from the disease.
Breast cancer death rates declined
significantly from 1992 to 1996,
with the largest decrease in younger women
This decline is probably the result of earlier
detection and improved treatment.
What Causes Breast Cancer?
We do not yet know exactly what causes breast cancer,
but we do know that certain risk factors
are linked to the disease.
A risk factor is anything that increases
a person's chance of getting a disease such as cancer.
Different cancers have different risk factors.
Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled.
Others, like a person's age
or family history, can't be changed.
But having a risk factor, or even several,
doesn’t mean that a person will get the disease.
Signs & Symptoms of Breast Cancer
The widespread use of screening mammography
has increased the number of breast cancers
found before they cause any symptoms.
But some are still not found early.
The most common sign of breast cancer
is a new lump or mass.
A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven
edges is more likely to be cancer.
But some rare cancers are tender, soft, and rounded.
So it's important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.
Other signs of breast cancer include the following:
A swelling of part of the breast
Skin irritation or dimpling
Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
A nipple discharge other than breast milk
A lump in the underarm area
Provided by The American Cancer Society
Click on their link below
for more information.
~ * Breast Self Examination * ~
Provided by The Pink Ladies
Click on their link below
for more information.
Women over the age of 20 should examine
their breasts once a month.
If you still have menstrual periods,
the best time is seven to ten days
after the start of the period, when the
breast tenderness and swelling is over.
With your arms at your side look into
the mirror and get to know your breasts.
Turn from side to side to get a look
at different angles.
Lift your hand above your head and
turn from side to side.
Then life the other hand and do the
same thing. You may feel uncomfortable
but just check the lock on the bathroom door
and continue on. Check to see if there
are any changes in your breasts.
Very gently squeeze your nipples
to check for a discharge
Examine your skin for differences in
skin tone, puckering, dimples, bulges,
moles that have enlarged or darkened,
any lumps or sores.
Next take a deep breath. You are doing
a good job. This may take ten minutes
but it may also save your life.
Lay down now with a pillow under your
shoulders and head and your hand by your side.
Examine your breast by working your hand
around the outer parts of your breast in
a clockwise direction.
Then raise your arm above your head and
examine the inner parts of your breast.
Stretch the tissue around the inner parts.
Make sure you feel the armpit and the
top of the collarbone.
That's It!
Please do this EVERY MONTH.
~Be Wise~
~Early Detection Saves Lives~
Provided by The Pink Ladies
Click on their link below
for more information.
