Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, accounting for 30% of cancers women get. Each year, there are approximately 185,000 new cases of breast cancer and 45,000 deaths from it. Only lung cancer causes more cancer deaths among women.
Men can also develop breast cancer, but it is very unusual. About 300 men die each year from the disease.
Breast cancer results from malignant tumors which invade and destroy normal tissue. When these tumors break away and spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastasis. Breast cancers can spread to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bone and brain.
Increase in age is the number one risk factor for breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has given the following statistics for a woman's chances of developing breast cancer:
By Age |
 25........................1 in
19,60830........................1 in 2,52535........................1 in 62240........................1 in 21745........................1 in 9350........................1 in 5055........................1 in 3360........................1 in 2465........................1 in 1770........................1 in 1475........................1 in 1180........................1 in 1085........................1 in 9Lifetime................1 in 8 |
The risk of breast cancer increases above the normal risk with these factors:
Personal history of breast cancer
increasing the risk for additional cancer in the remaining breast tissue
Never giving birth or giving birth after
age 30
Early onset of menstruation (before age 12)
Late menopause (after age 55)
Family history of breast cancer for a woman
whose mother, daughter, or sister has had the disease. The woman's risk increases even
more if her relative's cancer developed before menopause or if it affected both breasts
Exposure to radiation
Diet high in fat
Being overweight (for older women only)
Detection
Early screening for breast cancer includes:
Mammograms -
X-rays of the breast. (See Common Health Tests & How Often to
Have Them.) Make sure you have mammograms at facilities that are accredited by the
American College of Radiology (ACR). Call the National Cancer Institute Hotline at
1-800-4-CANCER to find ones in your area.
Clinical breast exams - breast exams by a
doctor or nurse
Breast self-exam (See How to Examine Your Breasts later in this
section.)
If a lump or other problem is found, the doctor can do further exams and tests to check for cancer.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatments for breast cancer. The main treatment is
surgery. Most often the cancerous area is removed. A sample of the lymph nodes in the
armpit is also taken to see if the cancer has spread there.
Other treatments are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. It is important to find out the type of cancer cell present. If the cancer is a type which spreads quickly, a more extensive surgical treatment may be chosen.
Types of Surgical Procedures:
Lumpectomy - The lump and a
border of surrounding tissue are removed.
Partial or segmental mastectomy - The tumor
and up to one-fourth of the breast tissue are removed.
Simple or total mastectomy - The entire
breast is removed.
Modified radical mastectomy - The entire
breast, the underarm lymph nodes and the lining covering the chest muscles, but not the
muscles themselves, are removed.
Radical mastectomy - The breast, lymph
nodes in the armpit and the chest muscles under the breast are removed.
Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks for each surgical option and decide together which option is best for you.
Do you see or feel any lumps, thickening, or changes of any kind
when you examine your breasts? For example, is there dimpling, puckering,
retraction of the skin, or change in the shape or contour of the breast? |
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| Do you have breast pain or a constant tenderness that lasts
throughout the menstrual cycle? |
|
| Do the nipples become drawn into the chest (or are they inverted
totally), change shape, or become crusty from a discharge? |
|
| If you normally have lumpy breasts (already diagnosed as being
benign by your doctor), do you notice any new lumps, or have any lumps changed in size, or
are you concerned about having "benign" lumps? |
|
| Is there any nonmilky discharge when you squeeze the nipple of
either breast or both breasts? |
|
| Do you have a family history of breast cancer which leads you to
be concerned even if you don't notice any problems when you examine your breasts? Use Self-Care/Prevention Tips below and perform breast self-examination monthly. |
 |
Follow a low-fat diet. Focus on fresh
fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc.
Eat vegetables that contain a substance
called sulforaphane, which may help protect against breast cancer. Examples: broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.
Avoid unnecessary X-rays. Wear a lead apron
when you get dental X-rays and other X-rays not of the chest.
Breast-feed your babies. This may reduce
your risk for breast cancer, especially before menopause.
Limit your alcohol intake to 1 or 2 drinks
per day at most.
How to
Examine Your Breasts
It is normal to have some lumpiness or thickening in the breasts. By
examining your breasts once each month, you will learn what is normal for you and notice
when any changes do occur. Some women find that doing a daily or weekly self-exam works
better for them. They become familiar with their breasts at all phases of their menstrual
cycle. The more you can examine your breasts, the better you can learn what is normal for
you. Your "job" isn't just to find lumps, but to notice if there are any
changes.
Breast Self-Exam is a Three-Step Process:
1. In the shower - With your fingers flat, gently move the pads of your fingertips over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast and your left hand to examine the right breast. Check for any thickening, hard lump or knot.
2. In front of a mirror - Holding your arms at your sides, look at your breasts. Raise your arms overhead and look for any changes in the shape of either breast, or any swelling, dimpling, or changes in the nipples.
3. Lying down - To examine your right breast, put a pillow under your right shoulder. Place your right hand behind your head. Then, using the fingers of your left hand held flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions around an imaginary clock face. Begin at the outermost top of your right breast for 12 o'clock, then move to 10 o'clock, etc., until you get back to 12 o'clock. Each breast will have a normal ridge of firm tissue.
Then move in 1 inch toward the nipple. Keep circling to examine every part of your breast including the nipple. Repeat the procedure on the left breast with a pillow under the left shoulder and your left hand behind your head. Finally, squeeze the nipple of each breast gently between the thumb and index finger. Any clear or bloody discharge should be reported to your physician immediately.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99
