Breast Cancer is among the most frightening and publicized diseases in the U.S. But survival rates are getting better all the time, and while there may be (as yet) no way to avoid it, there are many diagnostic and treatment options you should know about. Find them here.
Overview | What it is | Causes | Symptoms | Risk Factors | Treatment | Diagnosis | Screening | Prevention | Living With | Questions for your doctor | Resources
What is Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the breast. Normally, the cells of the breast divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass is called a tumor. A tumor can be benign or malignant.
Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Your doctor will discuss your medical history, including any family history of breast cancer. Your breasts will be examined for characteristic symptoms, including lumps or thickening, nipple discharge or inversion, redness or changes in the skin or contour of the breast. If breast cancer is suspected, the following tests will be perfor...Read more
MORE ARTICLES
Breast Cancer Causes
The cause of breast cancer is unknown. Research shows that certain risk factors are associated with the disease. ...
Does Hormone Therapy Cause Breast Cancer?
Q: I am so confused about hormone therapy after the latest headlines about breast cancer and hormones. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago, and my doctor prescribed the Vivelle patch 1.0 mg and I love it. Should I stop using it? I am afraid of getting breast cancer even though it does not run in my family. What should I do?A:The headlines about breast...Read more
Breast Cancer Risks
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
Question: How do I know if I'm at risk for breast cancer? Answer: Less than 30 percent of breast cancer cases can be attributed to known risk factors or genetics, according to the Breast Cancer Action Kit. For the remaining 70 percent, the causes aren't fully understood. The greatest risk factor is gender. Women account for nearly all cases, as o...Read more
Breast Cancer Symptoms
Early breast cancer usually does not cause physical pain, and symptoms may not initially be noticeable. As the cancer grows, it can cause changes that include: A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm areaA change in the shape or size of the breastNipple discharge or tendernes...
Breast Cancer Fatigue is Real, Study Says
Breast cancer survivors who suffer fatigue may be affected in the autonomic nervous system. A new study says survivors with persistent fatigue had high levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine.Researchers asked 109 women to give a speech and do a math problem. Half of these women had fatigue and half did not. Blood tests found that norepinephrin...Read more
Breast Cancer Prevention
Although certain genetic factors may not be preventable, there are other precautions you can take to decrease your risk of developing Breast Cancer. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, Talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested for the breast and Ovarian Cancer gene...
Breast Cancer Risk Overestimated by US Women
Breast cancer guidelines were revised by the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), and many women say that the revisions are "unsafe."
However, most of the same women surveyed grossly overestimate their risk of developing the disease, according to researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School i...Read more
Breast Cancer Treatment
The treatment and management of Breast Cancer may include medications, lifestyle changes, radiation therapy , chemotherapy , biological therapy, or surgery. The goals of treatment are to kill the cancer cells and prevent tumors from recurring in the same (or other) locations. Treatment involves the following:
Breast Cancer Treatment Drug Shows New Promise for Prevention
Those at risk for breast cancer may have a new way to prevent the disease: a drug that is already being used to treat it.
According to CNN, researchers have stated that the estrogen-blocking drug Aromasin prevented 65% of women in a clinical trial from contracting breast cancer. Their study, which has been published in the New Eng...Read more
More Recent Articles
See all Articles
See all Articles
More Recent News
