 Cancer can be easily called the plague of XX – XXI-th centuries. No one can stay indifferent to the sufferings of people, died of cancer. Almost each family has cancer cases - statistics is terrifying. Cancer can happen to everyone. It doesn't make preferences according to the bank account, celebrity or marital status. However the more we know about this fatal disease, the higher chances we've got to escape it. We decided to start with the breast cancer, being one of the most spread cancer cases among women.
Cancer can be easily called the plague of XX – XXI-th centuries. No one can stay indifferent to the sufferings of people, died of cancer. Almost each family has cancer cases - statistics is terrifying. Cancer can happen to everyone. It doesn't make preferences according to the bank account, celebrity or marital status. However the more we know about this fatal disease, the higher chances we've got to escape it. We decided to start with the breast cancer, being one of the most spread cancer cases among women.
Statistics.  
 - Breast cancer incidence in women in the United States is 1 in 8 (about 13%).
- In 2009, an estimated 192,370 new  cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed  in women in the U.S., along with 62,280 new cases of non-invasive  (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 1,990 new cases of invasive  breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2008. Less than 1% of all  new breast cancer cases occur in men.
- Following a 20-year increase in  breast cancer incidence rates in women, 1999-2006 saw these rates  decrease by 2%. One theory is that this decrease was due to the  reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the  results of a large study, called the Women’s Health Initiative,  were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between  HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
- About 40,170 women in the  U.S. were expected to die in 2009 from breast cancer, though  death rates have been decreasing since 1990. These decreases are  thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection  through screening, and increased awareness.
- For women in the U.S., breast  cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer  besides lung cancer.
- Besides skin cancer, breast cancer  is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1  in 4 cancers are breast cancer.
- Compared to African American  women, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast  cancer, but less likely to die of it. One possible reason is that  African American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although  why this is the case is not known. Women of other ethnic backgrounds  — Asian, Hispanic, and Native American — have a lower risk of  developing and dying from breast cancer than white women and African  American women.
- As of 2008, there are about 2.5  million women in the U.S. who have survived breast cancer.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer  approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother,  sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About  20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history  of breast cancer.
- About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations  inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and  BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up  to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime,  and they often are diagnosed at a younger age (before age 50). An  increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic  mutations. Men with a BRCA1 mutation have a 1% risk of developing  breast cancer by age 70 and a 6% risk when they have a BRCA2  mutation.
- About 90% of breast cancers are due not to heredity, but to  genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process  and life in general.
- The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are  gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
Signs and Symptoms
  
    The first symptom, or subjective sign, of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different than the surrounding breast tissue. According to the Merck Manual, greater than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered as a lump by the woman herself.   According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the first medical sign, or objective indication of breast cancer as detected by a physician, is discovered by mammogram.
 Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, or spontaneous single-nipple discharge. Pain is an unreliable tool in determining the presence of breast cancer, but may be indicative of other breast-related health issues such as mastodynia.
 When breast cancer cells invade the dermal lymphatics, small lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, its presentation can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include pain, swelling, warmth and redness throughout the breast, as well as an orange peel texture to the skin referred to as peau d’orange.
 Another reported symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget’s disease of the breast. This syndrome presents as eczematoid skin changes such as redness and mild flaking of the nipple skin. As Paget’s advances, symptoms may include tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. There may also be discharge from the nipple. Approximately half of women diagnosed with Paget’s also have a lump in the breast.
 Occasionally, b reast cancer presents as metastatic disease, that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ. Metastatic breast cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. More common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain. Unexplained weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. These symptoms are “non-specific,” meaning they can also be manifestations of many other illnesses.
reast cancer presents as metastatic disease, that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ. Metastatic breast cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. More common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain. Unexplained weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. These symptoms are “non-specific,” meaning they can also be manifestations of many other illnesses.
 Most symptoms of breast disorder do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. Benign breast diseases such as mastitis and fibroadenoma of the breast are more common causes of breast disorder symptoms. The appearance of a new symptom should be taken seriously by both patients and their doctors, because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer at almost any age.
Recommendations for finding breast cancer early.
- A complete breast   exam should be done by a health care provider at least every 3 years for women age 20-40.
 
- Women age 40   and older should have a screening mammogram at least every year   and should keep on doing so for as long as they are in good health.   While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good   way to find breast cancer.
 
- Women at high   risk: Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk   with their doctor about the best screening plan for them. This   might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra   screening tests (such as an MRI), or having exams more often.
 
Breast Cancer Prevention.  
 Breast cancer can sometimes be associated with known risk factors for the disease. Many risk factors are modifiable though not all can be avoided.  
 Hormonal Factors: Hormones produced by the ovaries appear to increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer. The removal of one or both ovaries reduces the risk. The use of drugs that suppress the production of estrogen may inhibit tumor cell growth. The use of estrogen-progestin therapy, also called combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The use of oral contraceptives may also be associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk. 
 Beginning to menstruate at an older age and having a full-term pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk. Also, a woman who has her first child before the age of 20 experiences a greater decrease in breast cancer risk than a woman who has never had children or who has her first child after the age of 35. Beginning menopause at a later age increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.  
 Radiation: Studies have shown that reducing the number of chest x-rays, especially at a young age, decreases the risk of breast cancer. Radiation treatment for childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma may put women at a greater risk for breast cancer later in life. A small number of breast cancer cases can be linked to radiation exposure.  
 Diet and Lifestyle: Diet is being studied as a risk factor for breast cancer. Studies show that in populations that consume a high-fat diet, women are more likely to die of breast cancer than women in populations that consume a low-fat diet. It is not known if a diet low in fat will prevent breast cancer. Eating a diet rich in beta-carotene may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Exercise, especially in young women, may decrease hormone levels and contribute to a decreased breast cancer risk. Breast feeding may also decrease a woman's risk of breast cancer. Postmenopausal weight gain, especially after natural menopause and/or after age 60, may increase breast cancer risk.  
 Fruits and vegetabl es are the superstars for breast cancer protection. It includes all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower) ; dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes. The superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries. Note: it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.
es are the superstars for breast cancer protection. It includes all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower) ; dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes. The superstar fruits include citrus, berries and cherries. Note: it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly cooked, as some of the phytochemicals believed to offer protection against breast cancer are destroyed by heat.
  Minimize consumption of omega-6 fats (sunflower, safflower, corn and cottonseed oils), saturated fats and trans fats. Maximize your intake of omega-3 fats, especially from oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring). Consume monounsaturated oils (canola, olive oil, nuts/seeds, avocados) as your primary fat source, as these foods have potential anticancer properties. Specifically, canola oil is a good source of omega-3 fats; extra virgin olive oil is a potent source of antioxidant polyphenols, including squalene; and nuts and seeds provide you with the cancer protective mineral, selenium.
  Alcohol: Drinking alcohol may be linked to increased breast cancer risk. The more alcohol a woman drinks, the more the risk of breast cancer may increase, compared to a woman who drinks no alcohol. In addition, a diet rich in beta-carotene, folate, and vitamins A and C may reverse the higher risk of breast cancer linked to alcohol use.
 Prophylactic Mastectomy: Following cancer risk assessment and counseling, the removal of both breasts may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with a family history of breast cancer.
  Genetics: Women who inherit specific genes are at a greater risk for developing breast cancer. Research is underway to develop methods of identifying high-risk genes.
Remember – early cancer detection will significantly reduce the risk of dying!
 Acknowledgement given to the National Cancer Institute as originator of the information provided herein, with the NCI website www.cancer.gov as the source.