Understand the basics of breast cancer
BusinessThere’s no point worrying about something you don’t understand or don’t know much about. Breast cancer carries the stigma of an indiscriminate killer, but there’s a lot about this disease that people don’t know. If you are concerned, you need to know why it is legitimate to worry and why, in some ways, it is not.
Breast cancer statistics
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2017. Approximately 63,410 new cases of CIS (carcinoma in situ), the earliest, non-invasive form of breast cancer, are They will be diagnosed the same year. In addition, some 40,610 women will die from the disease.
These numbers are significant since breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, but there is another important number to put them into perspective: the total number of women living in the United States today exceeds 120. million, or 120,000,000 numerically. Just over three million of these are breast cancer survivors (including women still in treatment and those who have completed treatment).
It is a dangerous disease and should be taken seriously, but it is by no means a death sentence thanks to advances in medicine and better understanding of cancer’s relationship with the body.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells often form a tumor, which can be felt as a lump or seen on an x-ray. The tumor is considered cancer (malignant) if the cells invade surrounding tissues or metastasize to areas farther away in the body. Although the disease occurs predominantly in women, it is possible for men to contract it.
Most breast cancers start in the milk ducts (ductal cancers), while others start in the glands that make breast milk (lobular cancers). There are also other less common ways. It’s important to note that not everyone causes a breast lump, so it’s valuable to be aware of other signs and symptoms. Any lump or change (even in appearance) should be checked out by a doctor.
DNA mutations can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous. Certain DNA changes can be inherited from parents and can greatly increase a person’s risk of breast cancer. Other risk factors include lifestyle factors like your level of exercise and what you eat. While research is still being done in this area, there is a consensus that eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding any known risk factors may help reduce risk. Hormones are also said to play a role in many cases.
how it spreads
When cancer cells enter the blood or lymphatic system, they can be carried to other parts of the body. Your lymphatic system is a network of lymphatic vessels throughout the body that connect the lymph nodes and carry lymphatic fluid, helping to remove toxins, waste, and other unwanted materials from the body. However, the main function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymphatic fluid, which contains white blood cells, throughout the body.