All about Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the number two killer of women after heart disease. It is the number one cancer killer among women. Because of this, screening mammography is recommended for all women over the age of 40. It appears to be a disease of women across the world with no particular race or nationality spared from having breast cancer. Unfortunately, not all parts of the world have

access to screening mammography and therefore have an increase in advanced breast cancer and death from cancer. Treatment of breast cancer is not the same world over so that more women die from breast cancer due to a lack of maximal treatment.

Breast cancer is caused by changes in the DNA in cells of the breast so that the cells grow out of control without any cell death. The cells have been mutated and are programmed for cell division at a rapid rate. There are many risk factors for this disease, including being on postmenopausal estrogen therapy, having early menarche and late menopause, having a strong family history of breast cancer and a whole host of minor factors. Those who have early menarche (onset of menses) are at a higher risk of having breast cancer before the age of thirty. Having saturated fat in the diet seems to predispose women to having cancer of the breast. This includes polyunsaturated and trans fats.

If you inherit the HER1 or HER 2 receptor on your breast cancer cells, you are at a greater risk of having breast cancer at an earlier age. If you have a first degree or second degree relative with the disease, you should be screened at an earlier age, especially if they have had breast cancer at an earlier age. You need to have breast cancer screening at a younger age than aged 40.

The mammogram is the best screening tool for breast cancer detection. It is an x-ray that looks for abnormal calcium deposits in the breast that can signify breast cancer. It takes about twenty minutes to do and is minimally painful. An ultrasound of the breast can follow a mammogram to see whether any lump found is solid or cystic. A cystic breast lump is not usually breast cancer but is a benign fluid-filled cyst that can be removed using ultrasound guidance and a needle. Sometimes an MRI or CT scan can be done of the breast to get a three dimensional image of the breast cancer.