BREAST+CANCER

media type="file" key="Breast Cancer.mov" Informational video by: Bentley Hammet

__**Breast Cancer**__ is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast.


 * GET THE FACTS!**

__**Causes:**__


 * Some women have what is knwn as HER2-positive breast cancer.
 * HER2 is short for human epideral growth factor receptor-2.
 * It's a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair.
 * The problem is that when cells have too many duplicates of this gene, the cell growth speeds up dramtically.
 * Many women with breast cancer have too many HER2 genes. It is believed that HER2 plays a key role in turning cells into  cancerous ones.

There are several types of Breast Cancer:


 * Ductal Carcinoma**- this cancer begins in the cells ining the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and accounts for more that 75% of breast cancer


 * Lobular Carcinoma**-this cancer begin in the milk-secreting glands of the breast but is otherwise fairly similar in it's behavor to dutal carcinoma.


 * other varieties of cancer can arise from the connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast.

__**Symptoms and Signs:**__


 * lump or swelling in he armpit


 * changes in breast size or shape


 * dimplig or puckering of the skin-thickening and dimpling skin sometimes called "orange peel"


 * redness,swelling, and increased warmth in the affected breast


 * inverted nipple-nipple turns inward


 * crusting or scaling on the nipple

If you have these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you are affected by cancer. Lumps are very common, especially just before a period. Most lumps are not cancerous.

__**Prevention:**__

on a small scale:
 * eat healthy


 * refrain from smoking


 * excercise regularly


 * stay hydrated


 * mammograms


 * self examination (www.femara.org)

on a larger scale:
 * genetic reasearch and testing (determine whether you have the gene)


 * Breast removal (mastectomy)

__**Treatment:**__


 * chemotherapy


 * radiation


 * removal of tumors


 * removal of breast (mastectomy)

for more information on treatment options visit: www.breastcancer.org/treatment

For more information on breast cancer visit www.healthcenter.org..