BREAST+CANCER-+rebecca

//**WORDS TO KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER**// Benign Biopsy Mammogram Mastectomy Menopause Metastasis Radical mastectomy Reconstructive surgery Systemic treatment Tamoxifen


 * -Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in America.
 * -Breast cancer is usually detected by a mammogram and usually a lump or deficiency in the breast tissue will be present.
 * -Genetic and /or hormonal factors lead to breast cancer.
 * -Breast cancer awareness has grown allowing detection and treatment to grow, and the death rate has lowered.

Cancer begins in the cells allowing the tissue to not form properly. New cells form when the time is not right, and the old cells do not die. Extra cells gather in the tissue allowing growth or also called a tumor. 1. Benign tumors. 2. Malignant tumors. Breast cancer can spread .
 * 2 types of cancer.

RISK FACTORS: Age Personal history of breast cancer Family history Genetic changes BRAC1 and BRAC2 Race Lack of physical activity Being over weight or after menopause Drinking alcohol

screening process: Your doctor may suggest the following screening tests for breast cancer: Ask your doctor when to start and how often you should check for breast cancer. Women over 40 should get tested every 1 to 2 years. MAMMOGRAM:
 * Mammogram test
 * [[image:http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/cancer_images/mam200.jpg caption="http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/cancer_images/mam200.jpg"]]
 * Clinical breast exam
 * Breast self-exam
 * [[image:http://www.tshirtmaniacs.com/images/breast_check_2.png width="189" height="136" caption="http://www.tshirtmaniacs.com/images/breast_check_2.png"]][[image:http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/images/selfexam.gif width="384" height="380" caption="The image “http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/images/selfexam.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors."]]

TREATMENTS: 1.Surgery 2. Radiation therapy 3.Chemotherapy and hormone therapy 4.Biological therapy 5.Treatment choices by stage

follow up: Follow-up care after treatment for breast cancer is important. Every women's recovery is differently.

You should tell yor doctor right away if you feel or see anything unsusal tell your doctor if you have pain, loss of appetite or weight, changes in menstrual cycles, unusual vaginal bleeding, blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, coughing or hoarness, backaches, or digestive problems that are not normal or dont seem to be getting better. Follow-up exams usually include the breasts, chest, neck, and underarm areas. since you are at risk of getting cancer again, you should have mammograms of your preserved breast and your other breast.
 * Recovery depends on the treatment you recieve, how bad the cancer was, and if it has occurred again.
 * When you think your cance is gone, after it has been removed, the cancer may return because undetected cancer cells remained somewhere in the body after treatment. Your doctor will monitor your recovery and check for recurrence of the cancer.
 * these problems may occur after a year or more after treatment.


 * find a suport group. Millions of women know what you have been through.

symptoms: Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area Nipple tenderness A change in how the breast or nipple looks A change in the size or shape of the breast A nipple turned inward into the breast The skin of the breast, areola, or nipple may be scaly, red, or swollen. It may have ridges or pitting so that it looks like the skin of an orange. Nipple discharge (fluid) Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. Still, a woman should see her health care provider about breast pain or any other symptom that does not go away. Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems may also cause them. Any woman with these symptoms should tell her doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
 * 1) A change in how the breast or nipple feels

BRCA1 //**BRCA1**// (**breast cancer 1, early onset**) is a [|human] [|gene] that belongs to a class of genes known as [|tumor suppressors], which maintains genomic integrity to prevent uncontrolled proliferation. The multifactorial BRCA1 protein product is involved in DNA damage repair, ubiquitination, transcriptional regulation as well as other functions. Variations in the gene have been implicated in a number of hereditary cancers, namely breast, ovarian and prostate. The //BRCA1// gene is located on the long (q) arm of [|chromosome 17] at band 21, from [|base pair] 38,449,843 to base pair 38,530,933 [|(map)]. www.wikipedia.com

BRCA1A gene on chromosome 17 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits an altered version of the BRCA1 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.

BRCA2 A gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits an altered version of the BRCA2 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.

info came from wikipedia or picture source or medicinenet.com