Medical Description

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death. Research has narrowed down the predicted cause of breast cancer to genetic or hormonal factors.

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Normally, these cells grow and divide, forming new cells bodies need them. When they grow old,they die, and new cells replace them. But this process can go wrong, in which new cells may form when the body doesn’t need the and old cells won’t die whey they should.

Extra cells can form a mass of tissue, called a tumor, which can be cancerous.

Breast cancer cells can spread. They are most commonly found to spread in lymph nodes near the breast, but can spread to any other parts of the body.

Symptoms

• change in how the breast or nipple feels
• 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.
• the breasts’ skin may have ridges or pitting so that it looks like the skin of an orange
• nipple discharge (fluid)

General Information

One way to try and keep cancer cells from getting hormones that they need to spread is to use hormone therapy, most commonly the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Source: “Breast Cancer,” MedicineNet.com, March 7, 2007.

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