Breast cancer is the development of abnormal cells and clusters of such cells in the breast. These cells are different from normal healthy cells. Cells in the body normally divide only when new cells are needed. Sometimes, cells in a part of the body grow and divide out of control, which creates a mass of tissue called a tumor. If the cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is called benign (not cancerous.) If however, the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and don't function like the body's normal cells, the tumor is called malignant (cancerous). Cancers are named after

In conclusion, the best way to protect yourself from breast cancer is to know the facts about breast cancer, be aware of the risk factors, and have routine breast exams to detect the cancer early. The three steps to early detection are to become aware of your body and perform regular self-exams, get regular clinical breast exams, and regular mammograms. The sooner you find breast cancer, the greater your chances of survival are.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer there are four treatment options: surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy. Two surgical options are available to treat breast cancer. First, there is a lumpectomy in which only the lump (or tumor) is removed leaving the rest of the breast intact, and a masectomy, which removes the entire breast. Even after a mastectomy breast cancer can come back. Radiation therapy is commonly used after a lumpectomy. During radiation treatments, a machine sends x-rays directly to your breast. The x-rays destroy cancer cells remaining in these areas after surgery. The treatment is given 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks and is generally painless and lasts only a few minutes. Since many breast cancers grow more quickly in the presence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, blocking these hormones or lowering their levels is one way to treat the cancer. Hormonal treatments for breast cancer include the use of drugs that block hormone production or action, and surgical removal of the ovaries to stop estrogen production. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. It is usually delivered through intravenous injections, sometimes combined with pills. Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery to improve the chances of cure. In advanced breast cancer it may be used to relieve symptoms or prolong survival.

Early stage or stage 0 breast cancer is when the disease is localized to the breast and lymph nodes (carcinoma in situ). The 5-year relative survival rate for stage 0 is 100%. Stage I breast cancer is smaller than 1 inch across and it hasn't spread anywhere. The stage I 5-year relative survival rate is 98%. Stage II breast cancer is one of the following: the tumor is less than an inch across but has spread to the underarm lymph nodes (IIA); or the tumor is between 1-2 inches (with or without spread to the lymph nodes); or the tumor is larger than 2 inches and not has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm (both IIB). The 5-year survival rate for IIA cancer is 88%, and for IIB is 76%. Advanced breast cancer (metastatic) results after cancer cells spread to the lymph nodes and to other parts of the body. Stage III A breast cancer is also called locally advanced breast cancer. The tumor is larger than 2 inches and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, or a tumor that is any size with cancerous lymph nodes that adhere to one another or surrounding tissue. In this stage you have a 56% 5-year survival rate. Stage IIIB breast cancer is a tumor of any size that has spread to the skin, chest wall or internal mammary lymph nodes (located beneath the breast and inside the chest). The 5-year survival rate is 49%. Stage IV breast cancer is defined as a tumor, regardless of size, that has spread to places far away from the breast, such as bones, lungs or lymph nodes. Its 5-year survival rate is the lowest at 16%.

However, because it is still breast tissue, men can develop breast cancer. In fact, men get the same types of breast cancers that women do, although cancers involving the milk producing and storing regions of the breast are very rare. Breast cancer in men is a very rare disease. This is possibly due to their smaller amount of breast tissue and the fact that men produce smaller amounts of

Some topics in this essay:
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