All forms of cancer cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor. Cells from the tumor can break away and travel to other parts of the body. There the cancerous cells can continue to grow. This spreading process is called metastasis. When cancer spreads, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is still breast cancer, not lung cancer. Another word for cancerous is malignant. Therefore, a cancerous tumor is called malignant. However, not all tumors are cancer. A tumor that is not cancer is called benign. Benign tumors do not grow and spread in the same manner cancer does and the tumors are usually not a threat to life. A few cancers, such as blood cancers (leukemia), d

Breast cancer begins in the breast tissue. Men may also develop breast cancer, although this is rare. (Women.com, pp. 6) Inside the breasts are glands that produce and release milk after a woman has a baby. The glands that make the milk are called lobules and the tubes connecting the lobules to the nipple are called ducts. The breast itself is made up of lobules, ducts, and fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue. There are several types of breast tumors. Most are benign; that is, they are not cancerous. These lumps are often caused by fibrocystic changes. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs, and fibrosis refers to connective tissue or scar tissue formation. Fibrocystic changes can cause breast swelling and pain. The breasts may feel lumpy and sometimes there is a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life-threatening. (Lawrence, pp. 54)

A risk factor is something which increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, such as an individual's age or family history, can not be controlled. (Lee, 124) While all women are at risk for breast cancer, the factors listed below can increase an individual’s chances of having the disease. Some studies suggest that long-term use (10 years or more) of estrogen replacement therapy, sometimes called hormone replacement therapy (ERT), for relief of menopause symptoms may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. This risk applies only to current and recent users. A woman's breast cancer risk returns to that of the general population within 5 years of stopping ERT. Replacement therapy also lowers the

Some topics in this essay:
, ERT Replacement, breast cancer, risk breast, risk breast cancer, risk factors, finding breast cancer, cancer genetic testing, breast cancer risk, family history, cancer genetic, cancer risk, breast tissue, genetic testing, finding breast, replacement therapy, breast cancer genetic,