Breast Cancer Facts Type, Causes, Signs and Symptoms
"Knowledge of breast cancer facts is the start of prevention."
Are there different types of breast tumor for different women? What causes tumors in the breasts of some women? These might be questions that are running through your mind because...you just felt a lump in one of your breasts, or you might know someone who has just been diagnosed with the disease.
You will get your answers here.
The tumor affects and grows in the tissues of your breasts. When it is a malignant tumor, it invades initially the lymph nodes that are connected to your breasts through lymphatic vessels. When cancerous cells are already in your lymph nodes, they may also have traveled to other organs in your body.
What is Breast Cancer?
It is the most common type of cancer in women, 3 times more common than all gynecologic malignancies. New cases are increasing progressively from a ratio of 1 in 20 women in the 1960s to a ratio of 1 in 7 women today.
In fact, it is the second leading cause of death in women, next to lung cancer.
What is the sad reality about this type of cancer? It has become an epidemic among women because 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and about 40,000 will die from it.
But here’s an interesting fact: It is not an exclusive disease of women. Even men can develop this type of tumor because they also have breast tissues.
According to breast cancer facts from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, about 1700 men will develop the disease and 450 men will die from it every year. Although it is rare among men, there are 5 types of male breast cancer. The types are...
Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS),
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) - the most common in men accounting for 8 out of 10 cases,
If you’re in your 20s, the possibility of getting the disease is very small. As you grow older, your risk increases and levels at age 45 then increases significantly after age 50.
Half of diagnosed cases are among women more than 65 years old. Thus, aging is one of the causes of breast tumor. A sedentary lifestyle is also a major factor. See Cathy Bueti's Interview on Surviving Breast Cancer.
Based on facts, it is a different disease in different age groups. If you get the disease at an early age, the tumor will be more aggressive. Older women develop the less aggressive type of breast cancers.
It also has varied cell populations within the tumor itself. It has been divided into special and non special types.
All lobular types are classified as special but there are other special types as well. (See Special Types of Breast Tumor)
When the disease is detected early, your 5 year survival rate is 96%, thus self-examination is crucial to prevention. 70% of cases are discovered through self-examination.
But remember: Not all lumps can be felt, especially when it is still very small. Only a mammogram can detect tiny lumps. And not all lumps are cancerous based on breast cancer facts.
