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Breast cancer is a malignant (cancer) tumor that starts from cells
of the breast. It is found mostly in women, but men can get breast
cancer, too. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women
in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second
leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. About
182,460 women in the United States will be found to have invasive
breast cancer in 2008. About 40,480 women will die from the disease
this year. Right now there are about two and a half million breast
cancer survivors in the United States.
The cause of breast cancer is unknown, but research shows that
certain risk factors are associated with the disease.
- Gender
- Race
- Age
- Genetic risk factors
- Personal or family history
of breast cancer
- Increased exposure to estrogen over a lifetime through:
- Early onset of menstruation
- Late onset of menopause
- No childbearing or late childbearing
- Absence of breast feeding
- Taking hormone replacement therapy for extended periods
of time
- Dense breast tissue
- Earlier breast radiation
- Treatment with DES (diethylstilbestrol)
- Overuse of alcohol
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of exercise
Typical signs of breast cancer include the following:
- swelling of all or part of the breast
- skin irritation or dimpling
- breast pain
- nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
- redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- a nipple discharge other than breast milk
- a lump in the underarm area
Because the cause of breast cancer is unknown, finding and treating
it early is the best method of prevention.
Typical treatments of breast cancer include
- Surgery,
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Biologic therapy
The multidisciplinary team approach in Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive
Breast Center is to provide the best cancer treatment options available
to our patients. For detailed information, visit our Breast
Cancer Treatment
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About Breast Cancer