What is breast cancer??. The word cancer refers to more
than 100 related diseases. Cancer can affect every part of the body, Cancer
that begins in the breast is called breast cancer. Cancer involves the cells of
the body. In a healthy body. Cells grow. divide, and produce new cells as
needed. Sometimes something goes wrong with this process. Cells keep dividing
and produce more cells than the body needs. The extra cells form a mass known
as a growth or tumor. The tumor may be a lump or a thickening of body tissue. There
are two types of tumors. Benign tumors arc not cancer. They can be removed and
usually don’t grow back. They don’t spread and don’t threaten a person’s life.
Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are cancer. The cells are abnormal. These
unusual cells divide without control and can penetrate and destroy healthy tissue
around them, They can break away and travel to other parts of the body where
they start new tumors. Malignant tumors can be life threatening.
 |
| breast cancer |
Noninvasive and Invasive Breast
Cancer
Breast cancer may be noninvasive
or invasive. Noninvasive means the cancer hasn’t spread beyond its original
location. It’s in situ, or “in
place.” Invasive breast cancer has made its way out of its original location.
It has spread farther into the breast or outside the breast. Invasive breast
cancer can be more difficult to treat than noninvasive breast cancer.
What Causes Breast Cancer?
There may be several causes of
breast cancer. Two well-established factors are heredity and radiation.
Heredity is the passing on of traits from parents to children through genes.
Radiation is particles sent out from radioactive substances. Scientists also
suspect that the environment, estrogen, and people’s diet may have something to
do with the disease. Estrogen is a female sex hormone that affects body
development.
Heredity
Being born with mutated, or damaged,
breast cancer genes causes from 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases. Genes
are the material in cells that determine a person’s characteristics. The breast
cancer genes Breast Cancer I (BRCA I) and Breast Cancer 2 (BRCA 2) arc supposed
to stop tumor growth. When these genes are abnormal, they can’t carry out their
function.
Radiation
Exposure to high doses of ionizing. or electrically
charging. radiation has been proven to increase cancer risk. This exposure especially
can affect women younger than 30. Studies show high cancer rates among
survivors of atomic bomb explosions. Studies also show high rates for people
who work in uranium mines.
Environment
Chemicals used in factories and
on farms and chemicals in everyday household products may cause breast cancer.
Pesticides for killing bugs, as well as fuels, plastics. detergents, and other poisonous
substances may damage breast cancer genes. These chemicals haven’t been proven
to cause breast cancer. Hover. studies are currently being done to determine
their effect.
Researchers have found higher
rates of breast cancer in areas with heavy industry, such as the northeastern
United States. The United States. Canada. and other developed countries have
more breast cancer than less developed countries. Breast cancer rates are increasing
in areas of the vdd undergoing rapid industrial growth.
Estrogen
Estrogen is a female hormone
produced by the ovaries, which are female sex organs. Hormones control body
growth and functions. Estrogen triggers breast development and helps regulate
the menstrual cycle. This is the time from one menstruation to the next.
Menstruation is a female’s period, her monthly loss of blood, fluid, and
tissue. Estrogen increases the number of cells in the breasts during
menstruation It also may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells.
Diet
A high-fat diet may contribute to
breast cancer by raising estrogen levels in the body. As possible evidence,
researchers point to Japan. a developed country where the rate of breast cancer
is quite low. Women in Japan typically cat less fat than women in the United
States and Canada do.
0 comments:
Post a Comment