Essay On Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Essay examples
In the United States in 1999 alone, an estimated 43,700 people will die from breast cancer. It is
the number two cancer killer among females ages 15 to 54. On average if a woman gets this
disease, their life expectancy drops drastically. This cancer is within the top three cancers of all
women above the age of 15, and comprises a great amount of all health care costs in the U.S.
totaling an astounding 37 billion dollars a year in direct medical costs. An average woman is said
to have a one in nine chance of getting the cancer, but if that person had family history of the disease,
his or her chances have been measured up to a one in six chance. Sixty–nine percent of African–
American women survive from it, and there are predicted to be...show more content...
This accounts for approximately 13% of all breast cancer patients observed. Jewish women in
specific were used, as early on there was a definite pattern of breast cancer through the Jewish
community especially that which lived in the United States. The specific mutation, 185delAG, was,
"strongly associated with the onset of breast cancer in Jewish women before the age of 30."
Scientists advanced upon this new information of genealogical interplay, so the "New England
Journal of Medicine" (NEJM) set out determined to study the overall effects of these genes. In an
article printed on January 18, 1996, germ–line alterations in BRCA1 were discovered in six of the 80
women surveyed who had breast cancer but had no apparent familial history of it. Thus the
scientists concluded that mutation was not limited to women with a history of cancer. Genes are
thought to cause five to twenty percent of all breast cancers. A gene known as p53 supposedly
stalls reproduction of cells, and can even cause a cell to "commit suicide". Other genes that seem
to accelerate growth to overtake and stick to proteins include HER2, neu, and erB2 (Fitzgerald et
al, 1996). The relation between serum estrogen levels at a single time is linked to breast cancer, but
no evidence links estrogen levels over an extended time to the risk of breast
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Essay on Breast Cancer Treatment
Breast Cancer Treatment
Only lung cancer kills more women each year in the United States than breast cancer does. The
American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that over
184,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in women in 1996 (ACS Breast).
Although these statistics are alarming, there are a number of treatment options available for those
that are diagnosed with breast cancer.
The best way to treat any disease is to prevent it. Since little is known about breast cancer, there are
no established rules for prevention. The
ACS recommends that women age twenty and older perform monthly breast self–exams, and it also
suggests clinical examinations every three years (ACS...show more content...
Radiation therapy is another common treatment for breast cancer.
Radiation involves the use of high–energy x–rays to damage cancer cells and retard further growth.
The radiation may come from a radioactive source outside the body, or it can come from radioactive
pellets placed directly in the breasts.
It is not uncommon for a patient to receive both internal and external radiation. For external
radiation, patients must visit the hospital or clinic each day. When this regimen follows
breast–sparing surgery, the treatments are given five days a week for five to six weeks. At the end
of that time, an extra
"boost" of radiation is often given to the place where the tumor was removed.
Hospital stays are required for implant radiation. Some common side effects of radiation therapy
include swelling of the breast and dry skin at the radiation site. Chemotherapy is one of the systemic
therapies doctors use to fight breast cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and it
usually involves a combination of those drugs. Traditional chemotherapy is administered in cycles; a
treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment, and so on (NIH 23). Like
radiation therapy, chemotherapy can be administered on an outpatient basis. Although chemotherapy
works to kill cancer cells, some of the side effects almost make treatment

Essay on Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Chromosome 17 and BRCA1
Among the most common diseases affecting the female population, breast cancer develops in one of
every eight American women. This means that almost 200,000 women suffer from the disease each
year. Doctors would advise women to take necessary precautions, such as routine surveillance, in
order to ensure a life without obtaining this disease prior to understanding any genetic linkage of
breast cancer. Although many external factors contribute to breast cancer, current investigations
reveal that five to ten percent of these cases may be attributed to genetic inheritance (Lynch, 1999).
This knowledge, an ingenious finding by Mary–Claire King in 1990, linked breast cancer to the
long–arm of...show more content...
al., 1999). Various methods of positional cloning have been used to detectmutations of BRCA1, but
originally the gene was isolated using single–strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct
sequencing. During 1994, when the gene was first discovered, SSCP was done using both genomic
DNA and cDNA from lymphoblast RNA (Friedman, et. al, 1994). SSCP analysis detected each
variant and sequenced it on several templates. Results from this experiment helped prove the
involvement of BRCA1 to breast cancer development. Other studies have used Southern Blotting
techniques and other Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods in order to further analyze BRCA1.
BRCA1 encodes a protein that is approximately 1865 amino acids in length, which is "a tumor
suppressor, a protein that acts as a negative regulator of tumor growth" (Miki et. al., 1994). Loss of
function is due to premature termination of protein synthesis. Because predisposition is a dominant
genetic trait, a single copy of the mutant allele is enough to increase risks of breast tumors proving
that a functional BRCA1 is needed in order for normal breast tissue (Miki et. al., 1994). This
protein is expressed in the epithelial cells of mammary glands and other tissues, and the protein acts
to inhibit cell division. Because BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene, any mutation leads to breast
tumor formation.
Once the two genes, BRCA1 and BrCA2

Essay On Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
In 2016, breast cancer was the commonest diagnosed cancer in women with 17 million cases
diagnosed and a resultant 5 million deaths. In the Western world, improved treatments and screening
programmes have resulted in a 5–year survival of 80–90% (WHO, 2016). However, a third of breast
cancer patients are found to have distant metastases at diagnosis, bringing their 5–year survival rate
down by 25% (Siegel et al., 2004). Metastasis occurs when tumour cells travel through the vascular
or lymphatic system and grow in distant organs, commonly bone, lung, liver and brain.
Current treatment involves surgical removal of the visible tumour bulk followed by chemo– and
radio– therapy targeting distant spread. Breast cancer is...show more content...
Tumour Micro–environment
The tumour stroma appears to be a major factor in tumour progression after initial tumour formation
(Conklin and Keely, 2007). It initially protects against tumourigenesis; but neoplastic cells cause
changes and recruit various other cell lines with a multitude of functions, forming a tumour
micro–environment (TME). This is defined as "a heterogeneous population of cells consisting of the
tumor bulk plus supporting cells" (Bussard et al., 2006). The tumour cells recruit the stroma cells
and cause a reactive phenotype, known as tumor–associated stromal cells (TASCs).
Mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts and various other immune cells are
all components of the TME,each with specific functions. When activated, they take on a similar in
function to those found in inflammation and wound healing and cause fibroblast infiltration,
recruitment of immune cells, remodelling of the extracellular matrix. This is why cancer has been
likened to a wound that never heals, the tumour stroma being chronically activated and promoting
growth and angiogenesis (Dvorak, 1984).
The rapid proliferation of tumour cells soon exhausts the existing vascular supply and brings about a
hypoxic environment in the TME (Coussens and Werb, 2005). Endothelial and stromal cells form a

Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is only one of 200 different types of cancer. It is considered a woman's disease but
both men and women have the disease. Every year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with
breast cancer. Twelve percent of all women will get the disease and 3.5% of them will die. Breast
cancer is the leading cause of death among women who are 40 to 55 years old.
Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably. Cells keep dividing even though new cells are not
needed. Change from normal to cancerous cells requires gene alterations.
Altered genes and uncontrolled growth may lead to tumors. These tumors can be benign (NOT
cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors won't spread but it can damage tissues around
...show more content...
Being obese may also increase your risk.
chemicals – Researchers in the New York State Department of Health have found that women on
Long Island who grew up within a mile of a chemical plant have a greater chance of getting breast
cancer if they lived further away from the chemical plant.
race – Even though white women are more likely to get cancer than African–American women,
African–American women are more likely to die from cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian
women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer.
Birth control pills – A study showed that women using birth control pills have a slightly greater risk
of breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy – Most studies suggest that use of HRT for relief of menopause
symptoms for more than 5 years may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol – Women who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1 1/2 times the risk of women who drink
no alcohol.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms of breast cancer. Early cancer may not show any symptoms at all but as
time goes by and the cancer grows, there may be symptoms.
You may get a lump or a thickening in or near the breast. Change in its shape or contour, swelling,
thickening, pore enlargement, retraction or scaliness of the nipple, nipple discharge, pain or
tenderness. It is usually found in a person's breast as a hard lump that is painless. In some cases,
pain and tenderness may occur. Bloody

Breast Cancer Essay
Breast Cancer
Kinds of support Breast Cancer Clients' need.
Harpreet Kaur Malhi
Scholarly Writing in Nursing
Wednesday
October 27, 2017
Breast cancer is no longer a menace as it was years back; however, little is known on what the
patients experience after treatment. Pauwels, Charlier, Lechner & Van Hoof (2013) state that the
period of transition to survivorship is filled with emotional distress and a low quality of life. It is
evident that the survivors have to go through many struggles and in the recent past, there have been
interventions that are meant to improve on their well being. No clear guidelines exist on how the
psychological interventions that should be applied to assist breast cancer patients to make a quick
...show more content...
Learning on the best coping strategies will help to do away with their fears and learn on how to run
the day to day stress. Depression, PTSD, or even psychological suffering may make treatment of
breast cancer quite difficult (Hutchinson, 2010). Better handling of the accompanying emotions will
help to improve the medical care that the patient receives.
For younger women, the treatment procedure may be tougher on them. Changes such as induced
early menopause, lower level of estrogen can bring issues such as hot flashes, sweating at night and
even vaginal dryness. Besides cases of infertility due to lower estrogen levels, there is the possibility
of experiencing lower sexual drive (Partridge, 2013). With the treatment–induced menopause, there is
a high possibility of weight gain; it is commonly accompanied by sleep disturbance and fatigue. Due
to the treatment, there is a possibility of having lower bone mineral deposits; this may lead to
bone–related deficiencies. Cardiovascular health issues have also been reported; besides the bodily
harm that they cause, there is a great possibility of physiological disturbance that will need expert
care (Partridge, 2013).
Support needed by the patients
Partridge, (2013) states that; a comprehensive approach is needed to accord the patients the best
care possible. With this knowledge, researchers developed a program that addresses the issues faced

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, it accounts for one of every three
diagnoses in the United States. Breast cancers are malignancies, life threatening tumors that develops
in one or both breasts.
A female breast consists of fatty and fibrous connective tissues. The interior of the breast is divided
into about twenty different sections called lobes. Each of the lobes is further divided in to lobules,
which are structures that contain small milk–producing glands. These glands place the milk into tiny
ducts. These ducts take the milk through out the breast and store in a chamber located below the
nipple.
Breast cancer can either be invasive (spreading) or noninvasive (non–spreading). An invasive cancer
penetrates...show more content...
Chemicals are also suspected to cause breast cancer. Xenoestrogens are chemicals with estrogen–like
effects, they are found in pesticides and other common industrial products. Other estrogen–like
chemicals that have a stronger association with breast cancer include dieldrin and
beta–hexachloraocyclohexane. Although these chemicals are very weak estrogens, one study
showed that exposure to single weak–estrogen compounds isn't a big risk but a combination of two
or more chemicals result in extremely high estrogenic
chemicals. Many women, who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriages, increased the
risk for breat cancer in their children.
There are lost of ways to prevent cancer or try to prevent it. One of these is reducing your fat
intake. One study shows that the result of this is that the level of estrodiol, the potent form of
estrogen decreases. Another way to fight breast cancer is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Many
fruits and vegetables contain chemicals that may be cancer fighters. A concentrated form of
limonene, a substance found in citrus skins, has been found to shrink breast cancer in animals. Some
studies have shown that if you breast–fed for more than four months it lowers your risk of the
cancer. In a recent study women who have underwent breast reduction have a low risk of getting
breast cancer by forty percent.
There

Essay on Breast Cancer Awareness
According to the American Cancer Society, Every year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed
with breast cancer; furthermore Twelve percent of all women will contract the disease, and 3.5% of
them will die from breast cancer (American Cancer Society, 2005). There are risk factors that may
lead to breast cancer. There are 4 stages of breast cancer and several treatments, although
treatments vary from types and stages of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death
among women who are 40 to 55 years old (Breast Cancer, 2009).When cells divides it causes cancer
which then changes from an normal call to what's called a cancerous cell that requires gene
alterations. The uncontrolled growth and alter genes is what causes tumors to...show more content...
I'm not saying that someone will really get breast cancer because a few other women in the
family have it but know that there's a small chance is good. Other factors are woman who gets
menopause and they are very the age of 50. Also a young girl under the age of 12 yrs old who
starts a period does to. Women over 40 who have there first pregnancy is at risk of getting the
disease. Caucasian women have a much higher better chance of having breast cancer but a black
woman has a higher risk of dying. Other races chances are real low like Spanish, Asian or Indian
women. According to a study, woman who takes birth control has a slightly greater risk of getting
breast cancer. Most studies suggest that use of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) for relief of
menopause symptoms for more than 5 years may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer (Breast
Cancer Statistics, 2008).
Let's get to the four stages of breast cancer. First is stage zero which is noninvasive, that is,
carcinoma in situ with no affected metastasis or lymph nodes. Stage zero is the most favorable.
Now Stage One breast cancer is less than two centimeters in greatest dimension and is only in the
breasts. Stage two is when the cancer is no bigger then two centimeters but has spread to lymph
nodes. With stage three breast cancers is a lager size, lets say greater then two inches in diameter. It
also has a greater involvement from the lymph nodes or inflammatory type.

Breast cancer will strike one in every eight American women. This makes it the most common
cancer in woman. Approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Of
that number, 40,000 will die from breast cancer each year. (Journal of Environmental Health 2003)
Breast cancer is just one type of cancer. Cancerous cells are cells that grow without the normal
system of controls placed upon them. Breast cancer develops from the mammary ducts 80% of the
time. The other 20% of the time the cancer develops from the lobules of the breasts. While breast
cancer may occur in men, this paper will primarily focus on breast cancer in women. Breast cancer
is 100 times more likely to affect women as it is men. There are two...show more content...
Basically the breasts are located off to the sides of the sternum, on the front of the chest wall
between the second and sixth ribs. (Anatomy of the Human Body, Gray, H.) During puberty
hormonal changes cause the breasts to begin to develop and mature. This stimulation comes from the
release of estrogen from the anterior pituitary. The base of each breast lies on top of the pectoralis
major, obliquus externus abdominis, and serratus anterior muscles and
extends up into the axillary region. On the external surface of the breast, between the 4th and 5th
ribs is the nipple. The nipple is made up of contractile muscle fibers and is capable of becoming
firm and erect when stimulated. The color of the nipple can range from a light pink to brown. At
the tip of the nipple there are up to twenty tiny openings from the lactiferous ducts. The circular
area surrounding the nipple is called the areola. The color of the areola may also range from a
light pink to a dark brown. During pregnancy the areola will darken. Imbedded in the areola are
areolar glands which give the areola a slightly bumpy appearance. These glands secrete an oily
kind of substance that acts as a skin protector during breast feeding. (Textbook of Medical
Physiology, Guyton, 2000) The breast tissue itself is a series of lobules and mammary ducts that
form a pattern similar to clusters of grapes. The lobules are round sacs that produce milk. The ducts
are

Essay On Breast Cancer

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Essay On Breast Cancer