One of the areas that has been improved upon and expanded in breast cancer treatment is the use of drugs. The only drug treatments that used to be used were chemotherapy and hormone treatments.

Over the past few years, researchers have discovered drugs that have shown a lot of promise, and results, when it comes to treating breast cancer. For women with breast cancer who have too much of the protein HER2 in their system, the drug Herceptin has been shown to to be effective.

HER2 can quicken the growth of tumors, and Herceptin will attach itself to HER2 and kill cancer cells. Studies have shown that HER2 will normally leave healthy cells alone, thus making it safe to use along with chemotherapy.

Myth #1 – Breast cancer doesn’t run in my family so I’m not at risk!

False! A history of breast cancer in the family may put you at a higher risk of getting breast cancer but this disease isn’t selective and can effect any women, healthy or unhealthy. 80% of women with breast cancer had no initial identifiable risk factors.

Myth #2 – Younger women are more likely to get breast cancer than older women

False! In fact, as women get older, the chances of getting breast cancer increases. Age is one of the biggest risk factors in breast cancer.

Myth #3 – Stress can cause breast cancer

False! No study or research has shown that stress, anxiety or depression leads to or causes breast cancer.

Breast cancer is not the only type of cancer to fall upon a woman, but it is the most feared and common cancer to strike females. With frequent self-checks and mammograms, it is highly probable that breast cancer can be caught early and treated.

However, it is the type of cancer that can sometimes dictate not only the course of treatment but the cure rate as well. There are four common types of breast cancer in women. They are named after the area of the breast in which the cancer develops.

Catching cancer early is still the best way to survive cancer and thrive when your treatment is over. Learning how to do a monthly breast exam self-check and then actually doing them may be the best way for you to preserve your health for now and the future.

Many women don’t know how or when to do a proper breast exam-self check. The first step in a breast self exam is to look at your breasts, in a mirror with your hands at your sides or on your hips. This is just a general overview.

Basically, you are looking to make sure the color is right and that there is no dimpling, bulging, or puckering of the skin. You also want to make sure that your nipples are the right color, in the right place, and are sticking out, as opposed to being sunken in, or inverted.

It is a widely accepted fact that breast cancer and genetics have a definite connection, but even if breast cancer runs in your family, you can still have some control over some of the environmental or lifestyle factors that can increase or decrease your risks.

First of all, leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of getting any type of cancer, breast cancer included. If you are overweight, it can increase your chances of getting several types of cancer, and research has shown a probable link between obesity and breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Losing weight in a safe and healthy manner is one way to practice breast cancer prevention. This can be done by eating fewer calories, and making the calories that you do eat count; meaning that what you should include adequate servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with less emphasis put on meats and fats.

By knowing the symptoms you will be able to keep an eye on your body, and catch anything before it gets beyond the early stages. Many people are not aware that when breast cancer is in early stages that it does not hurt.

In addition, many times the early stages of this disease do not show any type of symptoms whatsoever. This is what makes diagnosing breast cancer early on so difficult.

But as the cancer grows, there are several symptoms that will begin to show. Anytime that you see any of these breast cancer symptoms it is imperative that you visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Causes of breast cancer

The exact causes of breast cancer are as of yet, unknown. However what we do know is that the biggest risk factor of breast cancer is age; the older a women gets the higher the risk.

Other factors include heredity patterns – if one or more of your family members have had breast cancer such as your mother, your sister or any of your cousins then the risk for you is higher.

Obesity, early puberty, childbearing in later stages of life and lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake are also risk factors behind breast cancer.

Are you at risk?

With something as deadly and as serious as breast cancer it is always wise to assume we are all at risk, without worrying ourselves silly of course. Nonetheless it is always wise to concern oneself with such a disease and to be extremely proactive in self examination and breast screening.