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.

These two treatments used together can produce much better results than chemotherapy alone for women with excess HER2, and can even increase the life span of women whose breast cancer is in the terminal stages.

Other fairly new drugs, such as Taxotere, Xeloda, and Nolvadex, have been showing great promise in breast cancer treatment. Many of the new drugs, when used in combinations, can slow the progression of breast cancer, or eliminate it entirely.

Increasingly, women with breast cancer are opting for lumpectomies instead of radical mastectomies. Doctors have found that in many cases a lumpectomy, which only removes the cancer cells and some of the surrounding tissue, can be effective when the cancer is still localized in one area.

The main thing to remember if you find out that you have breast cancer is that new treatments are being discovered all of the time, and it is up to you to take an active role in fighting the disease by staying informed on the various options available.

If one doctor suggests one type of treatment, it is reasonable and even necessary, to obtain a second or third opinion. Do your own research; don’t just depend on what you are told.

Talk to your doctor about any new treatments that you read about or hear about, and make sure that he or she is receptive to discussing your options.

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.

Myth #4 – Breast feeding can cause breast cancer

False! Breast feeding doesn’t cause or lead to breast cancer. In fact, current study and research suggests breast feeding may well slightly help reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.

Myth #5 – Antiperspirants can cause breast cancer

False! This is a myth spread by the internet and simply not true. No research or study suggests using antiperspirants influences breast cancer.

Myth #6 – Breast cancer only affects older women

False! Breast cancer risk may increase with age but breast cancer can and does affect women of all ages.

Myth #7 – If you are at risk of breast cancer, you will get breast cancer

False! Some women who have one of the numerous risk factors such as inherited gene abnormality or old-age, don’t go on to develop breast cancer. While you are more likely to develop the disease if you are at risk from it, breast cancer is not a certainty.

Myth #8 – Birth control pills can cause breast cancer

False! The link between birth control pills and breast cancer is tenuous. Higher dose pills were in the past linked with an increase in risk factor but research and study today confirm that birth control pills do not lead to or cause breast cancer. Indeed these pills can help combat ovarian cancer.

Myth #9 – Regular self breast examination is the beast way to diagnose breast cancer

False! Film-screen mammography is the best form of breast cancer diagnosis. However self and professional breast examination is still very important as it is the most practical form of diagnosis.

Myth #10 – Breast cancer is a death sentence

False! Many women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have went on to recover and live a long life. The key is early detection and subsequent treatment. With modern treatment methods, research and study always ongoing, breast cancer isn’t the death sentence it was once perceived to be.

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.

Here is a basic overview to provide an understanding of these cancers:

1. DCIS or Ductal Carcinoma in situ

This cancer is in the milk ducts of the breast and considered to be a stage 0 cancer. That means the cancer has not spread anywhere else. DCIS is almost always curable.

2. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

The milk ducts are also where this cancer’s origin is. However, this variety goes through the duct walls and enters the fatty part of the breast in an insidious way. Invasive ductal carcinoma is considered the most common type of breast cancer.

3. LCIS or Lobular carcinoma in situ

LCIS is not a “real” cancer, but it serves as a red flag as to a greater possibility of developing full blown breast cancer later. Its location is pinpointed to the breast lobules, where milk is produced. With this type of cancer, both the doctor and patient have to keep an eye on the situation with regular check-ups and mammograms.

4. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

The lobules in the breast are the starting area for this infiltrating type of cancer. It spreads to other areas of the breast and even the rest of the body.

Diligence is the key to defeating breast cancer. That means frequent mammograms and performing self-checks of the breast for any lumps or oddities.

If there is a history of breast cancer in the family, women should start mammograms at an earlier age. Breast cancer is the wake-up call, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

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.

You want to do the same thing again, but this time, you want to do it with your arms raised above your head, then again while bending forward at the waist. Also, while you are at the mirror, you will want to gently squeeze each nipple, making sure that there is no discharge.

After you are finished thoroughly examining your breasts in the mirror, it is time to feel them to make sure that they are ok. Feel them first while you are lying down. Use the first three fingers of the hand opposite to the breast you are examining (use your right hand to examine your left breast and your left hand to examine your right breast).

Using a firm and constant motion while keeping your fingers flat and together, feel your breasts from your collarbone to the top of your stomach and from your armpit to your sternum (cleavage area).

Many women find that using a pattern helps them make sure they get all of their breasts. You will want to repeat this process while sitting or standing. Many women find that it is easier when their skin is wet, so many doctors and breast cancer awareness advocates suggest doing this step in the shower or bathtub.

If you are pre-menopausal, the best time to do a breast self-exam is right after your period. Normal hormonal changes can cause irregularities in the breast tissue. These irregularities are nothing to be concerned about, but they may cause undue alarm.

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.

Include foods in your diet that are high in antioxidants, such as soy, green tea, and berries.

Exercise is essential for healthy weight loss also, and aerobic exercise also increases the oxygen levels in the body, which boosts the body’s ability to fight disease.

Decreasing the amount of alcohol that you consume can also lower your risk of getting breast cancer, and experts suggest no more than two drinks per day, if you drink at all. One drink consists of one 12 oz beer, one 4 oz glass of wine, or ½ oz of hard liquor such as vodka or whiskey.

Although there are ways to lower your risks, there are, unfortunately, no guarantees when it comes to getting breast cancer. For this reason, breast cancer early detection is essential.

Most medical experts agree that if all cases of breast cancer were detected early, 1000’s of lives could be saved each year. Mammograms can be very effective when it comes to breast cancer early detection.

If breast cancer seems to run in your family, you should start having mammograms as soon as your early 20’s – and continue to have them once a year.

If you don’t have a strong family history of breast cancer, you should start having mammograms when you are 40, and you should have them every one to two years until the age of 50, and then once a year after that.

In addition to mammograms for breast cancer early detection, you should also perform weekly breast self-examinations. Your regular doctor or gynecologist will show you the proper way to examine your breasts for lumps.

If you find a lump, consult your doctor, even if you believe it is due to something besides breast cancer. It is better to be safe than sorry.

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.

This will ensure that if you do have a problem that you can get treatment for it before the cancer spreads. Not all symptoms will show up in every patient, but more than likely you will see more than one of these if you are suffering from breast cancer.

One of the most common breast cancer symptoms that arises is a lump or thickening of the breast. This can also occur in the underarm area as opposed to directly on the breast.

Another symptom that you should be aware of is a change in the size or shape of the breast. This should not be a difficult symptom to pick up on if you make it a habit to look at yourself on a daily basis.

Also, a discharge coming from the nipple is often times a symptom of breast cancer. Along with this discharge, you should also keep an eye on changing colors of the skin on your breasts.

Often times breast cancer symptoms do not come about until the disease has progressed. But this does not mean that you cannot keep an eye on your body so that you can pick up on any changes.

Breast cancer symptoms can be picked up on by simply being more observant during your daily life.

By checking yourself every day, both physically and visually, you should be able to pick up on any abnormalities that are occurring.

This will allow you to catch the disease in an early stage, and then take the appropriate steps to finding a cure.

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.

Risk factors to consider:

Age – as you grow older the risk increases. 18% of breast cancer diagnosis involves women in their 40s, where as it is 77% for those over the age of 50.

Heredity – a family history of breast cancer increases the risk factor.

Personal history – if you have cancer in one breast, the risk factor of getting it in your other breast increases. This is different from cancer returning after treatment.

Race – white women are more at risk than black, Asian and Hispanic women for example.

Previous breast radiation therapy – women who have had previous breast radiation therapy for the treatment of other cancers such as Hodgkin disease or non-Hodgkin Lymphoma are at higher risk.

Menstrual periods – women who started puberty under the age of 12 or women who went through the menopause stage after the age of 55 are at higher risk.

Previous abnormal breast biopsy – women who have underwent previous breast biopsy showing any of the following results; atypical hyperplasia (lobular or ductal), fibroadenomas with complex features, hyperplasia without atypia, sclerosing adenosis and solitary papilloma, are at higher risk.

Genetics – women who have an inherited gene abnormality in either or both of the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at higher risk.

Late or no childbearing – women who give birth for the first time over the age of 30 or who haven’t had children, are at higher risk.

Obesity – being overweight can increase the risk of getting breast cancer.

Alcohol intake – women who drink alcohol are at higher risk than women who don’t drink alcohol.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – women who use HRT long-term are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.

What if I have no risk factors?

Incredibly, some women with no significant risk factors have had breast cancer where as some with several risk factors have never developed the disease. Breast cancer isn’t selective nor is it a certainty.

Breast cancer symptoms

Although breast cancer screening has proved successful in targeting the disease in it’s infancy and before any clear signs or symptoms develop, not all screening tests detect cancer so the signs to watch out for are:

1. Breast lumps, often hard, painless tissue mass with uneven edges. Note: Some lumps can be soft, rounded and smaller so be sure to pay attention to anything unusual.
2. Swelling of an area of the breast.
3. Skin irritations or dimpling.
4. A lump in the underarm area.
5. Nipple pain or the nipple turning inwards.
6. Reddish marks or scales in the nipple or breast skin tissue.
7. Abnormal nipple discharge (other than breastfeeding milk)

Types of breast cancer

There are four main types of breast cancer, all named after the area of the breast in which the cancer can develop, these are:

1. DCIS or Ductal Carcinoma in situ

This cancer is in the milk ducts of the breast and considered to be a stage 0 cancer. That means the cancer has not spread anywhere else. DCIS is almost always curable.

2. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

The milk ducts are also where this cancer’s origin is. However, this variety goes through the duct walls and enters the fatty part of the breast in an insidious way. Invasive ductal carcinoma is considered the most common type of breast cancer.

3. LCIS or Lobular carcinoma in situ

LCIS is not a “real” cancer, but it serves as a red flag as to a greater possibility of developing full blown breast cancer later. Its location is pinpointed to the breast lobules, where milk is produced. With this type of cancer, both the doctor and patient have to keep an eye on the situation with regular check-ups and mammograms.

4. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

The lobules in the breast are the starting area for this infiltrating type of cancer. It spreads to other areas of the breast and even the rest of the body.

Stages of breast cancer

There are 5 stages of breast cancer, such as:

Stage 0 cancer

Stage 0 cancer cells stay inside the breast duct without invading other breast tissue.

Stage 1 cancer

Stage 1 consists of the cancer forming into a tumor of 2 centimeters or less and is confined to the breast.

Stage 2 cancer

Stage 2 consists of the cancer tumor growing to over 2 centimeters but under 5 centimeters or there is invasion of the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage 3 cancer

Stage 3 is advanced cancer where the tumor is more than 5 centimeters across, or is extensive in the lymph nodes, or has spread to the lymph nodes or other tissue near to the breast.

Stage 4 cancer

Stage 4 is where the cancer has spread or grown to other areas of the body.

Breast cancer treatment

There are various forms of breast cancer treatment available depending on the size of the tumor, location, lab tests and the severity of the cancer.

The most common forms of treatment are:

Lumpectomy

This procedure involves removing the malignant tumor and along with a small patch of surrounding breast tissue.

Quadrantectomy

This procedure is similar to a lumpectomy but removes more breast tissue.

Mastectomy

This procedure involves the removal of the affected breast and can vary depending on the cancer or patient with three versions; simple, modified radical, and radical. A mastectomy may also remove part of or all of the underarm lymph nodes.

Lymph node removal

As the name suggests, this involves the removal of or part of the lymph nodes with either axillary dissection or sentinel lymph node dissection

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment is a course of cancer fighting drugs taken either orally or injected through the veins and flows through the blood streams affecting all the body.

Radiation therapy

This form of treatment involves using high energy light beams to penetrate the cancer cells to stop them from growing or spreading. While radiation also kills healthy cells, these cells can repair themselves or grow back.

Drugs

There are a whole host of drug therapy treatments that can be used in conjunction with surgery or independently such as; Herceptin, Ellence, Taxol, Docetaxel and Aromasin for example.