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Line 1: − '''Under construction'''+ + − + − ==Risk factors==+ − ==Ways of reducing the risk==+ + + + + + − Maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy diet reduces the risk.<ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html </ref> <ref> http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm </ref>+ − + − Breast-feeding may lower risk. <ref>http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,8150,757869,00.html</ref> Term pregnancies may reduce risk, as an interruption to estrogen exposure decreases risk compared to women with no pregnancies.+ − <ref>http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2570 </ref> However, no one has studied getting pregnant as a method of risk-reduction. − + − In the modern era, the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormal mammogram and subsequent biopsy. Up to 20 percent of new breast cancers are not detected or visible on a mammogram. MRI is becoming an important diagnostic test in certain situations.<ref>Kriege, M. "Efficacy Of MRI and Mammography for Breast-Cancer Screening in Women With a Familial or Genetic Predisposition." New England Journal of Medicine. July 29, 2004, Vol. 351, No. 5, pp. 427-437.</ref> − ==Staging== + − There are a few different staging schemes. Staging is primarily accomplished surgically. A common current method is "sentinel node biopsy" which identifies the nearest lymph node draining the tumor, avoiding the need for more invasive lymph node dissection. One common staging system follows: − + − :*Stage I: this is defined as tumor <2cm with no positive lymph nodes − :*Stage II: <2cm tumor with lymph nodes involved on the same side, or tumor >2cm without positive nodes. − :*Stage III: Locally advanced: extensive lymph node involvement, direct extension of tumor outside of the breast − :*Stage IV, metastatic disease. Breast cancer cells found outside of the immediate area of the original tumor. − ==Treatment==+ − '''under construction''' − − Treatment is based on several factors, including the stage of the disease, age and menopausal status of the patient, and the hormone-receptor status of the tumor. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy are used alone or in combination. − − *Surgery: There are many surgical options, depending on tumor size and lymph node status. For small, localized tumors, lumpectomy followed by radiation is as effective as mastectomy. − *Hormone therapy: really, a subset of chemotherapy, hormone therapy cuts the tumor off from chemicals it needs to grow. − *Chemotherapy: this therapy will kill tumor cells throughout the body. − − ==Prognosis== − '''Under construction''' − − − Outcomes in breast cancer depend on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, the hormone receptor status, and a variety of other factors. − + − [[category:Diseases]] − − ==See also== − − *[[skin cancer]]
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Original text of article without medical contributor....leave my edits out please.[[User:palmd001|PalMD]]<sup>[[User_talk:palmd001|talk]]</sup> 12:38, 11 April 2007 (EDT)
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and the most fatal after lung cancer. The number of cases has significantly increased since the 1970s. Although it is far less common in men, breast cancer can also affect them.<ref> http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malebreast/healthprofessional</ref>
==Introduction==
==Risk factors==
Many factors affect the incidence of breast cancer in any given population of women including:
* diet <ref> http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm </ref>
* racial grouping, <ref> http://www.womenshealthnetwork.org/advocacy/wocbreastca/natam.htm </ref>
* obesity <ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html </ref>
* family history if such a history involves having several generations affected by breast cancer or having many relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at less than 50 years old <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref>
* prolonged uninterrupted exposure to estrogen (e.g. by having an early [[menarche]] and late [[menopause]] or by having no full-term pregnancies).<ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref>
* age: increasing age increases the risk that at some point in her life a woman will contract breast cancer, rising from 1 in 231 (0.5% risk) aged under 40 to 1 in 7 at age 90. <ref> http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_who_indrisk.html </ref>
This concept of risk should be put into the context of other risks, since life is full of risks. A woman's risk of dying of breast cancer is similar to her risk from radon by living in Cornwall, England, <ref> http://www.cplusc.co.uk/risks.html </ref> a factor which does not seem to have denuded Cornwall of its female population.
Breast self-examination carried out every month, ideally one week after beginning a [[menstrual period]], is a common-sense preventive measure, but current research shows that it may not actually reduce mortality. It is still recommended.<ref> http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/bse.html </ref> For women over the age of 40, [[mammogram]] screenings are another preventive measure that can detect cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. However, not all medical authorities agree on whether there is any benefit from having annual mammograms below the age of 50. <ref> http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/women/9909/27/bcam.mammography/</ref>
The National Breast Cancer Coalition does not endorse the view that induced abortions increase the risk of breast cancer. Nor do the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organisation endorse this view. This would seem to be borne out by the experience of the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is illegal, and yet it has one of the highest rates of both breast cancer incidence and mortality in the EU. <ref> http://www.allirelandnci.org/pdf/publications/Stat-Report-1998-2000/4a.pdf </ref>
A higher risk factor for breast cancer than abortion, recent research reveals, is the eating of red meat. <ref> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/04/04/nmeat04.xml</ref>
==Diagnosis==
==Ways of reducing the risk==
Having children reduces the risk of breast cancer. If a woman breastfeeds her babies she greatly reduces her risk of breast cancer. <ref> http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2570</ref> <ref>http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,8150,757869,00.html</ref>
:Early stage
Maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy diet reduces the risk.<ref> http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,,686105,00.html </ref> <ref> http://unisci.com/stories/20021/0104023.htm </ref>
Breast self-examination carried out every month, ideally one week after beginning a [[menstrual period]], is a common-sense preventive measure. <ref> http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/bse.html </ref> For women over the age of 40, mammogram screenings are another preventive measure that can detect cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. However, not all medical authorities agree on whether there is any benefit from having annual mammograms below the age of 50. <ref> http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/women/9909/27/bcam.mammography/</ref>
==References==
==References==
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