I was given a pamphlet from the Doctor's office about breast cancer statistics. I thought the information was very informative, so I'd like to share some of what I learned about the causes of breast cancer, and how common it is. Its entitled " A Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment" by California Department of Health Care Services.
What causes Breast Cancer?
It is not known what causes breast cancer or why some women get it and others do not. We do know that
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women. Only skin cancer is more common.
Types of Breast Cancer
There are two main types of breast cancer:
Breast cancer that has not spread from where it began in the breast is called non-invasive or carcinoma in situ. (Carcinoma is a form of cancer and "in situ" means "in place")
Invasive Breast Cancer
Invasive breast cancer is cancer that has spread from where it began in the breast into nearby tissue. About 75% to 80% of all breast cancers are invasive. There are several types.
Breast Cancer Staging
Cancer staging is a rating system for describing the extent of cancer in the body. It is used to help patient and doctor make decisions about treatment.
The stage of a breast cancer depends on:
There are five main stages of breast cancer: Stages O, I, II, III, and IV
Stage O describes non-invasive breast cancer. stages I through IV describe invasive breast cancer.
*all information has been taken from "A Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment" by the California Department of Health Care Services Cancer Detection and Treatment Branch
What causes Breast Cancer?
It is not known what causes breast cancer or why some women get it and others do not. We do know that
- More women than men get it. About 99%of all breast cancers occur in women.
- More older women than younger women get it. Nearly 80% of breast cancers occur in women older than 50.
- Most women who get breast cancer do not have a family member who has had it. Less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease.
- most women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors other than being older and being a woman.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women. Only skin cancer is more common.
- A woman who lives to be 80 years old will have a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer at some point during her lifetime.
- In California, about 25,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
- In the United States, about 230,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
- Currently, there are about 2.8 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.
Types of Breast Cancer
There are two main types of breast cancer:
- non-invasive
- invasive
Breast cancer that has not spread from where it began in the breast is called non-invasive or carcinoma in situ. (Carcinoma is a form of cancer and "in situ" means "in place")
Invasive Breast Cancer
Invasive breast cancer is cancer that has spread from where it began in the breast into nearby tissue. About 75% to 80% of all breast cancers are invasive. There are several types.
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma is the most common type of invasive breast cancer. It describes cancer that started in a milk duct, has broken through the wall of the duct, and has invaded nearby tissue. It may or may not have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma is cancer that started and has spread from a breast lobule to nearby tissue. like Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, it may or may not have spread to lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a rare and fast-growing type of invasive cancer that usually begins suddenly. Its main symptoms are swelling and redness of a large part of the breast. The breast skin may also have a dimpled appearance, like the skin of an orange. Inflammatory breast cancer has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body compared with other types of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Staging
Cancer staging is a rating system for describing the extent of cancer in the body. It is used to help patient and doctor make decisions about treatment.
The stage of a breast cancer depends on:
- whether the cancer is invasive or non-invasive
- the size of the cancer
- whether the cancer is in the lymph nodes
- whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
There are five main stages of breast cancer: Stages O, I, II, III, and IV
Stage O describes non-invasive breast cancer. stages I through IV describe invasive breast cancer.
*all information has been taken from "A Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment" by the California Department of Health Care Services Cancer Detection and Treatment Branch
I can't stress enough the importance of mammograms. I've researched information on what a mammogram entails and why one is needed.
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray that allows specialists to look for changes in breast tissue. They usually compare past mammogram images to the recent images.
Why do I need a mammogram?
A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early, when it's small and even before a lump can be felt. This is when it's easiest to treat.
What are the types of mammograms?
Screening mammograms are used to look for signs of breast cancer in women who don't have any breast symptoms or problems. X-ray pictures of each breast are taken from 2 different angles. Recommendations for how often women should get a mammogram have changed in recent years. Many doctors include the patient in the decision making based on age, past breast issues, and so forth.
Diagnostic mammograms are used to look at a woman's breast if she has a breast problem or a change is seen on a screening mammogram. They may include extra views of the breast that aren't part of screening mammograms. Sometimes diagnostic mammograms are used to screen women who were treated for breast cancer in the past.
What do mammograms show?
Mammograms can't prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but they can help healthcare providers decide whether more testing is needed. The 2 main types of breast changes found with a mammogram are calcifications and masses.
Are mammograms safe?
The benefits of mammography outweigh any possible harm from the radiation exposure. Modern machines use low radiation doses to get breast x-rays that are high in image quality. The dose of radiation used for a screening mammogram of both breasts is about the same amount of radiation a woman would get from her natural surroundings over about 7 weeks.
*info taken from American Cancer Society website
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray that allows specialists to look for changes in breast tissue. They usually compare past mammogram images to the recent images.
Why do I need a mammogram?
A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early, when it's small and even before a lump can be felt. This is when it's easiest to treat.
What are the types of mammograms?
Screening mammograms are used to look for signs of breast cancer in women who don't have any breast symptoms or problems. X-ray pictures of each breast are taken from 2 different angles. Recommendations for how often women should get a mammogram have changed in recent years. Many doctors include the patient in the decision making based on age, past breast issues, and so forth.
Diagnostic mammograms are used to look at a woman's breast if she has a breast problem or a change is seen on a screening mammogram. They may include extra views of the breast that aren't part of screening mammograms. Sometimes diagnostic mammograms are used to screen women who were treated for breast cancer in the past.
What do mammograms show?
Mammograms can't prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but they can help healthcare providers decide whether more testing is needed. The 2 main types of breast changes found with a mammogram are calcifications and masses.
Are mammograms safe?
The benefits of mammography outweigh any possible harm from the radiation exposure. Modern machines use low radiation doses to get breast x-rays that are high in image quality. The dose of radiation used for a screening mammogram of both breasts is about the same amount of radiation a woman would get from her natural surroundings over about 7 weeks.
*info taken from American Cancer Society website
breast radiation information
Duration of Treatment
3-6 weeks. Monday through Friday
Possible Side Effects During Radiation Treatment
Special Instructions during Radiation Treatment
Radiation Boost Information
An additional simulation may be required to map out a reduced area to be treated. If required, external beam radiation will continue in that area for the last 4-8 treatments.
Radiation therapy may cause some or all of the side effects listed above. Most side effects that occur during your treatments will improve several weeks after the treatments end. If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask your physician or nurse.
*info taken from KAISER PERMANENTE Cancer Treatment Center
3-6 weeks. Monday through Friday
Possible Side Effects During Radiation Treatment
- Fatigue
- Gradual skin reddening & irritation in the treated area
- Gradual skin darkening in treated area
- Breast Swelling
- Tiredness
- Occasional aches and pains in the breast
- Temporary hair loss under the arm
Special Instructions during Radiation Treatment
- Please refer to "Skin Care Guidelines" handout
- Continue eating and drinking to maintain your weight
- Avoid wearing an under wire bra
- For nipple irritation or breast soreness, you may take your usual pain medications.
- Avoid exposing the treated area to direct sunlight. Try to cover the treated area with loose-fitting clothing
Radiation Boost Information
An additional simulation may be required to map out a reduced area to be treated. If required, external beam radiation will continue in that area for the last 4-8 treatments.
Radiation therapy may cause some or all of the side effects listed above. Most side effects that occur during your treatments will improve several weeks after the treatments end. If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask your physician or nurse.
*info taken from KAISER PERMANENTE Cancer Treatment Center
Hormones are chemicals made in the body that control how cells and organs do their work. Two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are important for reproduction. They help control a woman's monthly period and pregnancy. HORMONES AND BREAST CANCER Some breast cancer cells need hormones to grow. These cells will have many proteins called hormone receptors. Tumors with many of these cells are called hormone receptor-positive tumors (estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive) tumors. Tumors with few or none of these cells are called hormone receptor-negative and/or progesterone receptor-negative. Hormone therapies are only used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. TAMOXIFEN AND/OR AROMATASE INHIBITORS Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors are hormone therapy drugs used to treat hormone receptor-positive tumors. Tamoxifen attaches to the estrogen receptors in the cancer cell. This blocks estrogen from getting into the cancer cell. It is used to treat breast cancer in both pre-and postmenopausal women. AIs lower the amount of estrogen in the body which slow or stop the growth of hormone receptor-positive tumors. As a result, the cancer cells don't get the hormones they need to grow. They are only used for postmenopausal women. Hormone therapy can lower the risk that breast cancer will:
SIDE EFFECTS OF TAMOXIFEN AND AROMATASE INHIBITORS Tamoxifen Aromatase Inhibitors
*information taken from Susan G. Komen website
Susan G. Komen 1-877-465-6636 www.komen.org Komen Treatment Assistance Fund 1-800-813-4673 www.cancercare.org National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service 1-800-422-6237 www.cancer.gov National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship 1-877-622-7937 www.canceradvocacy.org The Patient Advocate Foundation, Co-Pay Relief 1-866-512-3861 www.copays.org American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345 cancer.org Cancer Survivors Network 1-800-227-2345 csn.cancer.org |
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