Breast cancer

Breast cancer is caused by malignant cells in the lining of the milk glands or ducts of the breast (McCartney, 2001). The characteristics of the cancer depend on where in the glandular or ductal unit the cancer occurs, and this determines the subtype. Ductal carcinoma, for example, begins in the ducts; lobular carcinoma involves the lobules or glands. If the cancer has not yet spread, it is termed "in situ." Once the cancer becomes invasive, it can spread to the regional lymph nodes or to other organ systems in the body and become systemic. The primary lymph nodes for the breast are in the axilla, and this is the first place to which it usually spreads. If the cancer gets into the bloodstream, it can be carried anywhere, and the most likely sites for systemic metastases are the lungs, liver, skin, soft tissue, and bones.

Every woman is at risk for breast cancer, and the risk increases with age, regardless of family history (McCartney, 2001; NCI, 2003). According to the National Cancer Institute, women over age 60 are at the greatest risk, and is uncommon before menopause. Other risk factors include a family history of breast cancer; early onset of menstruation, and late onset of menopause; women who have not had children or who have not breast-fed children; women taking hormone replacement therapy; women who have had radiation therapy to the chest; increased breast density; being obese after menopause; and some studies have indicated that physical inactivity and

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but the authors feel it has great potential for the future and could even replace the need for needle biopsies, and may prove useful in following the course of treatment of breast cancers noninvasively. Another new detection device has just garnered FDA approval (FDA, 2004, 27). The new system uses infrared scanning technology which is noninvasive, is suitable for women of any age, and helps assess breast health by measuring temperature parameters in the breast. These are compared to the instrument's large database, and the doctor is given a quantified result format which clearly indicates areas of concern, and can be compared to results from other tests. It is intended as an adjunctive procedure, and not a replacement for other technologies presently in use. The advantages are that the IR scan takes only 10 minutes, and the results are available immediately to the doctor. The patient is not exposed to any radiation, and the breast is not touched in any way. Treatments for breast cancer include surgical removal of the cancerous tissue, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy (Donatelle, 2004, 464; McCartney, 2001; NCI, 2003). The extent of surgery will depend on the size of the lump, and whethe

Category: Medical - B