Paper Topic:

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Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a major problem in the United States . Its overall incidence rose by 54 between 1950 and 1990 . In the 1990s , the incidence leveled off and stabilized (American Cancer Society [ACS] , 2002 . At present , there is no cure for breast cancer . Between 1990 and 1994 , the mortality for breast cancer decreased by 5 .6 , the largest short-term decline in more than 40 years , suggesting that the combination of early detection and better systematic treatment option is having an effect on overall survival

Current statistics indicate that a

woman 's lifetime risk for developing breast cancer is 1 in 8 , but this risk is not the same for all age groups . For example , the risk for developing breast cancer by age 35 years is 1 in 622 the risk for developing breast cancer by age 60 years is 1 in 23 . Approximately 80 of breast cancers are diagnosed after the age of 50 . According to the American Cancer Society , more than 193 ,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year , with estimated 40 ,000 deaths . About 1 of these cancers occur in men . Women who are diagnosed with early-stage localized breast cancer have a 5-year survival rate of 98 (ACS , 2002

This discusses the importance of exposing facts about Breast Cancer since most women nowadays are being victimized of this deadly disease . Women should be made aware of the causes , the precipitating factors that could lead to the development of this disease that could then eventually affect them all through out their lives

There is no single , specific cause of breast cancer rather , a combination of hormonal , genetic , and possibly environmental events may contribute to its development

Hormones produced by the ovaries have an important role in breast cancer . Two key ovarian hormones , estradiol and progesterone , are altered in the cellular environment by a variety of factors , and these may affect growth factors for breast cancer

The role of hormones and their relationship to breast cancer remain controversial . Research suggests that a relationship exists between estrogen exposure and the development of breast cancer . In laboratory studies , tumor grows much faster when exposed to estrogen , and epidemiologic research suggests that women who have longer exposure to estrogen have a higher risk for breast cancer . Early menarche nulliparity , childbirth after 30 years of age , and late menopause are known but minor risk factors . The assumption is that these factors are all associated with prolonged exposure to estrogen because of menstruation . The theory is that each cycle (which has high levels of endogenous estrogen ) provides the cells of the breast another chance to mutate , increasing the chance for cancer to develop . Estrogen itself does not cause breast cancer , but it is associated with its development

Growing evidence indicates that genetic alterations are associated with the development of breast cancer . These genetic alterations include changes or mutations in normal genes and the influence of proteins that either promote or suppress the development of breast cancer . Genetic alterations may be...

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