Breast Cancer and Aging: Breast Cancer Defined http://pakmed.net

Aging and Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Defined

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and produce more cells as needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes, however, the process goes wrong. Cells become abnormal and form more cells in an uncontrolled way.
These extra cells form a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign, which means not cancerous, or malignant, which means cancerous. Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors form in the breast tissue.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in American women. It is more common among older women than younger women. Men can get breast cancer too, although they account for only one percent of all reported cases.
When cancer grows in breast tissue and spreads outside the breast, cancer cells are often found in the lymph nodes under the arm. If the cancer has reached these nodes, it means that cancer cells may have spread, or metastasized, to other parts of the body.
When cancer spreads from its original location in the breast to another part of the body such as the brain, it is called metastatic breast cancer, not brain cancer. Doctors sometimes call this "distant" disease.

Breast cancer is not contagious. A woman cannot "catch" breast cancer from other women who have the disease. Also, breast cancer is not caused by an injury to the breast. Most women who develop breast cancer do not have any known risk factors or a history of the disease in their families.
Today, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. Over two million women are breast cancer survivors.
There are several ways to treat breast cancer, but all treatments work best when the disease is found early.
Every day researchers are working to find new and better ways to detect and treat cancer. Many studies of new approaches for women with breast cancer are under way. With early detection, and prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for women with breast cancer can be positive.

Quiz

1. Cancer is a disease where cells divide and grow normally.

FALSE is the correct answer. Cancer is a disease in which cells become ABNORMAL and keep dividing and forming more cells without order or control. Under the microscope, a cancer cell will usually appear larger and less regular in shape than a normal cell.

2. Both men and women can get breast cancer.

TRUE is the correct answer. Men can get breast cancer too, although they account for only one percent of all reported cases.

3. Breast cancer is contagious.

FALSE is the correct answer. A woman cannot "catch" breast cancer from other women or men who have the disease. Also, breast cancer is not caused by an injury to the breast.

4. There are very few women who survive breast cancer.

FALSE is the correct answer. Today, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. There are over two million women who are breast cancer survivors.

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