Breast cancer is the second most common cancer for both male and female. Ranked as the fifth deadliest cancer in the world, this cancer starts in the breast and usually takes place in the inner lining ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipples) and lobules (glands that makes milk). A woman is more often diagnosed with breast cancer compared to men, but the survival rates are the same for both sexes. According to the statistics, estimated new cases and deaths of breast cancer in the United States for 2009 only is New cases 192,370 (female); 1,910 (male), and deaths 40,170(female) and 440 (male).
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump that starts in the breast or armpit. Doing a monthly breast self exam is the best way to avoid a breast cancer. Early detection the best way to protect you and chances of surviving are higher. Other signs of breast cancer are swelling in the armpit, nipple discharges (bloody or clear), inverted nipple, pain in the nipple and scaly or uneven skin in the breast.
These are the common types of breast cancer.
-In situ breast cancer- which means that the cancer cells stayed within their origin. It hasn’t spread the cancer cell in the breast tissue. This is an example of noninvasive breast cancer. The most common type of noninvasive type of cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This type of cancer is not life threatening but having this might also lead to invasive breast cancer.
-Invasive breast cancer- means that the cancer cells spread outside the membrane, invading the surrounding tissue. The cancer cells travel to the other parts of your body.
-Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – about 70% of people that are diagnosed with breast cancer have IDC. Cancer cells starts to form in the lining of the milk duct and pass through ductal wall, and then invades the nearby tissues.
-Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) – although not very common than IDC. The cancer cell invades in the same way from the lobules to the surrounding tissues. This type of cancer can spread to more distant part of your body.
Mammogram is the best way to detect a breast cancer. As we grow older, the risk of having breast cancer increases.
