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Breast cancer for beginnersby: Mansi gupta Introduction Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage. Myths There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one’s risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it’s not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor. Early detection Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer. Statistics The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer. Cause Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age. Diagnosis The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis. Management The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth. Counseling This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that. Latest research Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched. Latest Cancer News:Cancer Genetics to Attend ASCO Annual Meeting Cancer Genetics, Inc. , a leader in oncology-focused personalized medicine, will attend for the first time the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on May 31-June 4, 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Barbara Brenner, Breast Cancer Iconoclast, Dies at 61 Ms. Brenner, who led Breast Cancer Action for 15 years, took on the medical establishment and industrial companies as she crusaded for research on the disease. GE Scientists in Technology ?Relay Race? Against Cancer To commemorate National Cancer Research Month, a team of scientists from GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Co. , are joined together in a technology ?relay race? against cancer. Does prostate cancer treatment help older, sick men? By Andrew M. Seaman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men with other illnesses may not live long enough to benefit from aggressive prostate cancer treatments, such as prostate removal or radiation, and they'd have to live with their side effects, says a new study. "If you're going to die of a heart attack in five years, what's the point of going through radiation?" asked Dr. David Penson, the ... University of Washington Receives CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation UW Medicine, a leading healthcare provider serving Seattle and the Northwest, is leading by example when it comes to promoting workplace wellness and encouraging healthier behavior. UK tries out new model for gene testing in cancer patients By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched a research programme on Monday that should eventually allow all cancer patients to have access to the kind of genetic analysis that led Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to decide to undergo a double mastectomy. The project, involving the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, the U.S. gene sequencing firm Illumina, geneticists and cancer ... Tackling Cancer: Leukemia's Biggest Current and Upcoming Players Cancer research is big business, and it pays to know where research dollars are headed. GE Healthcare Launches #GetFit Cancer Prevention Campaign GE Healthcare has today launched its third annual #GetFit global public awareness campaign on cancer prevention. This year?s campaign leverages social media channels including Instagram, Sina Weibo in China, and Twitter to enable participation, interaction and engagement. Cancer charity slams 'enormous drug inequality' A cancer charity has hit out at the "enormous inequality" in the system for prescribing new medicines. Breast cancer bras a no-go for Victoria's Secret Strapless, multi-way, demi, the ?pushups of summer? ? if you want a bra, Victoria?s Secret stocks it. Unless you?re a breast cancer survivor, that is, and looking for a pocketed bra capable of holding a prosthetic breast form.Allan Maiden, the 28-year-old daughter of a breast cancer survivor, had hoped to change that and gathered 120,000 signatures last January asking that Victoria?s Secret ... Barbara Brenner, Breast Cancer Iconoclast, Dies at 61 - New York Times
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