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Identifying the Signs of Breast Cancerby: Anne Wolski Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths. Every woman's breasts are different so it is important for each individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in order to recognize any peculiarities. Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including: * lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in size or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple turning inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple * ridges or pitting of the breast skin If you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor. Breast cancer is very rare before age 20 and is rarely diagnosed in women younger than age 25. Past that age, the incidence rises steadily to reach a peak around the age of menopause. The rate of increase is lessened after menopause, but older women are still at increasing risk over time. Although a specific cause for breast cancer has not been identified, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood that a woman will develop a breast cancer. These risks include: * Maternal relative with breast cancer. * Women who start their menstruation early and/or go into early menopause, increasing the length of reproductive years, are at greater risk. * Obesity. Women who are overweight are at increased risk * Women who have never had children are at greater risk. * Women who had their first child over age 30 are at greater risk. * Previous breast cancer. * Previous endometrial cancer. Aside from the genetic predisposition, the common factor in many of these risks is increased endogenous estrogen exposure over a long time. It is recommended that women over 35 check their breasts monthly. However, it is also important that all women do regular breast checks. Your doctor can show you how to effectively check your breasts. Any lump, regardless of size, should be reported to your doctor. Many of these lumps are simply fatty lumps or cysts but it is far better to be safe than sorry. Catching breast cancer early makes a big difference in the type of treatment needed as well as the overall prognosis. Latest Cancer News:Hormone drugs for prostate cancer may hurt heart (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Prostate cancer treatments that cut off the supply of male hormone raise cholesterol, worsen blood sugar and make men fatter and thus likely raise the risk of heart attack, too, doctors said on Monday. Auriemma to donate ties on eBay for cancer fund (AP via Yahoo! Sports) Geno Auriemma plans to auction off the neck ties he wears during the rest of UConn's games this season. The school says money raised by the auctions will benefit the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. The North Carolina State University women's basketball coach died a year ago after a long fight with breast cancer. Approval Expanded for Breast Cancer Drug Tykerb (HealthDay via Yahoo! News) MONDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval for Tyberb (lapatinib) to include postmenopausal women with hormone- and HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who require hormone therapy. Cancer, Autism Push By Obama to Spur New Medicines (Update2) (Bloomberg) Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama proposed increasing the National Institutes of Health budget by $1 billion, or 3.2 percent, in fiscal 2011, earmarking $6 billion for cancer research and $222 million for work in autism. Heart Risk From Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy (WebMD) Androgen-blocking hormone therapy for prostate cancer may raise the risk of heart disease, warns an expert panel representing heart, cancer, and urology organizations. Cancer, Autism Push in Obama Budget Plan to Spur 30 New Drugs (Bloomberg) Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama increased the National Institutes of Health budget proposal by $1 billion, or 3.2 percent, in fiscal 2011, earmarking $6 billion for cancer research and $222 million for work in autism. Targeting Cancer Stem Cells May Eradicate Tumors (MedicineNet.com) Title: Targeting Cancer Stem Cells May Eradicate Tumors Category: Health News Created: 1/29/2010 4:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 2/1/2010 Three-Fourths of Cancer Patients Have Severe Flares of Pain (MedicineNet.com) Title: Three-Fourths of Cancer Patients Have Severe Flares of Pain Category: Health News Created: 1/29/2010 12:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 2/1/2010 Scammer Allegedly Lies About Cancer (ABC News) Prosecutor says Md. woman lied about terminal cancer to steal money. Cancer - Health - Conditions and Diseases - Organizations - United States Childhood cancer project under way (Chicago Sun-Times) What's touted as the biggest effort ever to find all of the genetic mutations that cause childhood cancer is now under way. The privately funded project will complement the Cancer Genome Atlas,an eight-year National Institutes of Health initiative focusing largelyon adult malignancies, says NIH director Dr. Francis Collins. Conn. murder inmate with cancer declared innocent - Washington Post
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