Breast Cancer

Nonsmoking lung cancer survivor encourages others to consider risk

Carol Seibert had an upper respiratory infection she just couldn’t seem to shake. The timing of her illness was awful, as she had just returned from a trip to Florida for her youngest son’s surgery and was preparing ...

Cancer created May 25, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Amino acid consumption associated with how fast cancer cells divide

For almost a century, researchers have known that cancer cells have peculiar appetites, devouring glucose in ways that normal cells do not. But glucose uptake may tell only part of cancer's metabolic story. Researchers from ...

Cancer created May 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Key gene found responsible for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have, for the first time, identified a single gene that simultaneously controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer.

Genetics created May 24, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Knowing genetic makeup may not significantly improve disease risk prediction

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers have found that detailed knowledge about your genetic makeup—the interplay between genetic variants and other genetic variants, or between genetic variants and environmental ...

Genetics created May 24, 2012 | popularity 2 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Thioridazine kills cancer stem cells in human while avoiding toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments

A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.

Cancer created May 24, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (38) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Cancer docs often deal with own grief, doubts when patients die

(HealthDay) -- Some cancer doctors may build up emotional walls -- distancing themselves from the patients they can't save -- to avoid grief, sadness and even despair, new research shows.

Cancer created May 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Cardio fitness levels of breast cancer patients may affect survival

Women receiving care for breast cancer have significantly impaired cardio-pulmonary function that can persist for years after they have completed treatment, according to a study led by scientists at Duke University Medical ...

Cancer created May 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Breast MRI helps predict chemotherapy's effectiveness

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an indication of a breast tumor's response to pre-surgical chemotherapy significantly earlier than possible through clinical examination, according to a new study published online ...

Cancer created May 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Breast cancer clinical trial tests combo of heat shock protein inhibitor and hormonal therapy

Pushed to the brink of survival, the hyper-driven cells of a cancerous tumor tap into an ancient system that has helped organisms cope with internal stresses and environmental challenges since life began. As an integral part ...

Cancer created May 22, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Array of light for early disease detection?

A special feature in this week's issue of the journal Science highlights protein array technology, touching on research conducted by Joshua LaBaer, director of the Biodesign Institute's Virginia G. Piper ...

Medical research created May 22, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New protein signature of breast cancer progression identified

A protein signature that predicts overall survival in breast cancer patients has been uncovered in the most comprehensive survey of protein expression patterns in breast cancer progression to date.

Cancer created May 22, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

The Women's Health Initiative study and hormone therapy -- what have we learned 10 years on?

In July 2002 the publication of the first Women's Health Initiative (WHI) report caused a dramatic drop in Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HT ) use throughout the world. Now a major reappraisal by international experts, published ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology created May 22, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Vigorous physical activity associated with reduced risk of psoriasis

A study of U.S. women suggests that vigorous physical activity may be associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Dermatology.

Inflammatory disorders created May 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study finds moderate weight loss reduces levels of sex hormones linked to breast cancer risk

Even a moderate amount of weight loss can significantly reduce levels of circulating estrogens that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research ...

Cancer created May 21, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Study: Heart damage after chemo linked to stress in cardiac cells

Blocking a protein in the heart that is produced under stressful conditions could be a strategy to prevent cardiac damage that results from chemotherapy, a new study suggests.

Cardiology created May 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1 | with audio podcast


Breast cancer (malignant breast neoplasm) is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas. Breast cancer is a disease of humans and other mammals; while the overwhelming majority of cases in humans are women, men can sometimes also develop breast cancer.

The size, stage, rate of growth, and other characteristics of the tumor determine the kinds of treatment. Treatment may include surgery, drugs (hormonal therapy and chemotherapy), radiation and/or immunotherapy. Surgical removal of the tumor provides the single largest benefit, with surgery alone being capable of producing a cure in many cases. To somewhat increase the likelihood of long-term disease-free survival, several chemotherapy regimens are commonly given in addition to surgery. Most forms of chemotherapy kill cells that are dividing rapidly anywhere in the body, and as a result cause temporary hair loss and digestive disturbances. Radiation is indicated especially after breast conserving surgery and substantially improves local relapse rates and in many circumstances also overall survival. Some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone, which makes it possible to treat them by blocking the effects of these hormones.

Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 22.9% of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) in women. In 2008, breast cancer caused 458,503 deaths worldwide (13.7% of cancer deaths in women). Breast cancer is more than 100 times more common in women than breast cancer in men, although males tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.

Prognosis and survival rate varies greatly depending on cancer type, staging and treatment. However, survival rates across the world are generally good. Overall more than 8 out of 10 women (84%) in England that are diagnosed with the disease survive it for at least 5 years.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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Calcium supplements linked to significantly increased heart attack risk

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