Breast Cancer

Towards personalised cancer treatment

All types of cancer begin with genetic aberrations in the DNA of normal cells. An extensive research project will examine the errors occurring in the genes of several thousand Norwegian patients. The objective ...

Cancer created Mar 01, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Night shifts may be linked to increased ovarian cancer risk

Working night shifts might increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, indicates research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Cancer created Mar 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New strategy helps young lymphoma patients avoid radiation treatment

(HealthDay)—A new treatment approach may mean that young people with a form of lymphoma can go without radiation therapy, sparing them side effects or raised cancer risks down the road.

Cancer created Apr 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Program linked to medical oncology practice improvement

(HealthDay)—For medical oncology practices in the United States, participation in the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) correlates with improvements in ...

Cancer created Apr 06, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New approach evaluates effect of physical activity on estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women

Researchers have generated new insights into the ways in which physical activity affects how much estrogen is broken down and secreted in the urine of postmenopausal women. These findings enhance understanding of the potential ...

Cancer created Apr 10, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Studies show increasing evidence that androgen drives breast cancer

Estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the gene HER2 – these are the big three markers and/or targets in breast cancer. Evidence presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 adds a fourth: androgen receptors.

Cancer created Apr 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Genes identify breast cancer risk and may aid prevention

A newly identified set of genes may predict which women are at high risk for getting breast cancer that is sensitive to estrogen and, therefore, would be helped by taking drugs to prevent it, reports a new Northwestern Medicine ...

Cancer created Mar 19, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Patients with BRCA1 mutations, but not BRCA2 mutations, had poorer prognosis compared with noncarriers

Patients with breast cancer who had a BRCA1 mutation had significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival rates compared with patients without BRCA mutations, but no evidence for a difference in survival was found ...

Cancer created Apr 09, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Pfizer breast cancer drug gets breakthrough label

Pfizer Inc. says its experimental pill for advanced, often deadly breast cancer has been designated as a breakthrough therapy by the Food and Drug Administration.

Cancer created Apr 10, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Physical activity does not protect against in situ breast cancer, epidemiological study says

A European study published in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal has analysed the association between physical activities and in situ or non-invasive breast cancer, or, in other words, ...

Cancer created Feb 28, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Before deciding on breast implants, consider FDA precautions

(HealthDay)—If you're thinking about getting breast implants, there are some things you need to know before you make your decision, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Other created Feb 27, 2013 | popularity 2.5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

No clear evidence that decline in HRT use linked to fall in breast cancer

There is no clear evidence that the decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is linked to a reported fall in the numbers of new cases of breast cancer, as has been claimed, suggests a study in the Journal of ...

Cancer created Mar 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Lymphoseek approved to help locate lymph nodes

(HealthDay)—The injected imaging drug Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help surgeons locate the lymph nodes among people with breast cancer or melanoma.

Cancer created Mar 13, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Certain breast cancers have a trait that could be attacked by new therapies

More than 100 women per day die from breast cancer in the United States. The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research by University ...

Cancer created Mar 27, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Probe to detect spread of breast cancer gets distribution boost

A device co-developed by a University of Houston (UH) physicist to detect the spread of breast cancer and allow physicians to better plan intervention is extending its market reach, bringing it another step ...

Cancer created Apr 09, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


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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