Breast Cancer

Breast cancer patients' fear of developing lymphedema far exceeds risk

Women who have had the lymph nodes under their arm surgically removed during breast cancer treatment are warned to avoid certain practices that can cause lymphedema—a condition that causes chronic, painless swelling in ...

Surgery created Feb 25, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Academics launch new clinically approved diet, that can help lower the risk of breast cancer

Two academics from The University of Manchester have come up with a new diet which they believe can help lower the risk of breast cancer.

Cancer created Feb 15, 2013 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Detecting circulating tumor cells

A proof-of-concept device is nearly perfect in separating breast cancer cells from blood.

Cancer created Mar 25, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

Estrogen plus progestin use is linked with increased breast cancer incidence. In addition, prognosis is similar for both users and nonusers of combined hormone therapy, suggesting that mortality from breast cancer may be ...

Cancer created Mar 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New therapy holds promise for aggressive breast cancers

Australian researchers have developed a new therapy to treat a common and aggressive form of breast cancer and stop the disease spreading, with a 100% success rate reported in mice.

Cancer created Apr 16, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Over 50? Checklist may predict if you'll be alive in 10 years

(HealthDay)—A simple checklist could help doctors estimate whether an older patient will be alive 10 years from now, according to a new study.

Health created Mar 05, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (3) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Hope in stopping melanoma from spreading: Study shows that inhibiting key protein prevents metastasis to lungs in mice

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have identified a critical protein role in the metastasis of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Inhibition of the protein known as adenosine diphosphate ribosylation ...

Cancer created Mar 05, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study reveals UK's declining health performance compared to other high income countries over past 20 years

Six decades of universal free health care, the introduction of widespread public health initiatives (e.g., tobacco control, cancer screening, and immunization), and substantial increases in health expenditure have failed ...

Health created Mar 04, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Explainer: What is cancer?

Few things strike fear into people more than the word cancer, and with good reason. While improvements in cancer therapy and advances in palliative care mean that the illness does not always lead to inevitable ...

Cancer created Mar 15, 2013 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Few breast cancer survivors maintain adequate physical activity despite benefits

Breast cancer survivors are among the women who could most benefit from regular physical activity, yet few meet national exercise recommendations during the 10 years after being diagnosed, according to a study by researchers ...

Cancer created Apr 17, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Cold winters freezing out breast cancer treatment

For women diagnosed with a form of breast cancer known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, tamoxifen is an essential drug used in the treatment and prevention of recurring breast cancer. Currently, tamoxifen ...

Cancer created Apr 18, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Paragazole excels in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancers that lack estrogen receptors are more difficult to treat than ER+ cancers. Research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 demonstrates an investigational drug, Paragazole, that makes triple-negative ...

Cancer created Apr 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Research improving breast cancer treatment by targeting tumor initiating cells

A Kansas State University professor's research on breast cancer stem cells may help improve survival rates by preventing cancer recurrence and metastasis—the major causes of death among breast cancer patients.

Cancer created Feb 13, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Court: Can human genes be patented? (Update)

The Supreme Court grapples Monday with the question of whether human genes can be patented, and the ultimate answer could reshape U.S. medical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian ...

Genetics created Apr 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Scientists find promising new approach to preventing progression of breast cancer

February 15, 2013 – Doctors currently struggle to determine whether a breast tumor is likely to shift into an aggressive, life-threatening mode—an issue with profound implications for treatment. Now a group from The Scripps ...

Cancer created Feb 15, 2013 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | 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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