Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer is a cancer that forms in the breasts, specifically the parts that produce milk and send it to the nipple. Both men and women can have breast cancer, but it is more common in women. In the United States many deaths occur each year due to breast cancer, more in women than in men, with forty thousand, one hundred and seventy deaths among women, and four hundred and forty in men during the year two thousand and nine. Breast cancer is a serious form of cancer that becomes more and more prominent among humans each year. There are many theories as to how someone can get breast cancer including; genetics, alcohol use, poor diet and more. These theories are just that, and not factual reasons people get breast cancer. There are many preventative methods that exist for both women and men, to reduce the risk of a person getting this and other cancers. Preventative measures consists of lowering the risk of getting cancer which can be extremely difficult. Sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what to do to prevent breast cancer because some risk factors can be prevented and some cannot. For example, smoking can be avoided, but genetics cannot. Consequently, in an effort to help prevent breast cancer and other cancers people should do all they can to ensure that all preventative risk factors are being prevented. Many doctors suggest taking certain medications that can lower the risk that someone will getting cancer, or precancerous cells turning into anything cancerous.

Many families in the United States have been affected by breast cancer, and will until there is a definitive cure for it. It is recommended that women and men get annual breast exams after a certain age, usually once the breast is fully grown. Breast exams can be conducted manually by a doctor and or the patient themselves, or they can be done using an x-rays or mammograms. Breast cancer is treatable but there does not exist a cure. Some treatments are more hazardous to the immune system than others. Chemotherapy is one treatment that usually causes a patient to lose hair, and or get sick extremely quickly. This treatment often makes a patient extremely tired and worn out for the majority of the treatment. Radiation is another form of breast cancer treatment that is even harsher on the patient causing the same effects. Surgery is always an option when certain removal cancers form like tumors and such. Breast cancer research focuses on preventative and curable treatment to create new treatment options for patients and cure the disease entirely. Breast cancer has been detected in women who are pregnant and nursing more often than not, occurring in every three thousand pregnancies a year. Breast cancer is a cancer that is very difficult to detect and treat, but in some cases can be prevented. Many organizations like the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Relay for Life are just two of the many organizations working to build awareness and finding a cure. Hopefully, in the near future, these organizations and others like it will find a cure for breast cancer.