Breast Cancer

Bridget BlaserHill-Lindsey

Per. 6

Breast Cancer• Every three minutes

someone in the US learns that they have breast cancer, and every 13 minutes someone dies from it

• Breast cancer is the 6th leading cause of death in women

• Each year over 200,000 women in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer, and over 1.3M worldwide

• Breast cancer is most common in North America and Australia

Population Affected

• Both men and women can be diagnosed with breast cancer

• It usually occurs at age 50 or older

• White women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than any other race, although African-American women are more likely to die from it

Transmission• BRCA1 and BRCA2 are

the two genes that scientists have linked to breast cancer

• These genes are passed down genetically, and if they are abnormal they increase the chance of developing breast cancer

• Only 5-7% of breast cancer cases are due to this genetic disorder

Order of Development• Breast cancer starts with

an abnormal cell growing out of control

• Stage 1: the cancer spreads to nearby tissue

• Stage 2: The cancer will sometimes spread to the lymph nodes and it can grow up to 5cm

• The cancer continues to grow in the third stage and during the fourth it spreads to other organs

Signs of Breast Cancer

• A few signs of breast cancer:

• Change in the breast size

• Unusual pain in the breast or armpit

• Indentation of the nipple

• Having lumps on your breast

Organs and Body Systems Affected

• Breast cancer can travel to other parts of the body and form tumors through a process called Metastasis

• Some organs most often affected are lymph nodes, bones, liver, lungs and the brain

Treatments and Diagnostic Tests

• Surgery is the primary method of getting rid of breast cancer

• Types of surgery include Ultrasonic Lump Removal and Lumpectomy

• Other treatments are radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy

Historical Background

• The first known medical records were written on papyrus and date back to 1600 B.C, in Egypt

• They included many cases of breast cancer, and one patient was even a man

• A quote from the Egyptian doctor states, “There is no treatment.”

Research

• Doctors everywhere are trying their hardest to detect and successfully treat breast cancer

• Scientists are developing and testing drugs designed to prevent and treat this cancer

Awareness

• The most important thing that they are focusing on is awareness, so that early detection is more likely

• To help provide funding for breast cancer research, people have been setting up many donation foundations. (Always donate!)

Susan G. Komen

• At the age of 33 Susan G. Komen was diagnosed with breast cancer, dying 3 years later

• Her sister then founded an organization called the “Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation”

Conclusion• One out of every nine

women will be diagnosed sometime in her life

• One out of every 33 breast cancer victims will die from it

• Every woman over the age of 40 should get a mammogram every year

• Until we find a cure, the best way of prevention is early testing, getting plenty of exercise and having a healthy diet

• Doing this gives us the best chance of beating this disease