What Is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the development of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. The disease is the most common cancer found among women. In the United States, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women. Breast cancer is detected through self-examination and via mammograms, a test performed by a physician. Breast cancer is most often seen in females within the age group 45 to 55. Although it is rare, breast cancer can form in the chest tissue of men and attributes to 1 percent of male cancer deaths.
Breast cancer's causes are considered a mixture of hormonal and genetic factors. With modern technology, there are numerous treatment options that are successful in detecting, controlling and eliminating breast cancer. Options include surgical removal of the cancerous tumor or the entire breast via mastectomy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy.
Stages
Breast cancer is broken into several stages based on its progression and recommended treatment options. The stages are the early stage or stage 0, Stage 1, Stage 2A, Stage 2B, Stages 3A, 3B, 3C and Stage 4.
In Stage 0, the cancer is detected and is still local to the breast with no signs of spreading to the lymph nodes. In Stage 1, the cancerous tumor is 2 cm or less in size but has not spread. In Stage 2A, the tumor is either still small in size but has interaction with the lymph nodes or the tumor is larger than 2 cm but less than 5 cm and has no lymph node connections. In Stage 2B, the cancer remains around 5 cm in size but still has no interaction with the lymph system. In Stage 3A, the tumor is grown beyond 5 cm and has spread to the lymph nodes. Stage 3B sees the breast cancer as a tumor of varying size that has spread to the skin, chest wall or lymph nodes within the mammary tissue. In Stage 3C, the cancer has spread wider and has advanced its involvement with the lymph nodes. In Stage 4, the cancer, despite its size, has spread far from the breast and has spread to the bones, liver, brain, lungs or other lymph nodes throughout the body.
Final Stages & Treatment
In the final stages in which the cancer has metastasized (spread throughout), the disease has most likely reached the bone. At this stage, breast cancer is considered incurable. Treatment options adjust to control the disease and slow its progression throughout the body.
Treatment options include surgery and or radiation therapy for the tumors in the breast tissue. Chemotherapy and or hormonal therapy is considered also in the final stages of breast cancer. Cancer drugs and steroids are also brought into play to attempt to slow or even shrink the tumor and spread of the disease. While it was once highly fatal to have reached the final stages of breast cancer, modern medical breakthroughs and treatments have not only extended lives but seen cancer remission due to more recent treatment options.
Tags: lymph nodes, Stage cancer, breast cancer, Breast cancer, final stages
