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Alternative Cancer Treatment - What Is Breast Cancer?

Author: MengY. Total views: 21 Word Count: 568

Breast cancer, according to the majority of sources is simply "cancer of the breast tissue". This isn't an extremely helpful. But after conducting a little more research the answer to this question becomes clear. Cancer is a growth that is malignant. It is caused by uncontrollable and abnormal division of cells. Normal cells become misshapen and begin to grow at an extremely rapid rate. The result of this is either a mass or lump that continues to grow and can actually spread throughout the body.

Not all lumps are cancerous. Most are benign. They reach a certain size and level off. They may be soft and fluid filled, like cysts. Or they may be firm like fibroadenomas, which also are benign since they don't grow and spread. Or, they may simply be scar tissue or hardened fat.

But a true cancer in breast tissues is malignant and serious. Nearly 90% are a type known as ductal carcinoma (sometimes called DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ). Somewhat less than 10% of the rest are lobular carcinomas (LCIS). In both cases lumps may appear as a thickening in some part of the breast, or even in the armpit. Lymph nodes are located there and sometimes play a role in the development of the disease.

It is recommended that individuals begin performing self breast exams around age 20, and that individuals get regular mammograms beginning at the age of 40..

An individual should not be alarmed at every single breast change, however a significant alteration in the size or shape of the breast following maturity is one sign to look for. Fluid might also seep from the nipple that does not resemble milk. In the event that it is cancer it will usually be a type of pus, thus indicating an infection.

An individual's nipple or areola might also alter in shape and size.

Breast cancer develops in stages that mark the disease progression.

Stage 0 is when the condition first occurs, Stage I exists when the tumor is less than 2cm thick and hasn't spread. By Stage II the tumor is between 2-5cm thick and there may be other areas affected. Once the disease reaches Stage III it has penetrated the chest wall. By that level, treatment becomes very difficult and the survival rate is correspondingly low.

Stage IV cancer is the most serious of all. At this point the individual's cancer has started to spread, forming tumors in other areas. These tumors are identical to the original cancerous growth. Cancers of this type are typically fatal.

Because of the stages of cancer, and the health consequences that are associated at each turning point it is imperative that individual are diagnosed early and undergo treatment as quickly as possible. A simple lumpectomy is able to cure the cancer completely. If the cancer has progressed to the point of chemotherapy and radiation therapy being necessary the odds of recovery begin to lessen and the cure feels as bad as the disease.

There have been great amounts of progress made over the past 40 years. The equipment that is available today allows for easier diagnosis. Treatments have also evolved to make the cure not as painful and more reliable.

Cancer at any stage is definitely something to be concerned with, however there is a 95% survival rate for individual's whose cancer is quickly identified and treated by Stage I. You have a greater chance of survival if you monitor yourself and get treatment quickly.

Article Source: the-Articles.com

About the Author

Can there really be a natural way to fight cancer cell ? Yes, fucoidan, was proven scientifically to do just that. The essence of brown seaweed Visit my site at Alternative Cancer Treatment to learn more about how it has help me and the 600+ researches backing it.

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