Breast Cancer

  • Breast Cancer
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Globally, breast cancer accounts for 23-24 per cent of all cancers in women. Most women develop breast cancer over the age of 40. In all new breast cancer cases, 5-7 per cent are young women between the ages of 20-39. It can occur in men, but these cases are very rare.   
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 26 September 2015

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Globally, breast cancer accounts for 25.4 per cent of all cancers in women. It can occur in men, but these cases are very rare.

Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue, in the inner lining of milk ducts or lobules (milk producing glands) that supply the ducts with milk.

Anatomy of the breast

The breast lies over the chest or pectoral muscles. A tail of breast tissue extends up to the armpit. The breast is made up of fat, breast tissue, connective tissue and ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. There are about 15-20 lobes. Within the lobes are smaller structures called lobules where milk is produced. The milk travels through tiny tubes called ducts. These ducts connect to a larger duct that opens in the nipple. The darker area of the skin around the nipple is called areola. The areola has many sebaceous glands. Connective tissue and ligaments provide support to the breast and give it shape. Breast tissue has many blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The breast alters shape and size with age, pregnancy and marked weight change. Many women find that their breasts become more lumpy and tender (painful) before periods.

 

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Cancer
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Breast Cancer

Stories

  • Sugary drinks linked to earlier onset of menstrual periods and higher risk of breast cancer
    Girls who frequently consume sugary drinks tend to start their menstrual periods earlier than girls who do not, according to new research published online Jan 28 in Human Reproduction. This effect was independent of the girls' body mass index (BMI), height, total food intake and other lifestyle factors such as physical activity. The findings are important not only because of the growing problem of childhood obesity in a number of developed countries, but also because starting periods earlier is…
  • Cambridge University finds gene behind killer disease - Triple negative breast cancer
    Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most deadly forms of the disease, does not respond to hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen, or targeted drugs like Herceptin and nearly one quarter of patients diagnosed will not survive for more than five years. Now researchers at Cambridge University and the Wellcome Trust’s Sanger Institute have found that the BCL11A gene is overactive in eight out of ten patients. The study opens the door for therapies which suppress the gene and…
  • Goodbye Year of Cancer. Hello Hope!
    Death stared at me up close this year, says cancer survivor Minakshi Ray. What did that teach her about life? As I sit back and take stock of how 2014 treated me, I would say, it was a mixed bag. There have been losses and gains. I don't mean material losses or gains, rather I will remember the year in terms of the emotional journey. Following my battle of survival against breast cancer, my perspective on life has changed completely. The biggest realisation that has dawned…
  • Foods that fight cancer
    By nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju Being overweight has been linked with the increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial (uterus), and colorectal cancer. So keep your BMI at 25 or less with these foods that reduce your waist and your cancer risk: Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses are rich in vitamins and minerals, boosting your immune system. Go for dark coloured beans (rajma, brown beans, green beans, black-eyed beans) and brightly coloured vegetables and…
  • The “Spa” effect of chemotherapy
    Minakshi Ray talks about her experience – the weird and the wonderful - while being treated for breast cancer.  I was scheduled for my first chemotherapy session on April 17, 2013. Even though I believe “ignorance is bliss” sometimes, and I dared not search for information on side effects on the all-pervasive Google, it was difficult to shield myself from information overload on the matter from sources primary, secondary and tertiary! Full of apprehension, I checked…
  • Why Meditation and Yoga Are Recommended for Breast Cancer
    Non-invasive alternative therapies can clear an anxious mind Up to 80% of American patients with breast cancer will undergo complementary therapies to manage anxiety and stress after they receive a diagnosis. Though there’s no clear consensus on which integrative and alternative therapies work and which are ineffective, more and more medical practices have incorporated practices like mindfulness and acupuncture into their offerings. But a new study published in the Journal of the…
  • 3 As for Breast Cancer Recovery
    Plus other tips that got me through. A breast cancer survivor from Delhi shares. Diet 3As - Apple, Anar (pomegranate), Amla (gooseberry) Wheatgrass (if you can manage) Broccoli Do not eat fried and fatty food  If you go out once in a while, eat without making a fuss - so you don't get isolated Eat even if you don't feel like it Mental wellbeing Read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne Make a list of things you want to do - think forward into the future (even a child's wedding) Physical…
  • Red meat consumption in young women increases breast cancer risk
    In conclusion, higher consumption of red meat during adolescence was associated with premenopausal breast cancer. Substituting other dietary protein sources for red meat in adolescent diet may decrease premenopausal breast cancer risk. The breast is particularly vulnerable to carcinogenic influences during adolescence due to rapid proliferation of mammary cells and lack of terminal differentiation. We investigated consumption of adolescent red meat and other protein sources in relation to…
  • Mind over body...
    Minakshi Ray on her battle with breast cancer and what it took to win.  “Life is like a game in the boxing ring. Defeat is not declared till you refuse to get up” The line pretty much defines me – I am generally known as a very positive person among my friends and family and staunchly believe that the Almighty helps those who decide to help themselves! On a cold January morning last year, the doctor handed over the biopsy report of the breast lump to my husband with a little…
  • Breast cancer drug Perjeta appears to extend patients lives
    According to reports from clinical trials, Roche’s breast cancer drug Perjeta displays “unprecedented” life-extending effects, helping patients live an average of 15.7 months longer than they would on chemotherapy and an older drug. 15.7 months is a significant amount of time for metastatic breast cancer patients, who are, on average, given two to three years to live after their diagnosis. Perjeta, then, has the capacity to increase that time by 50 to 75 percent.  http://www…

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