Breast cancer

Is there a cure for breast cancer?

A question often arises; is breast cancer curable? A decade ago, the answer would have been in the negative, few years ago, the answer would have been an indefinite ‘maybe’. However, the advanced breast cancer research and treatment options in the current times have made a full recovery a possibility rather than an unheard of incident.

A number of factors can put a woman at risk of developing breast cancer. Early menarche (onset of menstruation), family history of breast cancer, previous case of breast cancer, no pregnancies or having the first child at a later age can considerably increase the risk.

Breast cancer is defined as the cancer arising in the breast tissue due to abnormal growth pattern in the cells. It was among the most feared diseases in the past mainly due to its mortality rates and drastic consequences. According to the National Cancer institute, there were 200,000 newly diagnosed cases and more than 40,000 deaths due to breast cancer in 2009, the majority occurring among the 50s age groups. About 1% of men can also develop breast cancer.

Breast cancer symptoms occur at a later stage when the disease has spread. These include changes in the texture of the skin, abnormalities in nipple and/or breast structure, pain, redness, etc. The most effective way to deal with breast cancer, or any cancer for that matter, is opting for an early screening, especially if someone is at risk. Various tests are available in order to verify and confirm the diagnosis. Mammogram is one such test that is commonly used. For more information on breast cancer, visit Cancercarevilla.blogspot.com.