Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in an organ (such as the breast, cervix, ovary or lung). Cancer cells grow together to form a mass called a tumor. Cancer is life threatening because cancer cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to distant parts of the body (metastasize). Early detection before the cancer spreads provides the best chance of cure.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Men can also develop breast cancer, but it is rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of all cases. Breast tumors, both benign and malignant, can develop in any part of the breast. Most tumors, however, arise from ducts that carry milk from the lobule, where milk is produced, to the nipple. About one in seven adult women in the United States develop breast cancer. If detected at an early stage when the tumor has not spread to lymph nodes, most women, about 97 percent, are cured. Early detection of breast cancer is due mainly to annual mammography screening and physical breast examinations.
- Be familiar with normal appearance of your breasts.
- Look for swelling, puckering, dimpling, redness, and nipple discharge.
- Feel for unusual lumps, soreness, change from normal consistency.
Be aware that herbs and supplements are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Do not assume if a product is considered "natural" that it is harmless. Many substances do not have sound science behind them to prove their safety or how well they work. Manufacturers may not be giving you what you think you are getting, or the way the substance is processed may be unhealthy or unsafe. With many of these products, doctors do not know enough about them. Herbs and supplements may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications or can worsen your health conditions. Consider that some supplements, such as vitamin A, may be unsafe when taken in mega doses.
- Chemotherapy: using anti-cancer drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells.
- Hormonal therapy: using hormones to stop cancer cells from growing.
- Radiation therapy: using high-dose X-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from dividing and growing.
- Biological therapy (immunotherapy): using the immune system to fight cancer or to lessen the side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Many biological therapies are being tested in clinical trials. See below for more information
Be aware that herbs and supplements are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Do not assume if a product is considered "natural" that it is harmless. Many substances do not have sound science behind them to prove their safety or how well they work. Manufacturers may not be giving you what you think you are getting, or the way the substance is processed may be unhealthy or unsafe. With many of these products, doctors do not know enough about them. Herbs and supplements may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications or can worsen your health conditions. Consider that some supplements, such as vitamin A, may be unsafe when taken in mega doses.
- Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment: A Guide for Patients, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
- Understanding Breast Changes, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
- A Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, California Department of Health Services.
- New Monoclonal Antibody Approved For Advanced Breast Cancer, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- Dollinger M, Rosenbaum, EH, Tempero M., et al. Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy, Fourth Edition, Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002.
- Rosenbaum, EH, Rosenbaum I. Everyone's Guide to Supportive Cancer Care: The Complete Guide for Patients and Their Families, Fourth Edition, Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel