About
Breast Cancer
Cancer
begins in cells, the building blocks that make up
tissues. Tissues make up
the organs of the body.
Normally,cells grow and
divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells
grow old, they die, and new cells take their
place.
Sometimes,
this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body
does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should.
These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or
tumor.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of breast cancer
include:
-
A change in
how the breast or nipple feels
-
A lump or
thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm
area
-
Nipple
tenderness
-
A change in
how the breast or nipple looks
Early breast cancer usually does not
cause pain. Still, a woman should see her health care
provider about breast pain or any other symptom that does
not go away.
Diagnosis
If you have a symptom or screening test
result that suggests cancer, your doctor must find out
whether it is due to cancer or to some other
cause.
Your doctor may ask about your personal and
family medical history. You may have a physical exam. Your
doctor also may order a mammogram or other imaging
procedure.
Treatment
Women with breast
cancer have many treatment options. These include
surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone
therapy, and biological therapy. Many women receive
more than one type of treatment.
Reference for
Breast Cancer Article
- National Institutes of
Health
Health
Related Websites
The National Cancer
Institute
The National Eye
Institute
The National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute
National Institute on
Aging
National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug
Abuse
National Institute of Mental
Health
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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