October 2005 marks more than 20 years that the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has educated women, and present day men, about breast cancer. Most commonly associated with women, breast cancer incidences are steadily increasing from 1:20 in 1960 to 1:7 today. The American Cancer Society estimates that 211,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year and 43,300 patients will die from the disease.
Although breast cancer has been only associated with women in the past, it is not exclusive to the female gender anymore. For every 100 women with breast cancer there is one male who will develop the disease, and the American Cancer Society estimates that 1,600 men will develop the disease this year.
Breast cancer is rarely detected in the twenties (age), but gradually increases through the forties and increases after the fifties. Fifty percent of breast cancer cases detected are found in women over the age of 65.
Breast cancer is often described as a heterogenous disease. In other words, this disease is different in women, different in every age group, and has different cell populations within the tumor itself. Generally, breast cancer is much more aggressive in younger women than older women. Studies show that at the time of death, two percent of the population was undiagnosed.
There are many risk factors involved with breast cancer that need to be taken into consideration, such as: early onset of menses and late menopause, diets high is saturated fats, late or no pregnancies, moderate alcohol intake, family history, and the history of prior breast cancer.
There are seven types of breast cancer: Ductal Carcinoma in-situ (tumor demonstrates extrusion of dead and necrotic tumor cells similar to a blackhead, Infiltrating Ductal (most common and has star-like appearance on mammography), Medullary Carcinoma (hard to distinguish with a mammography or sonography), Infiltrating Lobular (present in upper quadrant of breast), Tubular Carcinoma (orderly and well differentiated), Mucinous Carcinoma (rounded lesions), and Inflammatory Breast Cancer (changes in skin are very noticeable).
In order to catch breast cancer in its early stages perform a breast self-examination test. Procedures for this test along with all other information found in this article can be found at: www.nationalbreastcancer.org