Breast cancer is a malignant growth that starts from cells in the breast. It is one of the commonest cancers women suffer and between 40 and 55 years of age. It is unfortunately one of the main causes of female death below the age of 60 but more women now beat it than ever.

Understandably many women fear breast cancer. Modern treatment is curing more women than ever but as with most illnesses early diagnosis leads to better odds of cure. Men do get breast cancer but there is a much lower incidence.

Breast Cancer Incidence

Compared with 20 years ago there are many more women with breast cancer. Developed countries have the highest number and poorer countries the lowest. Early diagnosis, better surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy save many more lives a year than in the past.

The number of women surviving breast cancer has increased since 1990 thanks in part to better diagnosis. Specialists in breast cancer credit this and improvement in other treatment with the increase.

Breast Cancer Treatment

The combination of treatment you receive depends on the type and spread of the cancer. Stage 0 means the cancer is localised to the breast and stage 4 means it has gone to other parts of your body. Your treatment varies with the spread of the cancer.

The five main therapies for breast cancer are surgery, hormone treatment, radiation, strong anti cancer drugs and the new biological drugs of which Herceptin is most well known. Your treatment can apply just locally to the cancer or can affect the whole body

Surgery and modern targeted radiation can be used directly on your tumour. The other drug therapies are all given by injection and can affect your whole body. They can have unpleasant side effects and some days they seem to be more of a problem than the cancer.

Breast Cancer Survival

More women conquer and beat cancer each year. With earlier diagnosis and smaller spread of cancer survival rates are high. Individuals are all different however and there are lots of examples of women with more advanced cancer beating it and living long lives. Males and females have broadly the same chances of beating the disease.

The number of cases worldwide of breast cancer is rising and it affects all strata of society. Being told you have breast cancer is stunning but the sooner it is found and treatment begun the better the chance of cure.

Breast cancer can be beaten. However as many cancers are more common if you have a particular gene then your female relations may be offered investigation to determine if they have that gene.

Tags: Cancer