Information and Resources for Cancer

Breast cancer occurs when a cancerous growth develops in the breast tissue. Cancerous growths are referred to as malignant. If a growth is not cancerous, it is benign. To be cancerous, the growth will have abnormal cells that are growing in an uncontrolled manner. Many lumps are benign and are little cause for concern. When you have a malignant lump, treatment at a Kankakee hospital is essential.

Today, one in eight females in the United States is affected by breast cancer though the disease can also appear in males. The most common form is called ductal carcinoma, which accounts for almost 90 percent of all cases. About 8 percent of patients suffer from lobular carcinoma. Other less common forms include Paget’s disease of the nipple and inflammatory breast cancer in the skin.

Women of all ages are encouraged to perform self-examination of their breasts to feel for lumps or other inconsistencies. Females aged 40 and older should have regular mammograms and clinical breast exams at a Kankakee healthcare center to detect changes in that area. Women with a history of breast cancer in their family may be required to have regular mammograms earlier than 40.

Symptoms that indicate you may have breast cancer include: a thick mass or lump in your breast or underarm area; a noticeable change in shape or size of your breast or nipples; color or texture changes to the skin, nipple or areola; unusual rashes, puckering or dimpling of the breasts; and fluid other than milk leaking from your nipples.

During its early states, sufferers may not experience pain and be unaware the condition exists. Early detection makes it easier to effectively treat the disease. Self examination and regularly scheduled mammograms are crucial for optimum health. With modern treatment methods and increased survival rates, early detection at a Manteno Illinois hospital could save your life.

In 1894, the concept of radical mastectomy was introduced. Until 1971, draining the lymph nodes and pectoralis muscles and removing tissue was the standard treatment for breast cancer. New treatments were introduced over the past three decades including lumpectomy, radiation therapy (XRT), chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Statistics reveal 13 percent of American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime during their lives. Despite updated technologies, over 3 percent of women die from the disease. The most recent decade has realized the fastest decline in mortality rates. Chemotherapy, advanced hormone therapy and early detection through mammograms have helped to save many more lives.

There are various risk factors that contribute toward its occurrence. Your family history, personal medical history, age history of noninvasive lesions and simply being a female are all risk factors for developing breast cancer.