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Breast Cancer
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What is it?
- An
uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells.
- Etiology
of Breast Cancer
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Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to
grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer,
they all come about because of out-of-control growth of
abnormal cells. Different kinds of cancer can behave very
differently.
- For
more detailed information about Breast Cancer:
What
puts me at risk?
- The
risk of breast cancer increases greatly with age.
- Family
history, familial cancer syndrome.
- Reproductive
and hormonal factors such as early menarche (early onset of
menstruation), late menopause, late parity (bearing children
late), and nulliparity (not bearing children).
- Certain
types of benign breast disease (fibrocystic, fibroadenoma)
- Obesity
after menopause.
- Moderate
to heavy alcohol consumption (3 or more drinks per day).
- Very
high doses of radiation, such as that used in radiation therapy.
- Long-term
use of estrogen replacement therapy after menopause.
- Lack
of physical activity and a diet high in fat.
For more detailed information on family history, log onto:
U.S. Surgeon General’s Family History Initiative
Preventing
Cancer
Screening
for Early Detection
- Screening
for cancer is examination (or testing) of people for early stages
in the development of cancer even though they have no symptoms.
Types of Screening
- Breast
Self-Examination
(BSE) – Some women perform monthly breast self-exams to check for any changes in their breasts. Women who notice anything unusual should contact their health care provider.
- Clinical
Breast Examination (CBE) - During a CBE, your doctor
will carefully feel your breasts and under your arms to
check for lumps or other unusual changes.
- Mammogram
- A mammogram is a special x-ray of the breast that can
often find tumors that are too small for you or your doctor
to feel.
- Ultrasonography
- Ultrasound is used to evaluate lumps that have been
identified by BSE, CBE, or mammography, however, there is little evidence to support the use of ultrasound for screening the general population.
- Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A procedure in which a magnet
linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures
of areas inside the body. MRI has been used to evaluate breast masses which can be felt and to discriminate between cancer and scar, but the role of MRI in breast cancer screening has not yet been established. Studies of screening MRI in women of high genetic risk are ongoing.
For more information on screening services, log onto:
Health Research & Educational Trust of New Jersey
Early Detection Saves Lives: A Guide to Breast Cancer Screening Services in NJ
New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Services (NJCEED) – Breast Health Care
Treatment
Options
Clinical Trials
- Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors find ways to improve health and cancer care. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer.
- A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. Studies are done with cancer patients to find out whether promising approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are safe and effective.
- Different types of clinical trials include:
Coping
with Cancer
Statistics
Comprehensive
Cancer Control Plan
National Center for Health Statistics – Fact Sheets
New Jersey State Cancer Registry
More Information
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Office of Cancer Control and Prevention
