Alternative Cancer Treatment - What Exactly Is Breast Cancer?

According to the majority of available resources breast cancer is defined as "cancer of the breast tissue". This doesn't give someone diagnosed with the disease much to go on. But after conducting additional research the answer becomes much more understandable. Cancer is a malignant growth. It is caused by abnormal and completely uncontrollable division of cells. Normal cells begin to be misshapen and start to grow at an extremely fast pace. What occurs is a mass or either a lump that continues to grow and can actually spread all over the body.

Not every breast lump is cancerous, in fact the majority of them are benign. They will reach a specific size and level off. They might be soft and filled with fluid- similar to cysts. These lumps could also be fibroadenomas that do not spread or grow. They could also be scar tissue or just hardened fat.

Having breast tissue that is actually cancerous is malignant and serious. Almost 90% of malignant breast cancer tumors are labeled as ductal carcinomas. Around 10% of the other cancer instances are lobular carcinomas. In either instance the lumps could appear as thickening in some spots on the breast or armpit. Lymph nodes are located under the armpits. They can sometimes play a role in the development of the disease.

It is highly recommended that individuals start to perform self breast exams at the age of 20 and that they begin to get regular mammograms at the age of 40.

You shouldn't be alarmed at every single breast change, however a significant alteration in the size or shape of the breast after maturity is a sign to look for. Fluid might also seep from the nipple that doesn't resemble milk. If you have cancer the fluid will show itself as a form of pus, which indicates infection.

The nipple or areola could also alter in both size and shape.

Breast cancer develops in stages that mark the disease progression.

Stage 0 is when the condition first occurs, Stage I exists when the tumor is less than 2cm thick and hasn't spread. By Stage II the tumor is between 2-5cm thick and there may be other areas affected. Once the disease reaches Stage III it has penetrated the chest wall. By that level, treatment becomes very difficult and the survival rate is correspondingly low.

Stage IV is the most serious. At this point the cancer has, as it's called, metastasized. That means the cancer has spread and that it has formed secondary tumors which resemble the initial growth. Such cancers are very often fatal.

Because of the stages of cancer, and the health consequences that are associated at each turning point it is imperative that individual are diagnosed early and undergo treatment as quickly as possible. A simple lumpectomy is able to cure the cancer completely. If the cancer has progressed to the point of chemotherapy and radiation therapy being necessary the odds of recovery begin to lessen and the cure feels as bad as the disease.

There have been great amounts of progress made over the past 40 years. The equipment that is available today allows for easier diagnosis. Treatments have also evolved to make the cure not as painful and more reliable.

Though any stage is a concern, there is an over 95% five-year survival rate for those that are identified and treated by Stage I. Improve your odds by careful monitoring and seeking early diagnosis.