‘breast disease’

Radiation breast cancer

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

Radiation therapy – also called radiotherapy – is highly targeted, very effective way to destroy breast cancer cells that stick around after the surgery. Radiation can reduce the risk of recurrence of breast cancer by about 70%. Despite what many are afraid of radiation is relatively easy to tolerate the side effects and is limited to the treated area.

The radiation treatments will be monitored by a radiation oncologist, a physician specializing in radiation therapy of tumors.

Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is using a large machine called a linear accelerator for the precise amounts of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells provide. The radiation stops the reproduction of tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Radiation therapy has been shown that survival in women with breast cancer to improve. (more…)

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Breast Cancer Monitoring

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Breast Cancer Monitoring

After the woman has undergone treatment for the elimination of breast cancer, you need to make stricter controls over the first five years. After they shall continue to be controlled like any healthy woman.

The controls are:

During the first two years, physical examinations will be conducted every three months and annual mammography.

Over the next three years, the physical examinations conducted every six months and annual mammography will also.

These controls will not require any other evidence provided that the woman is asymptomatic and her doctor so it sees fit.

Other tests are not uncommon blood tests, chest radiography and serial bone X-rays. You can perform some other evidence relating to any symptoms that the patient present.

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Breast Cancer: Risk Factors

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

The cause of breast cancer is not known but we do know some risk factors. It is considered a risk factor that situation that increases the chance of developing the disease.

Keep in mind that women who are more likely to develop breast cancer (by having more risk factors) can take preventive measures to reduce the likelihood and periodic revisions or changes in your lifestyle.

RISK FACTORS

** Sex
Breast cancer occurs mainly in women though. It can also affect men but the probability is much lower.

** Age
An elderly carries an increased number of cancers. 60% of breast tumors occur in women over 60 years. This percentage increases much more after 75 years.

** Genes
There are two identified genes that, when any change in them (mutation) are associated with an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer. These genes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2, and according to some studies it seems that between 50% and 60% of women who have inherited the mutated genes can develop cancer before age 70.

** Family history
When a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) had breast cancer doubles the risk of autism. If this is a more distant relative (grandmother, aunt, cousin) increases the risk only slightly.

** Personal history
A previous benign breast disease seems to increase risk in women who have a large number of ducts. Still, this risk is moderate. Some abnormal breast biopsy may be related to a slightly elevated risk of breast cancer. The risk of developing cancer in the other breast in women who have had breast cancer is different from the first recurrence or recurrence of cancer.

(more…)

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