Among all other diseases, the most common disease that makes a number of women to suffer these days is the breast cancer. Not only that it makes women suffer but it is also increasing the number of womens death rate yearly. Because of this increasing rate, people who are experts when it comes to medicine have developed a lot of ways to examine if they have early stages of cancer to prevent it.

Aside from breast cancer examination, experts in the medical field tries to develop new treatment methods in order to help lower down womens death rate because of breast cancer. For more than several years, lumpectomies and mastectomies have been the undisputable way of treating cancer. However, they can have their own benefits and also disadvantages for women. As an example, lumpectomy will still need to require several days or weeks of post-operative treatments or procedures through radiation or therapy. Mastectomy on the other hand, has several complications during the operation.

But new treatments for breast cancer are already available in the market these days because of the advancement of medical sciences. Medicines have been developed in order to keep women safe from potential hazard from breast cancer.

The first drug is Abraxane. This is being used for chemotherapy and is considered to be more effective than the others. The medicines used for chemotherapies in the past are having some problems being diluted in water. Because of this, they should be given to the patients in the form of solvent which increases the side effects such as rashes and others. With this, the patient will be able to continue with the medication and get treated with cancer.

The next medicine is going to take care of the genes itself called Herceptin. One of the main reasons why breast cancer is growing is because of genes that are making breast cancer cells grow uncontrollably. This medicine can be incorporated with chemotherapy or not have proven that they have been a good help for women who have cancer because they have controlled the gene and thus stopping the multiplication of cancer cells.

Radiation therapy is also available for women who are suffering from breast cancer. They are offering precise treatments for patients by targeting down the cancer cell and prevent them from growing. However, even though it is a very precise process of eliminating the cancer cells, it is undeniable that even normal cells can also be affected and damaged. There are also other medicines that can be optional inclusion for chemotherapies. In this way, you will definitely increase the chances of the cancer cells to be treated totally.

Because of these treatment options, the patients need not despair about getting treatment. They can just go ahead with it in order to stop the growth of the cancer cells and thus increase the survival rates of the patients. And with all the new technology, it will be possible that new treatments will then again be developed for the benefits of the patients surviving this disease.

Prognosis is a medical term that refers to the description of the likely outcome related to an illness or disease. It gives an estimate of a patient’s survival rate. Breast cancer survival rate is based on many factors of the cancer. The type of cancer, treatment options, lifestyle and habits, as well as genetics play important roles in breast cancer survival.

Breast cancer survival rate may be based on a standard five-year survival rate which estimates a patient’s prognosis through statistical data. The five year survival rate is the average number of patients who exceed the 5 year survival measure after being diagnosed. Five year survival rates exclude patients who die from other causes. A good number of breast cancer patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Although logically, the greater the cancer stage, the lesser the breast cancer survival rate.

Averaging of survival rates are based on statistics from patients treated several years ago. Although, the patients used in statistical data are the most recent available figures, there may have been improvements in treatment thus survival rates may be a little greater.

Survival statistics are useful general guides but do not accurately represent prognosis for any individual. It should be taken into consideration that a number of factors like tumor characteristics, age, general health, and more aspects within the particular situation can affect chances for survival.

Breast cancer survival rates are based on studies of a 5 year survival rate. Stage 0 and stage I present 100 percent survival rate. Stage IIA presents a survival rate of 92 percent. Stage IIB presents a survival rate of 81 percent. Stage IIIA presents a survival rate of 67 percent. Stage IIIB presents a survival rate of 54 percent. Finally, stage IV presents a survival rate of 20 percent. In general, breast cancer survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer in five years is 88 percent. Ten-year survival rate is 80 percent.

It is important to take note; again, that breast cancer survival rates are based on averages. Few women diagnosed with breast cancer live over seven years. Research is playing a major role in the development of new treatment alternatives to improve breast cancer prognosis. New treatment options may have surfaced while statistical data are completed.

Progress in early detection and breast cancer continues to improve deliberate and steady drop in fatality statistics. Given this fact, awareness of important information about breast cancer among women will lead to even better results. Few important facts will be discussed in the next few paragraphs.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women (excluding skin cancer). Breast cancer ranks second in cancer related deaths among women, after lung cancer. The reduction in breast cancer death rates since 1990 is considered a result of improvements in prevention, early detection, and treatment processes.

The evolution of breast cancer treatment are continually producing great results from innovative therapies that aid to healing patients and preventing recurring cancer, improving their quality of life, and giving them hope.

I received an email yesterday, requesting me to write about what is breast cancer. To start to explain exactly what is breast cancer I need to give you an overall info about this type of cancer.

Malignant tumors are those that penetrate healthy body tissues. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are dangerous and capable of growing rapidly and invading other tissues beyond their site of origin. Theoretically, any of the types of tissue in the breast can form a cancer, but usually it begins in the ducts or the glands.

Cells normally grow and divide only when they are needed to keep our bodies functioning properly. But sometimes, the mechanisms that regulate cell growth stop working and cells divide out of control to form tumors. Cells in malignant tumors can penetrate and destroy healthy body tissues. Cancer cells can also break away from tumors and travel, or metastasize , to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymph system .

Women with a family history of breast cancer are encouraged to speak to a genetics counselor to determine the pros and cons of genetic testing. Women over 70 are encouraged to make their own appointment. Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing other cancers.

Treatment including indications for lumpectomy and mastectomy and different types of reconstruction are outlined and clinical examples of these are given. The sentinel node biopsy is explained step by step. Treatment and prognosis of Paget’s disease depend on the size of the tumor, and whether it has penetrated surrounding tissues (invasive) or spread to the lymph nodes (metastasized). A small, noninvasive tumor may require only removal of the lump plus a surrounding area of normal tissue (lumpectomy). Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy , which is surgery to remove the breast. Other treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. I hope this give you a better understanding about what is breast cancer .