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breast cancer cells
Cancer happens in cells of the breast when the normal cell regulators malfunction. The cell cycle has a natural mechanism that controls its growth and death. When it isn’t working properly the cell doesn’t die and the growth rate goes unchecked. Cancer begins to develop in the cell and the start to divide. With nothing to stop it, they will accumulate into a tissue mass. This mass is what is called a tumor. A tumor can be either cancerous, known as malignant, or non-cancerous, called benign.
When the tumor grows it will cause new blood vessel growth from the surrounding healthy tissue. Then it will divert blood supply and nutrients away from the other cells to feed itself. This is a process that is called, “angiogenesis.” That is a development, or a genesis, of new blood vessels or angio. An uncontrolled tumor angiogenesis will aid in the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
The cancer cells have the capacity to leave the original tumor. They will travel to distant locations and create new tumors. This is known as metastasis and can take place in other areas, such as the liver, lungs and bones. Cancer cells can travel by both the blood stream and the lymphatic system. Not all cancer cells will survive this journey. However, if they do then eventually new tumors will exist. And left undiagnosed or treated will result in a person dying if vital organs are where the tumors end up destroying them.
Cancer cells that create tumors in the breast normally grow very slowly. It is thought that by the time a tumor can be felt in the breast that it might have been growing for as long as ten years. That is way it is presumed that the cancer may have already spread by the time it is detected.
This is why there is such emphasis on preventative measure to help reduce the chances of cancer happening. Such things as a healthy diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements and exercise are considered as primary ways to reduce the risks. Also early diagnosis is the best way of decrease the chance of breast cancer becoming fatal. It is recommended that women do a monthly self-examination. They should also have annual clinical breast exams and screening mammograms.
In the event that cancer is detected there are several approaches to use as treatment. There are dietary and nutritional supplements, dietary modification and detoxification. And the woman may have to consider options like surgery, chemotherapy radiation, hormone therapy or vaccine therapy.
There are a wide variety of factors that may contribute to the reason a woman develops breast cancer. Such factors are often called risk factors. Things that help to increase risk are female gender, age, previous breast cancer, benign breast disease, hereditary factors in family history, early age for first menstrual cycle, late age for menopause, late age pregnancy, obesity, low physical activity, use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, exposure to low-doses of radiation and use of oral contraceptives.
Among the risk factors that might also be related includes pregnancy as in only one pregnancy. Not breast-feeding after pregnancy, large breast size, breast trauma, breast augmentation, synthetic estrogens, electromagnetic fields and use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Alcohol is also known to increase the risk of lobular carcinomas and hormone receptor-positive tumors.
Breast cancer is not something any woman can afford to ignore in terms of things like mammograms. Even if a woman does have a high risk there is still even reason to take the measure to keep that risk low. Some preventative measure may make the difference between avoiding this cancer and having to face treatment options.