A Brief History of Breast Cancer
Ancient Egyptians first noted and recorded the disease as tumors,
or ulcers, of the breasts, concluded that there was no real cure
and that the only form of treatment was cauterization with a tool
called the "fire drill". Since then, there have been many similar
cases described by doctors throughout history that concluded
that there was no cure; or really effective treatment.
When doctors started to understand the human circulatory
system in the seventieth century, they also managed to establish
a link between breast cancer and the lymph nodes in the armpits.
Between the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, the French
surgeon Jean Petit and Scotsman Benjamin Bell were the first
ones to remove the lymph nodes, breast tissue and chest muscle
in an effort to save woman from breast cancer.
The French surgeon Jean Louis Petit (1674–1750) and later the
Scottish surgeon Benjamin Bell (1749–1806) were the first to
remove the lymph nodes, breast tissue, and underlying chest
muscle. Their successful work was carried on by William Stewart
Halsted who started performing mastectomies in 1882.
By the 1880s, William Halsted started performing mastectomies.
His procedure became known as the Halsted Radical Mastectomy
and it remained a popular procedure in the fight against breast
cancer right up to the 1970s.
Breast cancer is a cancer of the glandular breast tissue and is
found in both male and female patients. Worldwide breast cancer
accounts for almost 1% of all deaths, is the fifth most common
form of cancer and the most common form found in women.
Although breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women in
the United States, it is only the second most common cause of
cancer death in women (after lung cancer). U.S. women have a
one in eight lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer
and an almost 3% chance of breast cancer causing their death.
Due to our modern lifestyle the 'experts' claim and have also
noted, a significant increase in the number of cases since the
1970s.
The breast is composed of identical tissues in males and females.
Therefore breast cancer also occurs in males, though it is less
common. Although men have a lower risk of developing breast
cancer, this risk appears to be rising. There seems to be an
increased incidence of breast cancer in men with prostate cancer.
The notable point about male breast cancer is that the prognosis
is worse in men than in women and treatment of men with breast
cancer is similar to that of the treatment given to older women.
Because the male breast tissue is confined to the area directly
behind the nipple, treatment for males has usually been a
mastectomy.
On a more positive note, most breast cancer symptoms do not
turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. These normally
turn out to be benign diseases of the breast and only represent
the more common symptoms similar to breast cancer itself.
However, any appearance of new breast symptom should be
taken very seriously by patients and doctors; because of the
possibility of an underlying breast cancer that can develop at any
age.
As with all types of cancer, the detection and treatment of breast
cancer has a far greater chance of a positive outcome by
detecting it earlier rather than later.
Facts about Breast Cancer
• Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most
regularly detected cancer among women.
• This cancer forms more than 1 in 4 cancers detected
among women in the United States of America.
• Did you know that 1 woman is detected with this
cancer each 3 minutes, and 1 woman will expire of it
every 13 minutes in the United States of America.
• An anticipated 182,460 fresh cases of persistent
breast cancer are anticipated to crop up among women in
the USA during 2009-10.
• There is no preclusion. There is no treatment. This
cancer knows no limitations of race or rank.
• Probabilities are, at some stage of your life, someone
you love will accept a finding of breast cancer. Even
though the majority of women detected with the ailment
are over 50, it can hit women of all ages.
• The exact origin of this cancer is still unidentified.
Many women believe the ailment will by no means
envelope them since it doesn't run in their families.
• The good news is that each year takes us nearer to a
cure. Breast cancer treatment has enhanced radically in
the past 5 to 10 years.
Breast Cancer Statistics
Breast cancer statistics show that the cancer affects the lives and
health of millions worldwide.
• Women's cancer stands for just about 60%
occurrence among women cancer survivors.
• This year 211,000 fresh cases of breast cancer are
anticipated in the United States of America.
• 1 out of 7 women who live till the age of 85 years will
establish breast cancer throughout her life span.
• 70% of all breast cancers are discovered through
breast self-examinations. Not all lumps are noticeable by
feel. It is suggested you plan usual mammograms and
each month breast self-exams.
• 8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. If you find a
knob, don't fear-get in touch your doctor for an
appointment.
• When breast cancer is diagnosed at a premature
stage, the 5-year survival rate is 90%. The good news is
that more than 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive
in United States of America today.
Although the precise cause of this cancer is still unidentified,
there are more than a few factors that can amplify a woman's
hazard of counting genetics, premature puberty, delayed
childbearing, heaviness. The prime risk factor for breast cancer is
age. Existing breast cancer statistics reveal that it crops up more
in women above the age of 50, and women over 60 are at the
maximum risk.
