Breast cancer is one of the top ten cancers plaguing women all over the world. The risk of getting this disease is higher as one becomes older. Unlike other cancers, however, detecting early symptoms of breast cancer is easier.

It’s always important to arm yourself with the proper knowledge. To help protect yourself, be aware if you’re experiencing any of these early symptoms of breast cancer:

1) Tenderness in the Breast

While most women experience tenderness in the breast during their monthly cycle, it’s not natural at all during the rest of her regular days. If you find yourself having to deal with this, perhaps it’s time for a mammogram.

2) Unusual Lump in the Breast

One of the most common early symptoms of breast cancer is the presence of an unusual lump in the breast. Women have been taught to give themselves a self-breast exam, to feel for any bump inside the breast or even the armpit. This lump might be benign or malignant. However, it’s not a good idea to take chances. Have it checked immediately.

3) Discharge from the Nipple

During the first few stages of breast cancer, you might notice a strange discharge from your nipple. This could either be bloody, yellow or greenish. Whatever color it might be, it is imperative that you go see a doctor at once. Breast cancer can progress very quickly; so the earlier you see a doctor, the better.

4) Swelling of the Breast

Similar to tenderness of the breast, this sort of thing might naturally occur in women during the days of her cycle. This is another reason why doctors encourage the practice of a monthly self-breast exam. This way, you will be able to see just how much of a difference there is in your breast size, and get a check-up immediately if you notice any of the early symptoms of breast cancer.

5) Change in Texture

Doing monthly self exams also help you determine any change in your breast’s texture. Be on the lookout for skin that has redness or skin that is dimpling. Be very sensitive to retraction of the nipple or the occurrence of a peau ‘d orange. A peau ‘d orange refers to a breast that resembles the skin of an orange.

When there is something wrong, your body will tell you in the form of symptoms. So don’t take these early symptoms of breast cancer for granted. Remember, your health is at stake here. Prevention is better than cure.

There is no discrimination when it comes to breast cancer. Anyone can be a victim of this dreaded disease; whether you’re rich or poor, young and old. Despite the increasing number of breast cancer patients worldwide, these celebrities with breast cancer can serve as your inspiration because they were able to survive.

Famous survivors of breast cancer:

1. Edie Falco – the breast cancer was diagnosed in 2003; this soprano star secretly battled against this dreaded disease and was able to survive.

2. Melissa Etheridge – her breast cancer was discovered in 2004 and at present, she is doing quite well.

3. Gloria Steinem – a lump on her breast was discovered in 1984; she was an activist and because she is a natural fighter, she was able to combat breast cancer.

4. Kate Jackson – it was in 1987 and 1989 when Kate battled against this disease. She was a star in Charlie’s Angels

5. Richard Roundtree – women are not the only ones at risk of breast cancer, even men can get it like Roundtree. His cancer was detected in 1993 and he underwent chemotherapy and radical mastectomy

6. Olivia Newton John – it was in 1992 when she was diagnosed with the disease. She underwent breast reconstruction and mastectomy.

7. Jaclyn Smith – also a Charlie’s Angels star was diagnosed with the disease in 2002. The treatments given were radiation and lumpectomy.

8. Suzanne Somers – actress and author was also diagnosed with cancer but she did not choose the standard medication; instead, she opted for holistic medicine and alternative therapies

9. Sandra Day O’Connor – she battled against this disease in 1982 and underwent mastectomy

10. Anastacia – in 2003, she was diagnosed with the disease and was able to survive; now, she is helping other patients in fighting against this disease and she is also raising the awareness of the public about breast cancer.

These are only ten of the survivors of breast cancer. Other survivors include Rue McClanahan, Linda Ellerbee, Jill Eikenberry, Ann Jillian, Lynn Redgrave, Cokie Roberts, and Shirley Temple Black. These breast cancer patients used conventional treatments as well as alternative treatments. Oftentimes, the type of medication or treatment given is dependent on the extent of the cancer. If the cancer is detected at an early stage, the chance of survival is also high.

It is vital that you conduct self examinations. If you feel any lump on your breast, it’s time to consult a doctor; by doing so, you can get accurate diagnosis. After thorough examinations, the patient will be given a treatment plan. Some breast cancer patients forego with conventional medical treatments and tend to go for alternative medicines or therapy.

As you can see, even celebrities are not exempted from developing breast cancer. If celebrities can get it, then so can you! There are millions of non celebrities suffering from breast cancer. Let the stories of these celebrities who survive breast cancer serve as inspiration especially if you’re also suffering from this disease.

Early detection is important so you must regularly check your breast area for any lumps or unusual bumps. Don’t hesitate to consult a doctor if you’re suspicious about certain lumps in your breast. There are lots of celebrities with breast cancer; if they can fight this disease, then so can you.

Cancer would surely be easier to detect and treat if it were a single entity with a single simple cause. But it is not. Experts agree that there are actually some 200 different diseases that can be called cancers. Lobular breast cancer is one of them.

Cancer of the breast is one of the oldest and best-known types of cancer. In terms of the way the cells appear under a microscope, you can categorize the various types of breast cancer which are as follows: ductal breast cancer, lobular breast cancer, medullary breast cancer, mucinous breast cancer, tubular breast cancer.

The hormonal factors involved in the physiology of breast cancer have been studied by physicians for more than 100 years. But it remains the most common of cancers affecting women. For us to have a better understanding of breast cancer, it is crucial for us to know the basic parts of the breasts. A woman’s breast is composed of glands that make breast milk called the lobules, small tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipples called ducts, blood vessels, lymph vessels, connective and fatty tissues.

Carcinoma that begins in the lobules of the breast is called lobular breast cancer. The two types of this kind are “in situ” or the pre-invasive and the invasive kind. The term “in situ” means that the lobular cells which multiplied out of control which are now considered as cancerous cells, have not yet penetrated the basement membrane. These cancerous cells have not yet spread into deeper tissues in the breast or to other organs. In situ cancer is treated as an early form of breast cancer because of its greater risk to become invasive breast cancer.

Invasive lobular breast cancer is one that has already infiltrated beyond the membrane and has spread to other tissues in the breast or to other organs in the body. This kind of cancer can develop in any age bracket of women. But it is most common in women ages between 45 and 55 years old and rarely happens to men.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the world. Even men are susceptible to this, in some cases. But not a lot of people can say much about it. Until they themselves are afflicted with the disease, they don’t have a lot of breast cancer facts to tell.

It’s highly important that you know the 3 breast cancer facts in this article. This information won’t only protect you from this killer disease; but it will also help you understand what many breast cancer patients are going through.

Breast Cancer Facts # 1: It is often discovered by a lump.

It is a well-known fact that 80% of breast cancer situations are discovered because of a lump in the breast or near the armpit. This is why women all over the world are encouraged to give themselves a self-breast examination every month.

Breast Cancer Facts # 2: Women in the United States have the highest incidence of breast cancer.

If you live in the United States, it might be wise to double-check your lifestyle. However, this does not mean that the further you live away from the States, the lower your chances are of getting the disease.

Breast Cancer Facts # 3: Women in an urban environment are more prone to breast cancer.

Medical experts attribute this to the fast-paced lifestyle of city women. A study was actually done on the breasts of women living in urban areas and rural areas. Those who live in urban areas are revealed to have glandular breasts, thus making them four times more susceptible to breast cancer.

Don’t take these breast cancer facts too lightly. It’s surprising how people don’t even think breast cancer is something that could happen to them until it is too late. This information is around for a reason. Save yourself with the right knowledge.

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one woman gets breast cancer and another does not.

Doctors do know that bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause breast cancer. And breast cancer is not contagious. No one can “catch” this disease from another person.

However, research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer:

1. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older.

2. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting this disease in her other breast.

3. A woman’s risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially at a young age (before age 40).

4. The older a woman is when she has her first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer. Women who began menstruation (had their first menstrual period) at an early age (before age 12), went through menopause late (after age 55), or never had children also are at an increased risk.

5. Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.

6. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of breast cancer. This includes women treated with radiation for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Studies show that the younger a woman was when she received radiation treatment, the higher her risk of breast cancer later in life.

7. Older women who have mostly dense not fatty) tissue on a mammogram(x-ray of the breast) are at increased risk of breast cancer.

8. After menopause, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being obese means that the woman has an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Because the body makes some of its estrogen (a hormone) in fatty tissue, obese women are more likely than thin women to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen may be the reason that obese women have an increased risk of breast cancer. Also, some studies show that gaining weight after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.

9. Women who are physically inactive throughout life appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being physically active may help to reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.

It is helpful to be aware of risk factors. But it’s also important to keep in mind that most of the women who have these risk factors do not get breast cancer.

A woman who thinks she may be at risk of breast cancer should discuss this concern with her health care provider. The health care provider may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

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Women who have received a diagnosis for breast cancer usually follow some sort of treatment to cure it or at least keep it under control. The best breast cancer treatment option depends on several factors, such as the location and size of the tumor, the stage of the disease and the results of laboratory tests.

Most breast cancer treatment options include a surgery as well. The common types of surgery are lumpectomy and mastectomy. Some women follow an additional treatment as well, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and medication, in order to stop the cancer from growing and spreading.

Lumpectomy

Lumpectomy means removing the tumor in the breast through surgery. Many women prefer this breast cancer treatment because it allows them to keep most of their breast. Lumpectomy is usually performed on Stage 0, Stage I or Stage II cancers and rarely on Stage III breast cancer. When combined with a six-week radiation therapy, it is referred to as “breast-conserving therapy”.

Mastectomy

Mastectomy is the removal of the whole breast through surgery and often some or all of the axillary lymph nodes as well. It is performed in Stage 0, I, II or III breast cancers and rarely on Stage IV breast cancer. Although this breast cancer treatment involves the removal of the entire breast, further reconstruction is generally possible.

Lymph Node Removal

This surgical procedure involves removing some or all of the underarm lymph nodes. It is usually performed on patients who have undergone a mastectomy to check whether the cancer has spread outside the breast or not. Sentinel node biopsy is a newer procedure which allows the removal of only the sentinel lymph node to evaluate cancer spread. A potential side effect of this breast cancer treatment is lymphedema (the chronic swelling of the patient’s arm).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a breast cancer treatment with anticancer drugs, normally administered either orally or intravenously. It can be used alone or in combination with surgical treatments. The drug flows through the blood stream and is aimed to interfere with the DNA of cancer cells.

Radiation

Radiation therapy is a type of breast cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to end the growing and dividing of cancer cells. It deposits energy in the affected area, damaging the genetic material and stopping the growth of cancer cells. Though it damages normal cells as well, these are usually able to repair themselves after treatment.

Medication Therapy

There is a wide variety of drugs that can be used in breast cancer treatment, either alone or in combination with a surgical procedure. The most common medicine is tamoxifen, which blocks the estrogen in the breast, thus helping slow the growth and dividing of cancer cells. Other medications include Herceptin, Ellence, Taxol, Docetaxel and Aromasin and they are used to treat different forms of breast cancer.

With the fast developing of medical technologies, more and more breast cancers can be treated successfully. However, breast cancer is still a cause of death for a large number of women worldwide. Regular breast examination is essential to ensure you discover any possible disease in time and get a treatment to cure it.