What Every Woman Needs to Know ?
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States. It can be slow or fast growing. The actual cancer cells are microscopic and may take one to five years before the cancerous area grows large enough to be felt as a mass or tumor. From 70 to 80% of all breast cancer develops in the ducts of the mammary glands. It's best to discover cancer while it's still growing in the ducts before the cells have spread outside the duct lining and potentially throughout the body.

Although breast cancer will strike over 180,000 women in the U.S. each year, that doesn't mean a death sentence -- any many times, not even loss of a breast. These days, more and more women are opting for lumpectomies and radiation rather than mastectomy -- which means only the tissue around the lump is removed rather than the whole breast. In addition, mammography and monthly self-exams give women the chance to catch cancer early. According to some experts, there can be a 95% survival rate if it's found in the earliest stage.

What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that affects breast tissue. While it occurs in both women and men, it is rare for men to develop this type of the disease. Among women, it is one of the most common forms of cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the year 2000 among women in the United States.

The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown; however, there are known risk factors. These include gender, age, genetic risk factors, and family or personal history of breast cancer, among others. Monthly breast self-examination for women over age 20, clinical exams every three years for women aged 20 to 39, and yearly mammograms for women age 40 and older can improve the chances that breast cancer is detected and diagnosed at an early stage and is treated successfully.

When doctors suspect breast cancer, they will probably perform a procedure known as a biopsy. During a biopsy, a sample of cells or tissue is removed from the body for examination under a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor evaluates the tissue to see whether the cancer is invasive or not, what type of cancer it is, and the degree to which the cancer has spread. This step is known as staging and is the basis for both treatment and the outlook for recovery. Treatments for breast cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

The good news is that increasing numbers of people are surviving breast cancer. According to the most recent data from the American Cancer Society, death rates from breast cancer declined significantly during 1992 to 1996, with the greatest decreases occurring in younger women. These decreases are probably due to earlier detection and better treatment.

How will breast cancer affect the person I care about?
Breast cancer often causes swelling of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, pain in the nipple or the nipple turning inward, red or scaly skin on the breast or nipple, or a discharge. In some cases, the side effects from treatment may seem worse to the person you care for than the disease itself.

Most women who develop breast cancer will need to undergo surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible and to find out whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The most common procedures are lumpectomy, where only the lump and a small margin of normal tissue is removed, and mastectomy, where a portion of the breast, or the entire breast, is removed. A mastectomy may also include removal of the lymph nodes from under the arms.

What can I do to help?
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be very hard to face. Women may feel depressed, afraid, angry, frustrated, alone or helpless. They may also have concerns about sexuality. For this reason, the most important thing you can do for the person you care about is to be a good friend. Call or visit her. Be supportive. Offer to help with chores or driving. If you cannot be there in person, see if you can arrange for some help. And if the person you care about wants to talk about the illness or treatment, listen. You do not have to have all of the answers. Local support groups can be very helpful.

If the person you care about is dealing with hair loss and you know her tastes, a hat or an attractive scarf could be a thoughtful gift. You may want to check with her first, because hair loss is a very sensitive issue for many patients.
When you care for someone with cancer, it can be difficult to watch that person experience the effects of the disease and its treatment. Being a good friend or relative means overcoming your wish to avoid the problem (and the person). Remember that your support and attention are the best medicine.

Breast Cancer: How to Protect Yourself
There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of contracting breast cancer:
Know your risk factors. Many factors are linked to conditions that affect hormonal patterns and increase estrogen metabolism in the body. You're at higher risk if you've never had children or if your first child was born after you reached the age of 30. Other women with a higher risk factor are those who had their first period early or started menopause late in life. Being on estrogen replacement therapy may also raise your risk. Also, having first-degree maternal relatives who got breast cancer raises your risk 1 1/2 to 2 times.

Go looking for trouble. To spot breast cancer early, doctors recommend both self-examination and mammography. You should have your first mammogram when you're between the ages 35 and 40 -- the earlier the better if you have a family history of breast cancer, previous biopsies or a record of breast problems. Between 40 and 50 you should have a mammogram every one to two years. After 50, you should have one annually.

Make lifestyle changes. The following dietary and lifestyle changes have been shown to reduce cancer risk:
Eating a low-fat diet;
Cutting back on alcohol consumption;
Adding wheat-bran fiber to your diet;
Upping your total fiber to 35 grams per day;
Supplementing vitamin A;
Getting plenty of aerobic exercise;
Using olive oil instead of other oils;
Eating plenty of fruits;
Eating veggies rich in phytochemicals;
Avoiding environmental estrogens like pesticides;
Investigating your HRT;
Eating salmon -- or other omega-3 foods -- often.