Breast Cancer : A Public Health Concern Essay

Breast cancer is a complex disease that will affect around 1 in 9 Canadian women during their lifespan. According to the latest statistics, it is found that around

Over the past decade breast cancer has become one of the most predominant diseases in the United States. Breast cancer starts out as a malignant tumor in the tissues of the breast which is formed from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. (Stephan, 2010)

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women. Despite the many technological advances that have been made to detect breast cancer at earlier stages, it continues to kill more women than any other cancer. Breast cancer affects all women, but the mortality rates from it are significantly higher in Black women than any other group (Hunt, Whitman, & Hurlbert, 2013). These rates are especially concerning when considering that White women are diagnosed at much higher rates.

There are no symptoms at the early stages of breast cancer which makes early detection even more difficult. When tumors become large there is an obvious breast mass which is mostly not painful. Symptoms of breast cancer include breast thickening, skin irritation, tenderness, swelling, breast scales, distortion, redness tenderness, nipple retraction and ulceration, There may also be abnormal discharge.

We have all seen the pink ribbons. They have become a national, if not international symbol for breast cancer support and awareness. Breast cancer knows neither racial boundaries nor age restrictions. Females of all ages and ethnicities can develop breast cancer and it is the leading most common cancer among women. Calling attention to this often fatal disease is important by supporting its victims, families and friends of victims, as well as raising funds for breast cancer research. Though males are not immune from developing a breast cancer, for the purposes of this paper, this paper will be limited to information relating breast cancer in females.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). However, regular screening and mammograms can help reduce the mortality rates of breast cancer patients (LaPorta, et al., 2017). Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include lumps, abnormal changes to the nipple, abnormal discharge from the nipple, or change in color of the breast or part of the breast (Asuquo and Olajide, 2015). There are many factors that can put women at risk of developing breast cancer, the two most common being growing older and being female (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Other risk factors can include things such as a

Despite significant advances in research, Breast Cancer is still the most common cancer, affecting both men and especially women. In the US, 232, 670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed along 62,570 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in women and about 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in just 2014 .

There are many different diseases that terrorize the human race every day. Of all of these sicknesses, one of the most devastating is breast cancer. Breast cancer touches all types of people all over the world each day. It is actually the second most common cancer amongst women in the United States. One in every eight women in the United States has some form of breast cancer and currently, the death rates are higher than any other cancer with the exception of lung cancer. Cancer is defined by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary as “a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis.” Therefore, breast cancer is a disease of

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death of women, secondary only to heart disease. Breast cancer will affect one of every eight women or approximately 12% of the population. In 2016 there are 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer that will be diagnosed as well as 46,000 cases of breast cancer in situ in women. Additionally, there are 2,600 cases of breast cancer that will be found in men. Breast cancer rates have been decreasing since the year 2000. This is thought to be partially due to increased screening measures as well as discontinuing the use of hormone replacement therapy. There was as positive link established between hormone therapy

Cancer is an issue worldwide that does not favor race, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Although, particular cancer’s can effect some individuals more than others. For example, breast cancer. According to the Center of Disease Control & Preventions (2017), “Both women and men can get breast cancer, though it is much more common in women.” In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cancer among women of any race. It is the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanics and the second among white, Asian, black and Pacific Islander women (Center of Disease Control & Prevention, 2016). According to the American Cancer Society (2016), “ In 2015, 231,840 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and of those women

Breast cancer has a negative impact on American society as it has changed the lives of family members, friends, and loved ones through the devastating hardships. In 2013 approximately 232, 340 new cases of breast cancer were found. If the numbers of cases stay the same in a ten year span roughly 2,500,000 people will be diagnosed, unless something is done to prevent or stop this world phenomenon (Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer Prevention). There is no set date when breast cancer started to impact people; however, today it has been proven to be the number one form of cancer. Breast cancer is predominantly found in women of all ages but it is not limited to women, men are also diagnosed with this type of cancer. Breast cancer has a severe impact on two hundred thousand people per year, leading to the development of hundreds of organizations, that conduct many studies every day to find a cure; Susan G. Komen and Relay for Life are the leaders in the field.

Cancer of the breast is the most common type of non-skin cancer affecting women. It also comes second after lung cancer in the number of deaths among the African-American population in 2017; the American Cancer Society estimated that there would be approximately 252,710 new cases of breast cancer which is considered invasive that will be diagnosed in the United States. More so, nearly 63,410 new cases of (CIS) carcinoma in situ will be detected, and approximately 40,610 women will depart this life as a result of cancer of the breast(Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2015).In the United States, the incidence of cancer of the breast is not similar among the African America women and the white. Such that, it has been noted that the

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the US for women (http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics). Even though the diagnosis and treatment of this condition has improved dynamically over the past few decades, it is still one of the leading causes of mortality among the women in USA and all over the world. There are usually four stages of breast cancer (http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics).

     Breast cancer is just one type of cancer. Cancerous cells are cells that grow without the normal system of controls placed upon them. Breast cancer develops from the mammary ducts 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time the cancer develops from the lobules of the breasts. While breast cancer may occur in men, this paper will primarily focus on breast cancer in women. Breast cancer is 100 times more likely to affect women as it is men. There are two

Breast cancer accounts for one third of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States (Cauley, et al., 2007). The first sign in the process of this disease is a lump that forms around the breasts. For this reason, it is necessary to get the yearly mammograms once a woman reaches a certain age. Also, monthly self-examinations can aid in finding breast cancer early. If this condition is found early enough, chances of survival are abundant. Most women who get breast cancer are older than 50 with 86% of the deaths occurring in this age group (Cauley, et al., 2007). Postmenopausal women have a higher risk for breast cancer, because the risk increases when levels of endogenous estradiol rise (Cauley, et al., 2007). Breast cancer is the most common cancer that occurs in women. This epidemic has a higher incidence rate among white women than in African American women, but African American women have a higher mortality rate (Breast Cancer Risk Factors, 2010). White women are more apt to develop this disease than any other ethnicity. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African American women (Breast Cancer Risk Factors, 2010).