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Breast Cancer : The Most Common Cancer

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Cancer occurs as an result of mutations in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves , healthy new cells take over as old ones die out, but, over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells like it and forming a tumor. Breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed in the cells of the breast. Breast cancer is usually caused by a genetic abnormality, however, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. Instead, 85-90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, right behind skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) of women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. 1 in 35 (about 3%) women will die from breast cancer, although death rates have been on the decline since 1989. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. It is exceedingly rare in men. Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men. In 2015, about 2,350 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease. For men, the

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