Having a relative with breast cancer does not mean you will also develop it. It simply means that your risk is greater than it would be if no one in your family had breast cancer.

Six of every one hundred women will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives, the vast majority over age forty. Breast cancer is very rare during teenage years. During adolescence, the most common breast lumps are breast buds, which are a normal part of early breast development. It may be tender, and one side may develop before the other. The buds are needed for normal breast development and therefore are never removed.

If a woman has a sister with breast cancer, her risk triples. If her mother had the disease, her risk is about 1.9 times that of the average women. Other factors that seem to increase risk include having had no baby, having had a first baby after age twenty five, having fewer than six children (that is most of us!), having never breast fed, and, possibly eating a high fat diet.

Women who examine their own breasts for lumps have a significantly lower risk of dying from cancer than do women who never check, probably for the reason that they find problems early in a treatable stage. Interestingly, women who are more likely to examine their own breasts include those who have lost a close relative to cancer. Your doctor can easily identify breast lumps. In addition, your doctor can teach you to examine your breasts or can give you a pamphlet illustrating the technique.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Hanson

There are many causes of lumps in the breast. First of all, remember that normal breasts rarely feel completely smooth because of their structure: they are composed of fat, connective tissue, tiny glands, ducts, and fibrous bands that divide the breast into lobules.

For the reason that the components of the breast respond to the hormones of the menstrual cycle, the breasts may be especially lumpy and also even sore before one's menstrual period. By examining your breasts on a regular basis after each period and by checking with a physician, you learn the normal architecture of your own breasts. Of all cases of breast cancer, only two per thousand occur in women under the age of twenty five. There are, on the other hand, non-cancerous breast lumps or masses that occur more frequently than this in the teens; these include cysts (closed pockets of tissue filled with fluid, pus, or other materials) and growths called fibradenomas (benign breast tumor).

Cysts can be drained with a tiny needle, even though they also may disappear after one's period. For this reason, many doctors will simply ask you to return for a recheck five to seven days after your period starts. If a growth does not contain fluid and does not go away, it should be removed by minor surgery.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Hanson

Breast cancer survival rate tends to be very high if the symptoms are detected early.

The first symptom most women see of this cancer is a lump in the breast. This lump feels unusual to other breast tissue and it is usually the first warning sign.

It has been noted that considerable amount of women, over 70% only discover that they have breast cancer after they detect the lump.

A mammography is then conducted by a trained physician to confirm whether it is cancerous or not. The mammography is strictly an early warning test and early detection of the symptoms of breast cancer will aide in treatment and recovery.

Another sign of disease is Paget's disease of the breast. This presents itself in the form of eczema like redness and flaking around the breast nipples. Intensified symptoms of Paget's are ache around the breast, tingling, itching, increased feeling and burning.

Weight loss is another symptom. Inexplicable loss of weight is usually a symptom of ill health and a visit to the physician can detect the reasons behind it.

Still another symptom is pain in other parts of the body. If the cancer metastasizes, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the bone, kidney, liver and other parts. For instance, one may experience pain in the joints which is actually a sign of breast cancer.

Other symptoms include the inversion of the nipples, changes in the size of the breast and unprompted discharges from one of the breast nipples.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariyo_Akinlosotu

It is important if you are a woman to know what you can do to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. Although most people think that it is something that strikes without any real cause or wrong doing of the person, there are in fact certain things you can do to limit your change of developing breast cancer. This article will be your guide to staying healthy and avoid being diagnosed with this tragic condition.

Studies have shown that there is in fact a connection between the bras that some women wear and the development of breast cancer. The problem with some bras is that they inhibit the functioning of the lymphatic system properly, which consists of an intricate system of blood vessels and nodes that is responsible for flushing the waste out of our bodies.

When this waste accumulates in our bodies, the result can be fibrocystic changes, which can lead to cysts, lumps, and general pain. Not wearing a bra can dramatically reduce your chance of developing breast cancer, as can breast feeding on a regular basis or exercising consistently.

One thing you can do to prevent getting cancer in the future is to massage your breasts each night, gently and first, and then more firmly. Believe it or not, this has been proven to keep cysts or lumps away that can lead to cancer. Even though your breasts may be a little sore at first, with enough time they will start feeling better. It is important that you consistently do this to greatly reduce your chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Byers

More and more women are becoming afraid that they might develop a tumor on their breast which will indicate the presence of cancer. Although this is not always the case, it is critical that every woman be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, so they are able to recognize them and seek treatment if necessary. The more information you have, the better your chances will be of staying healthy for years to come.

Other than an actual lump on the breast, women should be aware of changes in the size or shape of their breasts as well. This can indicate the presence of a lump that may or may not be cancerous in nature. Other symptoms to keep an eye out for are dimples on the skin, and the inversion of nipples. Usually, pain is not a good indicator for breast cancer, but it could be indicative of other conditions which effect the breasts, such as mastodynia.

What is called "inflammatory breast cancer" is different than typical breast cancer, and some of the symptoms of this condition include redness on the skin on the breast or a texture that resembles that of an orange peel. If you notice any of these signs, you should contact a doctor immediately to get diagnosed. The early you are diagnosed, the better your chances will be of remaining healthy.

There is a condition which effects the breast and is known as "eczamatoid". The symptoms of this condition include change in color of the breast and a slight flaking texture around the nipple. As this condition worsens, you might experience an itching sensation and general irritability around the breast area. Most women who have this condition do have a lump on their breast, although it is much more rare than the type of breast cancer which most women are diagnosed with.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Byers