Breast cancer is by far the most common form of cancer that occurs in women. Although its exact cause is not known, risk factors are well identified among specialists. Thanks to mammography, early detection of this type of cancer has significantly increased the healing perspective.



Unfortunately the frequency of breast cancer is increasing in many countries. Each year, breast cancer is responsible for almost 80.000 deaths in Europe, from which 40% in women under 65. The incidence of the disease, meaning the number of new cases during the year, increase, but mortality reached its peak, which entitles us to say that hope of survival will be increasing.



The human body consists of 100,000 billion cells that form tissues of different organs (liver, heart, brain). During their life, cells are constantly receiving and emitting similar signals of order: the multiplication of ranks, to stop the division. If a cell no longer responds to these signals, it gets out of any adjustment and can multiply endlessly, in an anarchic manner, in detriment of neighboring cells.

When a cell becomes malignant, she gives birth to cancer. The risk factors of this disease are known for a really long time. They are personal reasons: precocity of menstruation, absence of birth, a late first pregnancy, late menopause or reasons that depend on your family: a history of breast cancer in close family members, suggesting the involvement of genetic factors. Besides these factors, age is also a risk factor. 7% of breast cancers affect women under 40 years, this percentage rising with age: 18% at 40-50 years, 32% at 50-60 years and 43% to over 65 years.

More research has highlighted the influence of food too high in animal fat and the occurrence of this cancer. Excess weight is a contributing factor. Breast cancer detection is possible if a woman examines her breasts every month, goes to an annual medical examination (by a gynecologist or family doctor), but mostly early detection is made through a mammography. Systematic screening is recommended at the age of 50 years by mammography 2 times a year. Before this age, it is important that any woman regularly consult your physician for clinical examination (palpation of the breasts).

At the age of 40 it is often recommended a mammogram, even in the absence of any abnormalities.  The most affected age group is between 50 and 65; women under 30 years are rarely affected. For those below 50 years there are recommended: an annual pelvic examination, breast palpation, breast self-examination and a mammography, in case of anomaly. After 50 years, you are recommended an annual pelvic examination, consisting of breast palpation, breast self-examination and a mammogram every 2 years. Women with one or more close relatives who had breast cancer should be monitored more rigorously.

There are several tests to diagnose breast cancer. After obtaining the necessary information, you can choose a specific treatment. Breast cancer is nowadays diagnosed frequently in the early stages. The first stage of diagnosis consists in questioning, palpation of the breasts and lymph exploring the axillary fossa. Clinical examination allows detection of other anomalies that suggest medical exams required. Also a mammography (X-ray examination of the breast) allows detection of tumors and ultrasound brings additional information concerning the nature of these tumors.



Of course, the choice of method or treatment (therapeutic protocol) is in your hands. You should take into account multiple factors such as age and stage of tumor evolution. Four treatments can be performed with or isolated: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone, but before deciding on a breast cancer treatment consider all of your options.