Distribution and Determinants of Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example

Abstract Any form of cancer is deadly be it lung, mouth or for that matter breast cancer. The cancer starts in the breast cells and rapidly multiplies within no time. This type of cancer is not mutually exclusive to women, this is a very wrong perception that only women get breast cancer, even men are likely to get breast cancer but they are less prone to the same. This paper will throw light upon what breast cancer is all about, the risk factors, the distribution and determinants of the same and the paper will also focus upon the lack of knowledge among people relating to the same. Description and definition of Breast Cancer According to a study, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer second to only lung cancer, which tops the list as the most common type of cancer. This can also affect the males because of the identical tissues which the males have, the same are also found in women hence it becomes likely that a male can also develop breast cancer. If the statistics are to be believed then a male is 100 times less likely to get breast cancer than a woman. The most common symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump which appears on the breast, the lump feels very different when compared to the surrounding areas of the breast. “Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. The risk varies with age. At age twenty-five, a woman's risk is about 1 in 20,000. At age forty-five, it is 1 in about 100. At age eighty-five, it is more than 1 in 10. About 80 percent of all breast cancers are found in women over the age of fifty.” (Breast Cancer). There isn’t much known regarding the cause of the disease, ressearch is still on to find the same. In most of the cases, for Diagnosis A doctor performs Biopsy, this is a procedure under which tissues are removed from the patients breast who is likely to be suffering from breast cancer and these tissues are studied under the microscope so as to decide whether or not the patient has Breast Cancer. After carefully studying the tissues, a conclusion is arrived at. Distribution and Determinants of Breast Cancer “Breast cancer was recognized by the Ancient Egyptians as long ago as 1600 BC. However, over the past 50 years it has become a major health problem affecting as many as one in eight women during their lifetime.” (Epidemiology). The disease has a long history; it has become very common in women these days. It not only affects the developing countries but also it affects the developed countries, so there is no escape whatsoever from this deadly disease. Nearly one million women are diagnosed with breast cancer all across the globe and 400000 women die because of breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the major health concerns in America, nearly 75% cases of breast cancer occur in women over the age of 50 and this goes to show that breast cancer affects women who are older. These cases are very similar to America in other parts of the world too especially in South America and North America. The scenario is far better in Asian countries; Japanese women are 5 times less likely than American women to get breast cancer. On the other hand it is found that this advantage is lost with a generation or two if a family from Japan goes and settles in America, in this case after a couple of generations all the advantages will be lost and the family will be as likely as an American family to get breast cancer. “Ethnicity also plays a role in the risk of developing breast cancer. Although breast cancer remains the leading cancer in black women in the USA, overall they have an incidence rate nearly 20% lower than that of American white women.” (Epidemiology). Prevalence and incidence rates of the Breast Cancer In the year 2001, it was found that 34000 women in the United Kingdom were diagnosed with the deadly disease. This goes to show that the rate and the risk of getting Breast cancer is much higher in countries like America, England and Wales. On the other hand it is found that Asian women are less prone to get Breast cancer when compared to the women living in America or South America or for that matter women living in United Kingdom. In America the condition is worse, it is believed that in every 8 women 1 has breast cancer; this is an eye opener for the women in the country. Breast cancer is growing at an alarmingly high rate, the situation must be brought under control and the same can be done by spreading awareness about Breast cancer so that people women may take adequate steps and make sure that they do not leave themselves prone to getting this killer disease. It was also found that, in the year 2004 the number of breast cancer cases reported in men were 1,450. “The term 'prevalence' of Breast Cancer usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Breast Cancer at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Breast Cancer refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Breast Cancer diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence.” (Prevalence and incidence) Data related to Breast Cancer (Figure1, Breast Cancer, key facts on breast cancer) From the above graph it can be made out that a lot of women in United Kingdom die due to Breast cancer. Another fact which has been discovered is women over the age of 70 in United Kingdom contribute to more than half the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. The graph shows a rapid decline in the cases of Breast cancer which is good news; this is because of the medical facilities and the awareness among the people these days. (Figure2, Breast Cancer Australia) The state of New South Wales in Australia reported the maximum number of cases of breast cancer in the year 2004. The number of cases reported, were nearly 4500, and all these were women. Lack of Knowledge “In a SEER registry of 1,132 patients, plus a survey of 277 surgeons, 52% of patients did not know that five-year survival is similar with mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery, Sarah Hawley, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan, and colleagues reported in the August issue of Health Services Research.” (Med page today). There are many evidences that the patients lack knowledge about breast cancer. Many don’t know how long they will survive, what are the treatments available at their disposal, how much will the treatment cost etc. “Among African Americans and Latinas and others, almost two thirds did not know that survival odds are similar with the two types of surgery.” (Patients Found, 24 September 2008). A study has also found that women do not know the most important factor which causes breast cancer and that is age. Women are not aware that they become more probable of getting breast cancer as they grow older. Women are not aware that they become very probable when they turn 40 years old. Table 1 Women's knowledge of how breast cancer risk varies by age: overall and by age of responder. Responses to the question: When is a woman most likely to get breast cancer? % (95% CI) n In her 40s In her 50s In her 60s In her 70s In her 80s + Age specifieda Age doesn't matter Don't know All women 1496 9.3 (7.7 to 11.2) 21.3 (18.6 to 24.3) 6.9 (5.4 to 8.8) 1.3 (0.8 to 2.2) 0.7 (0.3 to 1.6) 39.5 (35.9 to 43.3) 56.2 (52.4 to 59.9) 4.3 (3.4 to 5.5) Age of responder 40–49 495 7.3 25.9 6.3 1.0 0.8 41.3 55.4 3.3 50–59 443 9.7 22.1 7.0 0.9 1.2 40.9 55.9 3.2 60–69 371 8.4 16.1 8.6 1.9 0.3 35.2 59.5 5.3 70–74 187 16.5 15.0 5.4 2.4 0.0 39.3 52.2 8.5 aTotal percentage of women saying ‘in her 40s' ‘in her 50s' ‘in her 60s' ‘in her 70s' or ‘in her 80s+’ Br J Gen Pract. 2007 May 1; 57(538): 404–406. Copyright © British Journal of General Practice, 2007. (Table1, Women’s Knowledge) The data shows shocking results, women should be made aware of the risk. This can be done by imparting knowledge about breast cancer all across the world. Breast Cancer in Australia Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women. It is found that the life expectancy in Australia is 85 years and a one in eight women is certain to have breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer in Australia is much lower when compared with America; the risk of breast cancer is the highest in America. Breast cancer is supposed to be the most common reason for death in Australian women and this is in context to all the other cancers which affect the Australian women. “In Australia each year, about 700 women under the age of 40 years are diagnosed with breast cancer. Overall survival from breast cancer has increased in recent years. Our most recent data show that about 90% of women aged between 40 and 69 years at diagnosis will be alive after 5 years. However, for women younger than 40 years, survival is lower. Of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, about 81.5% of those aged 20 to 29 years and 84.4% of those aged 30 to 39 years will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.” (Younger Women) References Cancer.org. American cancer society [Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_5.asps Faqs.org. Breast Cancer [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.faqs.org/health/Sick-V1/Breast-Cancer.html Breast Cancer. Australia.org. Breast Cancer [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.breastcanceraustralia.org/table3.html UMM.Edu. Breast Cancer. [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_risk_factors_breast_cancer_000006_2.htm Cancer Research.uk. Cancer stats. [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/ Pub Medical Central.Nih. Do Women Know [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2047017 Breast Cancer Source. Epidemiology [ Cited 2010 March 7]. Available from: http://www.breastcancersource.com/breastcancersourceHCP/10010_11092__.aspx?mid=6 Read More