Cardio Vascular Disease - Breast Cancer - Lab Report Example

Cardio Vascular Disease - Breast Cancer 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, 24 September 2008). 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, 24 September 2008). 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, 24 September 2008). 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, 24 September 2008) 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, 24 September 2008) 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. Major Risk Factors in Breast Cancer It is very clear from the above research that older women are very likely to get breast cancer, younger women can also get breast cancer but they are less likely when compared to the older women. Women under the age of 30 are highly unlikely to get this disease, it is very safe for them and they are very less prone to the same. When a woman reaches 40 years of age she becomes quite prone to breast cancer, among 217 women over 40 years there would certainly be one case of breast cancer. When women reach the age of 50, the probability of getting breast cancer rises, among 50 women over the age of 50, one woman would certainly have breast cancer. Women who get lucky enough to survive till the age of 85, the probability of women over 85 years getting breast cancer becomes one in eight. So this clearly shows that with age women become more probable of getting breast cancer. “Breast cancer is more prevalent among Jewish women of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) descent. In terms of race, African-American women tend to get breast cancer at an earlier age than Caucasians. Although African-American women have lower overall rates of breast cancer, they represent the highest proportion of women who are diagnosed with the disease before age 45 years. Comparative studies of breast cancer rates among sub-Saharan Africans suggest a genetic component, as African women are diagnosed most frequently between age 35 and 45 years.” (Breast Cancer, 24 September 2008) “Being overweight or obese has been found to increase breast cancer risk, especially for women after menopause. Before menopause your ovaries produce most of your estrogen, and fat tissue produces a small amount of estrogen. After menopause (when the ovaries stop making estrogen), most of a woman's estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue after menopause can increase your estrogen levels and thereby increase your likelihood of developing breast cancer.” (Detailed Guide, 24 September 2008) 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, 24 September 2008). 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+’ (Table1, Women’s Knowledge, 24 September 2008) 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, 24 September 2008) References Cancer.org. 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