Introduction, Signs and Symptoms, Terminology, Definitions ONE Patients diagnosed with breast cancer should obtain a second opinion as soon as possible. ONE Breast cancer begins with a single glandular mutation in the breast. ONE Risks Previous breast cancer, age over 50 and strong history of family breast cancer increases a patients risk for breast cancer. ONE Risks Minor risk factors include menarche at 12 years or younger, onset of menopause after age 55, having no children or first child after age 30, and appearance of breast cysts or pre-cancerous breast disease. ONE Risks Unproven but potential risk factors include high fat diet, obesity, alcohol, radiation exposure, pesticide, other environmental pollutants and estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with strong family history of breast cancer. ONE Signs and symptoms After five years, when tumor reaches one-half inch in diameter, cancer may begin to spread One terminologyMost common forms of breast cancer are ductal- cancer of the breast duct (80%), lobular- cancer of the breast lobe (15%) and other types of cancers (5%). Chapter 6One terminolgoyDCIS cancers (20%) are confirmed by calcification patterns on a mammogram.Chapter 3One terminologyBreast cancer cells may dislodge from primary breast masses and infiltrate into the bloodstream..A single doctor cannot diagnose and treat breast cancer alone. A team of doctors is needed.-The team of doctors requires a leader, which doctor fulfills this role depends on the nature of the illness and shifts as need arises. Usually the surgeon is the initial team leader -The doctor who makes the initial discovery of something suspicious is usually your regular doctor or the radiologist who performs your annual mammograms. The radiologist performs all mammograms and x-rays. -You will then be referred to a surgeon who will perform the biopsy. The biopsy is an essential early step in finding out whats wrong. -You may the...
