There are several types of tumors that can occur in the breasts. Most are benign
(non-cancerous) and are related to fibrocystic changes. Benign breast tumors are
abnormal growths, but they do not appear outside of the breast and they are not
life-threatening.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women,
other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women
after lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 178,500 new
cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2007
and about 40,500 American women will die from breast cancer. Currently, there
are approximately 2 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. The good news is
that death rates from breast cancer continue to decline, particularly in women
age 50 or younger, due to earlier detection through screening mammography as
well as advances in treatment.
The treatment strategy for breast cancer
depends on the stage of the disease and the goals of care for the individual.
Treatment usually consists of a combination of surgery, medication, radiation,
and/or chemotherapy. An elderly woman with a less aggressive type of cancer may
wish to avoid aggressive treatments and pursue palliative (symptom-relieving)
treatments. However, in a younger woman, aggressive therapy targeted at
achieving remission is usually desired. Transplantation procedures are available
for individuals with advanced or recurrent breast cancer.
The prognosis
for patients with breast cancer depends upon the stage of the disease and the
patient\'s overall health status. In general, the prognosis for women with small
tumors that are confined to the breast and have not spread to the lymph nodes is
excellent. In contrast, the prognosis for women whose tumors have spread to
distant sites, such as the liver, lung, or bone, is much more guarded.
Hospitals Listing
Artemis Health Institute
New Delhi
{India}
Artemis Health Institute (AHI), at Gurgaon is a 500-bed super-specialty hospital. The super-
Bangkok Hospital Medical Center
{Thailand}
Bangkok Hospital Medical Center
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
{Singapore}
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Prince Court, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
{Malaysia}
Prince Court, Kuala Lumpur
OCC World Class Doctors
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