THE PROBLEM OF BREAST CANCER Roblee 1

The Problem of Breast Cancer

Mya Roblee

September 12, 2017

Academy for Arts, Science and Technology

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Introduction

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women globally. Although

death rate is decreasing, incidence rate is increasing. The interest in the topic of breast cancer is

based upon the fact that it is one of the most common cancers around the world and that the

occurrence of this type of cancer is rising. Different solutions have been studied, such as

preventative surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy, to avoid and treat breast cancer.

Research must be farther completed to assure that high-risk or diagnosed patients acquire the

best treatment possible to prevent and be rid of the disease.

Research

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that forms when the cells of the breast grow abnormally

and divide uncontrollably. These abnormal cells combine together to form a tumor, or lump, on

the breast. Since this type of cancer begins in the breasts, it is typically more prevalent in

women, but men can develop it as well. Breast cancer is now the most common type of cancer

in the United States, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. According to the National Cancer

Institute, the estimated number of new cases of breast cancer is 252,710 among women and

2,470 among men; the estimated number of deaths is 40,610 among women and 460 among men.

The problem with breast cancer is that although death rates are decreasing, incidence rates are

increasing. Overall breast cancer incidence rates are converging among white and African

American women because of increases in African American women coupled with stable rates in

white women. Incidence rates decreased for estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) tumors and

increased for estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) tumors. The decrease in ER- breast cancers may

have contributed to the declines in breast cancer mortality rates because these cancers often have

a poorer prognosis than ER+ breast cancers (DeSantis et al, 2014, pp. 52-62). The total
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incidence rate for breast cancer is increasing, but the mortality rate is decreasing do to better

treatment and prevention options and the decreasing occurrence of ER- breast cancer. Since

ER+ breast cancer is more common than ER- breast cancer, this is the reason for the increase in

incidence rate.

Risk factors are factors that increases the likelihood of an individual developing a

disease. The main risk factors of developing breast cancer is a mutation of the BRCA1 or

BRCA2 gene, family history of the disease, endocrine factors, and host factors such as breast

density and a history of benign breast disorders. Risk assessments fall into two groups: the risk

of carrying a mutation in a high-risk gene such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 and the risk of developing

breast cancer with or without such a mutation. Knowledge of breast cancer risks, taken together

with the risks and benefits of the intervention, is needed to choose an appropriate disease

management strategy. (Amir et al, 2010, 680-691) Women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2

mutation are often the most high-risk. Many inherited cases of breast cancer are associated with

this mutation. Women who have the mutation have up to 80% high risk of developing breast

cancer (Breastcancer.org, 2017, pp. 1). Patients who believe they have any risk-factors for

developing breast cancer should immediately contact a professional about gene testing and for a

mammography. Knowing risk factors will help the patient get the best treatment they need to

prevent and or get rid of the cancer.

Since the incidence rate of breast cancer is increasing rapidly around the world,

prevention strategies are being looked into by scientists to treat patients before they can develop

the cancer. Farther research must be done to cure cancer, but the best option right now is to

prevent it before getting it. High-risk patients for breast cancer are more likely the ones to

partake in prevention strategies and research has shown that these strategies successfully
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decrease the risk of these patients developing it. It is well established that the greatest benefit

from breast cancer prevention strategies comes from treating women who are at high risk of the

disease. Among high-risk women, such prevention strategies have been shown to potentially

reduce the incidence of breast cancer by up to 1500 cases per 100,000 (Amir et al, 2010, pp.

680-691). Someone who is concerned about developing breast cancer can help self-prevent by

eating healthy, exercising and maintaining weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption,

and breast-feeding. Patients who are high-risk should consider prevention options such as

surgery and or chemoprevention drugs; prophylactic, or preventative, mastectomy is the best

possible solution for high-risk patients to choose for the prevention of breast cancer, for it

removes all breast tissue. Waiting is not an option for any patient at risk, so all prevention

strategies should be deliberated by patients to get the treatment they need for avoiding the

development of breast cancer.

Conclusion

Although breast cancer has many options of treatment and prevention, it is still a very

dangerous disease. Incidence rates continues to increase and scientists are not sure why. More

research must be done for patients to get the best treatment available to prevent and treat all

cancers, but more specifically breast cancer for that it is now the most prevalent cancer for new

cases in 2017. Woman, and even men, must take action into learning more about breast cancer

and how to prevent it and should immediately call a doctor if they believe they are at risk or have

any signs or symptoms of the disease. Patients that are aware they are at high-risk, should look

into prevention options such as surgery and chemoprevention; breast cancer is not worth the

wait.
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Works Cited

Amir, E., Freedman, O. C., Seruga, B., & Evans, D. G. (2010). Assessing women at high risk of

breast cancer: a review of risk assessment models. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer

Institute, 102(10), 680-691.

Breastcancer.org. (2017, June 30). Study Estimates Breast/Ovarian Cancer Risk by Age for

Women with BRCA Mutations. Retrieved September 05, 2017

DeSantis, C., Ma, J., Bryan, L., & Jemal, A. (2014). Breast cancer statistics, 2013. CA: a cancer

journal for clinicians, 64(1), 52-62.