Essay on New Treatments for Breast Cancer - 1923 Words

New Treatments for Breast Cancer Breast Cancer affects one in eight of American women, and is the second most common cause of cancer death in America. I chose to write my term paper on breast cancer because it is a disease that has effected some members of my family. Due to this possibly inherited condition, I felt that researching the topic would help me learn ways to prevent the disease and educate myself to perform self-exams that may result in early detection. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor in the glandular tissues of the breast. Such tumors, also called carcinomas, form when the chemical processes that control normal cell growth break down, enabling a single abnormal cell to multiply at a rapid rate (Hickman). Carcinomas,†¦show more content†¦Such findings, all of which relate to hormone-based life events, suggest that breast cancer is somehow affected by prolonged exposure to female sex hormones, such as estrogen. Women with a history of breast cancer in the family are also at greater risk. About five percent of all breast cancers have been attributed to a mutated, or structurally altered, gene known as BRCA1. Mutations in a second gene, BRCA2, contribute significantly to the development of breast cancer in Jewish women. Alcohol, high levels of fat in the diet, and not exercising regularly have also been linked to increased risk for breast cancer (Garber). Three-quarters of all breast cancer patients are not in any of the groups considered at increased risk for breast cancer, indicating that not all risk factors are understood. As a result, doctors recommend that every woman should familiarize herself with the techniques for monthly breast self-examination. X-ray examination of the breasts, a technique called mammography, can detect tumors before they are large enough to be felt and increase the odds for successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40Show MoreRelatedNew Drugs For Breast Cancer Treatment Essay1382 Words   |  6 Pageswithout affecting host body cells. Cancer chemotherapeutic agents New Drugs for Breast Cancer Treatment: 1. Herceptin: ïÆ' ¼ Type of drug: Monoclonal antibody A class of drugs developed to work alone or together with chemotherapy to seek out and attack specific cancer cells. ïÆ' ¼ Mechanism: Herceptin attaches itself to a protein called HER2 that is found on the surface of 20 to 25 percent of breast cancers. HER2 stimulates cell growth and prevents breast cancer cell death. When Herceptin binds toRead MoreEssay on Breast Cancer Treatment1316 Words   |  6 Pages Breast Cancer Treatment nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Only lung cancer kills more women each year in the United States than breast cancer does. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that over 184,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in women in 1996 (ACS Breast). 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