breast cancer

Tim on Call -- Questions About Breast Cancer?New Drug Expands Treatment OptionsThe new drug is targeted to treat breast cancers that carry a special genetic marker, known as HER2.According to the American Cancer Society, this marker usually signals a more aggressive, deadlier cancer

Daniel Kopans answers the question: Age at Menstruation Impact My Risk?Answer: One of the risk factors for breast cancer is the breast's exposure to your own hormones. That sounds like a tough situation because you can't do much about your own hormones, but in fact we believe that the more menstrual cycles or hormone cycles that the breast is exposed to, the greater the chance of developing a breast cancer

George Sledge answers the question: Why Do Men Get Breast Cancer?Answer: Why do men get breast cancer? Men can get breast cancer for a number of reasons. One reason we suspect in many men is that men who have breast cancer tend to be exposed to higher circulating estrogen levels, female sex hormone levels for those men who come down with breast cancer.

George Sledge answers the question: Where Does Male Breast Cancer Occur?Answer: Breast cancer in men, like breast cancer in women, commonly begins inside the milk ducts. Something that is not well known is that the male breast, like the female breast, has milk ducts, though these are certainly not nearly as well developed as they are in women

George Sledge answers the question: Different Treatment in Men?Answer: Male breast cancer is treated somewhat differently than female breast cancer. In female breast cancer, breast preservation is frequently a consideration so that many women want to go (with) a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy.

Co-Chairman, Breast Cancer Program; Professor of Medicine, Indiana University Cancer CenterOctober 4, 2007 7:36:32 AM Question:Can men get breast cancer?Dr. George Sledge answers the question: Can Men Get Breast Cancer?Answer: Men very definitely can get breast cancer, though the frequency of breast cancer in men is far lower than it is in women -- perhaps only 1/100th or 1/200th as common as it occurs in women

These are called cancer risk assessment and counseling programs, and typically they offer information and education about a woman's own personal risk for breast cancer, as well as other members of her family. If you think you may be at increased risk, either because of a personal or a family history of breast cancer, or you may think that you share other risk factors for breast cancer, then you may benefit from sitting down and talking with a counselor, looking at all the various risk factors that might apply to you, and getting some estimate of where you stand in terms of your risk compared to other women.

Is it normal to feel that I am like a time bomb, just waiting to be told I have breast cancer?Dr. Susan Caro answers the question: How can I find out if I have a higher risk?Answer: I think that's very normal.

f there are more than one breast cancer in the family, breast cancers diagnosed at younger than expected ages, ovarian and breast cancer in the family, then those are certainly indicators that there may be an increased hereditary susceptibility to breast cancer. Males with breast cancer is another one or an individual who has both breast and ovarian cancer are all indicators of an increased likelihood of having an inherited mutation.

So identical twins, if their breast cancer is due to an inherited predisposition in a mutation in one of these genes that's been identified, then they would be at significantly increased risk -- but not predetermined or destined to have breast cancer. Even people who have an inherited mutation in one of these breast/ovarian cancer syndrome genes do not all develop breast cancer.

Susan Caro answers the question: I have no family history of breast cancer?Answer: That's one of the most important messages that I think we can get across is that yes, you do. Breast cancer is incredibly common.

So women who have inherited a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a significantly increased risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Some of the women who have just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer may have one of these mutations.

Susan Caro answers the question: What about breast cancer on my dad's side?Answer: Definitely. It's one of the common misconceptions that has been prevalent in misunderstanding about risk in general, is that the dad's side of the family doesn't matter.

Susan Love's Breast BookOctober 3, 2007 6:08:35 PM Question: What risk do my children have of getting breast cancer?Dr. Susan Love answers the question: What Is My Children's Breast Cancer Risk?Answer: If a woman has breast cancer, she's always worried that she's going to pass it on to her children.

If you have a mom or sister diagnosed with breast cancer, then your risk is greater than when you don't have a mom or sister with breast cancer. It's important to look at the whole family history as well as just one individual with breast cancer in your family to get a clearer picture of what your risk is.

Lynn Hartmann answers the question: What Is The Role Of Genetics?Answer: It's been known for centuries that there is a hereditary process underlying some breast cancers. It was described back in Roman times.

Victor Vogel answers the question: Do fibrocystic changes impact my risk?Answer: Fibrocystic changes alone do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Many, many women, particularly women before menopause, under the age of 50, have lumps and bumps in their breast that would be described as fibrocystic changes

Victor Vogel answers the question: What is a risk factor for breast cancer?Answer: A risk factor for breast cancer is something, either in a patient's medical history or a physical exam finding, that increases the likelihood that a patient would eventually develop breast cancer. Many of these risk factors relate to lifestyle events for women.

Benjamin Anderson answers the question: Pregnancy and breast cancer?Answer: Breast cancer does occur with pregnancy, and this can be a problem to diagnose, because the breast is changing so much during pregnancy as the breasts prepare for milk production. If someone has a distinct lump in the breast, different from other lumpy areas, then that needs to be evaluated.

Susan Love's Breast BookOctober 3, 2007 2:51:27 PM Question: Is it true that it takes years for breast cancer to develop?Dr. Susan Love answers the question: Does breast cancer develop over years?Answer: We believe that most breast cancers take from six to eight years to become big enough to be able to be seen on a mammogram or felt.