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Definition: breast cancer from Dictionary of Medical Terms

a malignant tumour in a breast

Breast Cancer

From Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society
BREAST CANCER IS a major public health problem in the developed world. It is the most common cancer among U.S. women and makes up a significant portion of illness, healthcare expenses, and loss of life. One in eight women is expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Factors associated with increased breast cancer risk include family history of the disease, higher number of lifetime menstrual periods, and inadequate physical activity; generally, the disease is thought to result from a complex combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. One key to reducing the burden of breast cancer is to detect the disease at its precancerous or early cancerous stages. Tools for early detection include mammography, imaging, and self-examinations. The benefits of screening for early detection need to be balanced against the risks of increased anxiety among women whose screening results may ultimately turn out to be negative. Over recent decades, better treatment options for breast cancer have…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From New Harvard Guide to Women's Health, The
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is probably the most deeply feared disease among American women. It is their most prevalent form of cancer and, after lung cancer, the most lethal—striking 182,000 American women each year and killing approximately 40,200. Equally distressing for many is the fact that the cause remains…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From Encyclopedia of Women's Health
Over 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and this number is expected to increase significantly over the next decade as more women will be living in the age-at-risk group. One out of eight women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, and at least 40,000 will die of the disease…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells originating in breast tissue, usually in the lining of the milk ducts or in the milk glands, leading to tumor formation. The cancer cells may invade nearby normal tissue or spread (metastasize) throughout the body. Breast cancer is…
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Full text Article breast cancer

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
cancer that originates in the breast. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (following lung cancer ). Although the vast majority of the cases occur in women, some men also get breast cancer. Even allowing for improvements in detection (i.e., the introduction of routine…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From Human Diseases and Conditions
Illustration by Frank Forney. © 2016 Cengage...
Breast cancer is a potentially dangerous tumor that develops in the cells of the breast. Cancer cells can spread from the breast to other parts of the body . In the United States, breast cancer is a very common cancer among women; only skin cancer is more common. About 246,000 cases of invasive…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health
Percentage of new breast cancer cases and deaths...
Breast cancer is the development of malignant cells in the breast, often originating in the milk glands or milk ducts (ductal epithelium). The cancer cells undergo uncontrolled division leading to abnormal growth, tumor formation, and the ability to invade normal tissue locally or to spread…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Advanced breast cancer. (SPL/Science Source)
Breast cancer is the abnormal growth and uncontrolled division of cells in the breast. Cancer cells can invade and destroy surrounding tissue and may metastasize (spread) throughout the body via blood or lymph fluid. Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) for…
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Full text Article Breast cancer

From The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality
body image femininity relationship quality Changes to sexuality and intimacy can be one of the most problematic aspects of life post‐breast cancer, with the impact lasting for many years after treatment. When compared with healthy, same‐aged women, women with breast cancer experience lower levels of…
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Full text Article Breast Cancer

From Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics
Knudson’s two-hit hypothesis.
Abstract Two to five percent of breast cancers are due to the inheritance of highly penetrant genes and in some families it is possible to identify the underlying genetic alteration. This has meant that many women deemed to be at high risk of developing cancer may consider genetic testing to help…
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Full text Article breast cancer

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
In medicine, cancer of the breast . It is usually diagnosed following the detection of a painless lump in the breast (either through self-examination or mammography ). Other, less common symptoms, include changes in the shape or texture of the breast and discharge from the nipple. It is the…
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