Running head: BREAST CANCER 1

Breast Cancer
Stephanie Shuman
COM 156
August 10, 2014
University of Phoenix
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Breast Cancer
The website for the Breast Cancer.org (n.d) stated, About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just over
12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2013, an estimated
232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the
U.S., along with 64,640 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. (para.1) American
Cancer Society (2007) stated, Male breast cancer makes up only 1% of all breast cancers
reported in the United States. Still, in the last decade it was responsible for approximately 2000
new cases as well as about 450 deaths per year. (para.1) Breast cancer death rates have begun
decreasing in the U.S in women under 50. Its thought that the decreases are the result of
advanced treatments, early detections through screening and increased awareness. It is important
for not only women to understand the symptoms but men, too. Every man and woman are at risk
for breast cancer, and risk rises with age. Survival increases with early detection and treatment.
Several of the risk factors for breast cancer are beyond their control. Family history is
the strongest known risk factor for breast cancer that cannot be controlled. Breast cancer occurs
in about 15 to 20 % of women who had a history of breast cancer on either the mothers or the
fathers side of the family. On the off chance that he or she has a first-degree relative, mother,
sister or little girl with breast cancer, their relative danger of getting the disease is more or less
multiplied. This is contrasted with women who have a no first-degree relative with the disease. If
the relative learned he or she had breast cancer at a young age, their risk is greater compared to if
the relative was diagnosed and an older age. Women who started menstruating before the age of
12 have a considerably greater risk of developing breast cancer. The findings are linked with
women who began their menstrual after age 15 (The Mayo Clinic, 2012, p. 69). It is believed this
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is due to the breast tissues exposed to sex hormones for a longer period. Giordana (2004) stated
common risk factors of both male and female breast cancer are age, high estrogen levels, strong
genetic history, obesity, heavy alcohol intake, liver disease, and radiation exposure.
Researchers remain unsure why younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer
at an early age. When comparing women who waited until they turned age 30 to start a family to
women who started a family earlier than age 30 had a higher risk for developing breast cancer.
((Hartmann,M.D. & Loprinzi, M.D., 2012, p. 69).) Women who use birth control have a slightly
higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to a woman who did not use birth control. Men
over the age of 60 find their chances for developing breast cancer increased. Unlike young
women, that it is exceptionally rare for a young man to develop breast cancer. It is believed other
than genetics, an explanation for the increase of breast cancer in men can be attributed to the ever
increasing obesity epidemic increase. (Cubic, 2007, p.14)
Over the years, attention has focused on environmental and lifestyle risk factors as
possible risks for breast cancer for women and men alike. Obesity contributed to increased
levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factors, which are associated with a higher breast cancer
risk in women and men alike. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor that clearly shows that it
increases a womans and mans risk of developing breast cancer, the more a woman drinks, the
more her risks increase. The website for the Breast Cancer.org (n.d) emphasized the importance
of alcohol consumption:
The website for the Breast Cancer.org (n.d) stated, More than 100 epidemiologic studies
have looked at the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of breast cancer
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in women. These studies have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer
associated with increasing alcohol intake. A meta-analysis of 53 of these studies (which
included a total of 58,000 women with breast cancer) showed that women who drank
more than 45 grams of alcohol per day (approximately three drinks) had 1.5 times the risk
of developing breast cancer as nondrinkers (a modestly increased risk). The risk of breast
cancer was higher across all levels of alcohol intake: for every 10 grams of alcohol
consumed per day (slightly less than one drink), researchers observed a small (7 percent)
increase in the risk of breast cancer. (para. 2)
It is important for women and men to be aware of the symptoms of breast cancer. Men
will notice a painless lump under the nipple or areola. Men may also have a nipple that is
inverted or a change in the shape or size or shape of the breast. Men may notice a rash that
affects the nipple and discharge or bleeding that comes from the nipple. Men may also notice a
lump in the armpit or an ulcer on the skin of the breast (Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men,
2012). Women typically notice a lump in their breast. Women may also notice a breast that is
red, purple or bruised, a warm feeling in the breast, swelling of lymph nodes.
According to Giordano (2004) Diagnosis and treatment options, including
mammography and needle biopsy, are exactly the same for both sexes. Giordano (2004) also
stated The rates of survival have been shown to be similar in men and women, with five year
survival rates being 96% for Stage 1, 84 % for Stage II, 52% for Stage III, and 18% for Stage
IV.(para. 2) Breast cancer survival for women and men is similar as long as their stage is
diagnosed at the same time. Because we live in society that is geared at raising awareness and
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support for women with breast cancer, whereas men are not given the same attention this leads to
men being diagnosed a lot later than women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage.
According to Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer (2007) Evidence is showing that in fact, the
incidence of male breast cancer is rising, with a 25% increase from the years 1973 to 1998 and
increase of about 60% from 1990 to 2000. (para. 2) The increase of men being diagnosed with
breast cancer is thought to be from the lack public awareness. Being breast cancer in thought to
be a disease that affects women, breast cancer in men go unnoticed.
The website for the Breast Cancer.org (n.d) stated The advances of life-saving treatment
options available for women with breast cancer is bringing new hope and excitement. Instead of
only one or two options there's an overwhelming menu of treatment options available to fight the
complex cells of breast cancer. A few of the life-saving treatments available are radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, bone directed therapy, and targeted therapy,
as well as local versus systemic therapy. Local therapies are intended to treat a cancerous tumor
directly at the site without affecting any other part of the body. Radiation therapy and surgery are
examples of local therapies. Systemic therapies refer to the use of drugs that can be given to a
patient by mouth or administered directly into the bloodstream in order to reach the cancerous
cells anywhere in the body. Hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are examples
of systemic therapies. (Para 1)
The advances of life saving treatment options available for breast cancer is bringing new
hope and excitement. Instead of only one or two options there's an overwhelming menu of
treatment options available to fight the complex cells of breast cancer. A few of the life-saving
treatments available are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, bone
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directed therapy, and targeted therapy, as well as local versus systemic therapy. Local therapies
are intended to treat a cancerous tumor directly at the site without affecting any other part of the
body. Radiation therapy and surgery are examples of local therapies. Systemic therapies refers to
the use of drugs that can be given to a patient by mouth or administered directly into the blood
stream in order to reach the cancerous cells anywhere in the body. Hormone therapy,
chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are examples of systemic therapies. Even though men are
treated with the same lifesaving treatment options more attention needs to be given to educating
men on how to do regular self-examinations. With proper education and awareness about breast
cancer for both men and women can lead to more lives being saved.















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References

Cubic, B.A. (2007). Passing the torch: The future of psychology in academic health centers.
Journal of Clinical psychology in Medical Settings, 14, 1-9. Additional information:
Retrieved from Phoenix University Library website:
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com
Giordano, S. (2004). Male breast cancer on the rise. Presented at the American Society of
Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Abstract # 777. Additional information: Retrieved
from Phoenix University Library website:
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com
National Cancer Institute (n.d). What is the evidence that alcohol drinking is a cause of cancer?
Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/alcohol
Hartmann,M.D., L., & Loprinzi, M.D., C. L. (2012). The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book .
Intercourse, MN: Good Books.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men. (2012, September 12). Retrieved from
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Breastmale/Symptomsdiag
nosis/Symptoms.aspx
Breastcancer.org (2013, May 15). Breast Cancer Information and Awareness. Retrieved from
http://www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org (2013, May 15). Treatment and Side Effects. Retrieved from
http://www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org (2013, May 15). Women Being Diagnosed With Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Retrieved from http://www.breastcancer.org
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Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http:// www.breast
cancer.org/male_bc_symptons.html. Additional information: Retrieved from Phoenix
University Library website: http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com