1. Breast Cancer Rachel Hoenigman,Lauren Spape, and Carolyn Voorhees.

2. What is it? Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that affects cells in the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.

3. What causes breast cancer? Is it inherited? Is it environmentally induced? Doctors currently aren’t sure what triggers the cancer, but it starts with abnormal or rapid cell growth. There is approximately a 10% chance that breast cancer can be inherited down from parent to child. It is also environmentally induced. The government can’t control the amount of chemicals produced in industrial products. The amount of chemical ranges in our everyday lives from preservatives in lipstick, flame retardants in our sofas, plasticizers in our water bottles, to even pesticides on our fruits and vegetables.

4. What effect does cancer have on the body? In early stages, the cancer can be seen with: o swelling of the breast o skin irritation o thickening of the skin o abnormal lump

5. Effects cont. This keeps irritating the cell until it causes a large tumor with will have to go under 2 surgeries to remove, lumpectomy and mastectomy. The effects of obtaining this cancer can end in fatality. Treatments such as radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy will also be required which causes o breast skin change in color o irritation o shooting chest pain o fatigue o diarrhea o hair loss o memory loss o headaches o hot flashes o mood swings o nausea o vomiting

6. How is breast cancer detected? Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with early breast cancer have no symptoms. Widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms. Some aren’t found by mammogram because they don’t find every breast cancer. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. It can be hard with irregular edges or soft and tender with rounded edges. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast.

7. What are the possible treatments? Chemotherapy: is a common conventional treatment for many different cancer types. Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs. These drugs are designed to interfere with and halt the growth of rapidly-dividing cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy is a common conventional treatment for many different cancer types. Radiation Therapy: involve the use of high-energy radiation to destroy breast cancer cells or prevent the cells from reproducing. You may receive it alone or with other treatments. For example if the tumor is too large or not easily removed by surgery radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor. Also it may be used after surgery to destroy any remaining breast cancer cells.

8. Is there a cure? Some types of breast cancer can be cured. One of the most curable types is also one of the most common: ductal carcinoma in situ, or breast cancer that is limited to the milk ducts. 20 to 30 percent of all breast cancer is this type and almost always is cured. There are often cures for breast cancer when diagnosed early.

9. Is there a way to prevent breast cancer? Limit alcohol. Control your weight. Get plenty of physical activity. Breast-feed. Avoid exposure to environmental pollution. Research shows that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables doesn't offer direct protection from breast cancer.

10. More information The lymph system is important to understand because it is one way breast cancers can spread. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped collections of immune system cells. Breast cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and begin to grow in lymph nodes. If the cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes, there is a higher chance that the cells could have also gotten into the bloodstream. Cancer stage is based on four characteristics: size, if it’s invasive or non-invasive, if it’s in the lymph nodes, or if it’s spread to other parts of the body.

11. Support groups? Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force American Cancer society The Anchorage Women's Breast Cancer Support Group

12. Sources http://www.sharecare.com/question/cure-for-breast- cancer http://www.sharecare.com/question/cure-for-breast- cancer http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide /breast-cancer-diagnosis http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide /breast-cancer-diagnosis http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer- prevention/WO00091 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer- prevention/WO00091 http://www.cancercenter.com/breast- cancer/treatments.cfm http://www.cancercenter.com/breast- cancer/treatments.cfm http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/stagin g http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/stagin g http://bcsupport.org/