Abstract:
Cancer is a group of diseases. It occurs when cells become abnormal and divided without
control or order. It affects persons all over the world. Breast cancer (malignant breast
neoplasm) is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of
milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are
known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas.
Very rarely men also get breast cancers. Men possess a small amount of nonfunctioning
breast tissue (breast tissue that cannot produce milk) that is concentrated in the area
directly behind the nipple on the chest wall. Like breast cancer in women, cancer of the
male breast is the uncontrolled growth of the abnormal cells of this breast tissue.
The size, stage, rate of growth, and other characteristics of the tumor determine the kinds
of treatment for breast cancer patients. Treatment may include surgery, drugs (hormonal
therapy and chemotherapy), radiation and or immunotherapy. Some breast cancers are
sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and or progesterone, which make it possible to
treat them by blocking the effects of these hormones.
