A study of prognostic factors for Breast Cancer

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.