Breast cancer is 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. Another form of cancer is inflammatory breast cancer that can grow and spread quickly even at a relatively early stage of the disease. This type of cancer can develop when breast cancer cells block the lymph vessels that remove fluids, bacteria and other waste products from breast tissue. As a result, the breasts can become inflamed. Unlike the most common types of breast cancer that develop one or more single solid tumours, inflammatory breast cancer tends to grow in layers or nests. Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 10.4% of all cancer incidence among women, making it the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths).
Prognosis and survival rate varies greatly depending on cancer type and staging. With best treatment and dependent on staging, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98% to 10%. Treatment includes surgery, drugs (hormonal therapy and chemotherapy), and radiation. Like in the case of all cancers, early detection can significantly increase the success of treatment. Awareness of the different types of breast cancers and their symptoms is a pivotal point for successful cure. Hence, organizations focused on helping people diagnosed with breast cancer often combine awareness promotions with fund raising to support cancer research.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. In October 1983 the Race for the Cure was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, where 800 people participated. According to the organizers, by 2002 the number of participants reached 1.3 million and the event was held in over 100 US cities. The event is also being organized in several other parts of the World. For example, in Australia and New Zealand they hold a Dove Pink Star Walk; in UK they organize Race for my wife and Race for life; and in Canada the event is called Run for the Cure.
I am a survivor of prostate cancer. In 2008 I co-authored a book entitled “Death Can Wait – Stories from Cancer Survivors” with three other cancer survivors and 32 contributors who were fighting courageous battles with the dreaded disease. We wrote the book for the purpose of providing moral support for newly diagnosed cancer patients and for raising funds for cancer research. Contributors with breast cancer were dealing with the following types of cancer: Ductal carcinoma in situ, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Lobular invasive, Breast Cancer metastatic stage, Triple-Negative Inflammatory, Breast Cancer Stage 2, Stage II ductal carcinoma, and different forms of Inflammatory breast cancer. The stories are giving moving insights into how people react when they get the news: you have cancer. For example, the co-author Jacquelin Holzman reacted in terms of “hearing the words and my name in the same sentence, my stomach felt like it was in a vice, my tongue seemed to have doubled in size, my head started to spin and my breathing seemed to stop”. But, Jackie is now a proud cancer survivor. To promote awareness, purchase “Death Can Wait” and read the stories of contributors staging a brave fight against cancer. All profits from the book are donated to support cancer research. All profits from our book sales in October will be donated to support breast cancer research. Death Can Wait can be purchased from Amazon.com at
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=Death+can+wait+by+frank+Hegyi&x=16&y=25
