Problems Of Giftedness Essay, Research Paper
Please Read This Warning Before You Use This Essay for Anything (It Might Save Your Life) Aspects of Breast CancerAccording to the American Cancer Society, in the United States in 1997alone, 180,000 people were diagnosed with a horrible disease. Of alltypes of cancer breast cancer ranks second and is the number one cancerwhich is fatal in women between ages of 15 to 54. This cancer is withinthe top three cancers of all women above the age of 15. This awfuldisease is breast cancer. Breast cancer is a group of rapidly growing reproducing,undifferentiated cells in the area of the breast in a woman. Theearliest stages occur in the epithelial cells of the terminal end buds(TEB) of the breast milk ductal system. While the causes of breastcancer are unknown, the cells in the breast trigger a reaction of cellreproduction. These new cancer cells form tumors. If cancer cells areactive or are considered malignate, the tumor grows at tremendous speeds,and may end up in metastasis. Metastasis is a process in which cellsbreak away from their primary tumors and is carried through the bloodsupply or through the lymph system and relocate into other organs, thusspreading cancer throughout the body if left untreated. Generally, if alump is less than one centimeter, it is considered benign, although everywoman should consult her doctor about any unusual bumps or feeling in thechest. One sign of breast cancer results from ductal cancer in thebreast. A once hollow open tube could be completely clogged up withcancerous cells thus leaving an awkward feeling in the chest area. Thebody is forced to supply nutrition for itself, but also for the largetumors that clog and cram the system. Although there are many different types of breast cancer, these are themost common. The first one is adenocarcinoma. It starts in theglandular tissues in any part of the body. Even though that it is acommonly diagnosed cancer the prognosis can vary greatly due to when thecancer is found. This accounts for nearly all breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive breast cancer. Itstarts in ducts but doesn^+t spread through the duct walls. The best wayto detect this kind of cancer is by a mammogram. This may change into aninvasive cancer if not caught in time. If it changes then it is calledan infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). This form of invasive cancerinvades the fatty tissue of the breast. IDC invades to other parts ofthe body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. When the cancername has in situ in it that means that the cancer is localized and hasnot spread to any other part of the body. Prevention is one part of the puzzle to cure breast cancer, but it isextremely important to get breast examinations often to make sure of nolumps or early tumors. The simplest forms of breast exam are aself-examination, one with a doctor, or a mammogram. A mammogram issimply an X-ray of the breast. Mammography can pick up small legions ofunder one half a centimeter, whereas one can not feel a lump until it isa full centimeter in diameter. Dr. Gardner says, ^+Fortunately, because ofthe use of mammography, we are detecting many tumors before they have achance to invade the surrounding tissue.^+ ( University Health Quarterly4) Any woman 40 or older should be having a yearly mammogram, but, ifbreasts are small or dense, a mammogram might not pick it up. Anotherprocedure could be a wire localization. A thin wire is used to show where
the legion is after the wire is inserted, and local anesthetic isadministered. Thermography is based on the idea that cancer gives offmore heat than regular cells. Transillumination is founded in the conceptthat light shines through breast tissue but is blocked by lumps. Anultrasound is when high frequency sound waves are sent off in aradar fashion, and reflect off objects that they hit. A CAT scan is theprocess of visually cutting the body into cross sections. But anothercontroversy runs deep in the issue of using CAT scans to find cancertissue. The radiation required to examine a five milliliter lump is oftenconsidered simply too high for safety and has a possibility of justsimply spreading the cancer to other body parts. A MRI takes advantage ofthe electromagnetic qualities of the hydrogen nucleus to produce anelectric chart or visual. Although a cure for this kind of cancer has not been found, there hasbeen new research that has just come out about genes and cell mutationand the relationship to breast cancer. Researchers from the ImperialCancer Research Fund are the first to build a three dimensional model ofan important region of a protein molecule found in the BRCA1 gene-linkedto cancer. Genes hold the directions for proteins and then the proteinswork controlling the life of the cells. Mutations in the genes thatnormally suppress tumor growth may be inactivated, thus starving the cellof the crucial brakes needed to halt the controlled division commonlyfound in cancer. The leading researcher Dr. Paul Freemont says ^+This isa very important piece of research. We have worked out the threedimensional structure of part of a protein which is found in about 50other gene products, including BRCA1^+(BBC 1), new cancer research ishelping to develop new treatments and are closer to finding a cure. There are many new treatments out there, but there are two drugtreatments that work the most effectively on breast cancer. Chemotherapyis most commonly used, and it has been used for the longest time. It isa treatment that uses artificial drugs to destroy cells. The down sideof chemotherapy is the side affects. Nausea, hair loss, and extremefatigue are the drastic after shock of the drug. These side affects maycause the person to have to quit their jobs. Treatments may last from 2weeks to 2 years or longer. The second drug that is being used is also asynthetic product, Tamoxifen interferes with the activity of estrogen. It works against estrogen to prevent the growth of new cancer cells. Ithas been proven to prevent the cancer from returning after it goes intoremission. Although new treatments vary from person to person, Dr.Gardner says, ^+Her options will be determined by the size, location,stage and type of breast cancer, as well as her age, menopausal statusand general health.^+(University Health Quarterly 4) It is a big decisionon which treatment the women will receive, but chemotherapy and tamoxifenare just two possible drugs. Until individuals commit themselves to a healthy diet, watch for signsof breast cancer, or even volunteer time, we will always have theproblem. While there are many factors from weight to factors that onecan’t even control, such as heredity and DNA, taking a look at the wholepicture and evaluating your opinions into your own choice, and consultingother references will end in the best decision for every woman. ——————————————————————————– Essay Data SectionTitle: Aspects of Breast Cancer Type: Student Submitted || Return To The Student Essay Directory ||
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