Breast cancer is the most common cancer within the female population in the United States and in a lesser percentage, can also occur in men. Recent studies show that approximately 250,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the US this year alone.
Up until a few years ago, having breast cancer was like receiving a “death sentence”. Fortunately, it is no longer like that. With early detection, breast cancer can be cured. This is why so much importance is placed on self exams and yearly mammograms for women over the age of 40.
There are different factors that can cause a woman to get breast cancer. From the standpoint of traditional medicine, breast cancer could be caused hereditary genetics, a woman’s age during her pregnancies or the over consumption of alcohol are among some of the things considered. From the spiritual point of view, it could mean an imbalance of emotions, suppressed anger or stress. But the fact is that true origin of this disease is still unknown.
Breast cancer is a defect or tumors that develop in the breast. There are a great variety of tumors and can range from the least dangerous to the most serious but the majority of them, if detected early enough, can be cured.
Simply put, breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells, meaning, instead of these cells growing and dividing normally, they begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumors.
Once cancer appears in the breast tissue and begins to spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastasis. Each type of cancer has specific areas and organs where the cancerous cells travel to and metastasize. In breast cancer, metastasis can occur in the bones, the liver, the lungs or the brain. Metastasis occurs when the spread of these cancerous cells reach the lymphatic nodes in the underarms.
Having breast cancer is truly a difficult thing. The healing process is difficult, painful and aggravating both physically as well as emotionally. The support that a patient receives from family members and/or friends is instrumental in dealing with this disease. But let us not forget, breast cancer no longer means death.
