Mochty

Sydney Mochty
Ms. Ryan/ Ms. Mounts
Modern Literature 11th Grade 7th Hour
3,November 2015
Informative Essay On Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
There are many forms of cancer in humans. Cancer ranges from lung cancer to bone
cancer to liver cancer to pancreatic cancer and much more. One type of cancer that is being
fought by many women and even some men is breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading
cause of death in women (Alic). Breast cancer affects many families. For example, my aunt is
currently fighting breast cancer, and she has been told that at this time, she is a breast cancer
survivor. Almost everyone feels that they know about breast cancer, but do they? Breast cancer
affects the lives of many, and many do not know all that there is to know about breast cancer.
Breast cancer a disease that affects the breast tissue of a person, symptoms that causes pain and
harmful effects to a person, and treatments to help fight this disease.
Breast cancer is a disease that destroys tissues in a breast. Breast cancer is the formation
of malignant cancer cells in milk glands or ducts of the breast (Alic). These cells can also
sometimes form in lymph nodes around the breast cells. Breast cancer can occur in 1 of 8
women, although that number goes up with the age of a woman (Alic). The age of a woman is a
key factor for getting the disease. Women over 50 have a higher risk of being diagnosed with
breast cancer. Men can also have breast cancer, although, it is a small percentage. Men and

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women can have self-examinations to help find lumps and such in their breasts to have early
treatment if needed.
There are many symptoms that can show for a man or woman with breast cancer. A
lump can sometimes be felt by self-examination. A discharge can sometimes come from the
breasts nipple. A change in appearance of the breast or nipple can also sometimes be seen.
Tenderness can also happen to the breast. Sometimes, though, these symptoms are not so easy to
be seen. This is why it is important to have a mammogram done each year after age of 40. This
can help detect early stages of breast cancer for proper treatment. Most breast cancers are first
detected by screening during a self-examination, an annual clinical breast exam by a healthcare
professional, or an annual or biennial screening mammogram or xrays of the breasts, which can
detect cancers that are too small to feel (Alic). As a result, it is important for woman to go to the
doctor for annual check-ups to see if they have cancer in order to detect it early.
Breast cancer treatment begins with a biopsy to confirm the disease; after this, people
may undergo chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, or a mastectomy. If a woman or man thinks she/he
has a lump or potential breast cancer, or if a mammogram shows a hot spot, then a biopsy can
occur. A biopsy is a sample of the lump or area. This sample is tested. If the test is positive for
breast cancer, a few treatments can take place. A woman/man can decide on radiation,
chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. In many
instances, the patient has radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the lump prior to the lumpectomy
or mastectomy. Chemo and radiation makes you very sick, tired and makes you can not breathe
well. A lumpectomy is taking the lump out through surgery, and a mastectomy is the removal of
a breast or both breasts through surgery. A mastectomy would also require possible

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reconstruction surgery for the woman after the cancer treatment has taken place. This can be a
very painful process. For example, chemo and radiation can make your blood cells very low, it
can make you very nauseous, and make you throw up as well (Alic). So, not only does a person
with cancer have to suffer through serious symptoms, but also through treatment they are still
very sick.
Breast cancer is, with several symptoms, but treatments are available to those who are
diagnosed. Breast cancer affects the lives of many people, affecting either the man or woman or
the family members of those affected. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important to
survival, and many more are surviving in this day and age. Although I agree that this is exciting
news, you need to make sure to leave exclamation points out of formal writing Self-examination
and mammograms are very important in the lives of all women and some men. The battle of all
types of cancers is continuing every day, and the battle of breast cancer is gaining more and more
survivors every day with!

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Work Cited
Alic. Margaret. Breast Cancer. T
he Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health: A Guide for Seniors
and their Caregivers. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. Detroit: Gale, 2009.

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