What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a type of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can develop in one of several different areas of the breast, including: the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, the breast's lobules (small sacs that produce milk), or the breast's nonglandular tissue. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer, after skin cancer, in women in the United States, with approximately 212,600 cases diagnosed in the year 2003. It causes the death of more than 40,000 women each year, and remains the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. A woman's risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, so that more than three out of four cases occur in women over age 50. For information on symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention click here.

See also: Prostate Cancer, Cancer Overview

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Research News

Combined Screening leads to discovery of gene linked to breast cancer.

Molecular Signature may identify cisplatin-sensitive tumors.

International Study points to new susceptibility gene.

Why are African American Women more Likely to Die of Breast Cancer?

MGH Leading Trial of Breast Cancer Drug Testing of the novel drug Tykerb has begun.

Consumption of Red Meat associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Study Shows Disparities in Care for disabled women with breast cancer. More info from the Annals of Internal Medicine.

A New Tool for understanding estrogen-fueled breast cancer.

Advances in Chemotherapy improve outcomes in select breast cancers.

Treatment of Milk-duct Growth Requires more than just surgery, study finds.

New Cellular Flaw Found in some virulent breast cancers.

Research Stories

Gene Variants can significantly increase risk.

Risk of Breast Cancer may be associated with red meat consumption.

Complete Breast Grown from Single Stem Cell New insight for cancer treatment.

Exercise Shown to Promote Breast Cancer Survival Women who walk three to five hours a week 50 percent less likely to die from breast cancer.

High Vitamin Levels May Improve Chances of Preventing Breast Cancer. Women with highest recorded folate levels 27 percent less likely to develop breast cancer.

>More HU Gazette on Breast Cancer

Scientific Reports

Killing the Seed Tumor study challenges stem cell model.

Expressible Breast Cancer Proteins Made Public Collection demonstrated with model system of human breast.

Studies Chip Away at sex hormone roles in prostate and breast cancers.

Role Strengthened for Enzyme in Suppressing Breast Tumors. Mutations greatly increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

>More Science Reports