Breast Cancer

By:

Emily Burkhardt

Detection

- Mammogram - Self check

Misdiagnosis

Oftentimes, doctors will overestimate the serious of the cancer. This leads to unnecessary chemo and radiation to the patient. In fact, 19% of diagnosed breast cancer findings are an overdiagnonsis. Since breast cancer kills so many, doctors try to be extra careful with dealing with the possibility of the disease.

Causes

- Hereditary - mutated genes - age - race - density of breast tissue - radiation

Effects

- decreases sex drive - loss of appetite - nausea - vomiting - weakness - fatigue - mouth soreness - hair loss - loss of the ability to have children - might have to have a mastectomy

Stages

Stage 1: 100% 5 year relative survival rate. Stage 2: 93% 5 year relative survival rate. Stage 3: 72%5 year relative survival rate. Stage 4: 22% 5 year relative survival rate.

Statistics

-There are 3 million cases of breast cancer in the in the US every year. -1/8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the US alone. - In 2014, there were more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S., including women being treated and women who have finished treatment. - About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

Jobs

- Mammogram Conductor -Researching the tumor - high molecular biology skills - the ability to generate ideas.

My Mom's Story

My mother was 36 when she developed breast cancer. At her first appointment, her doctor reviewed her cancer treatment history, and informed her that was at a high risk for breast cancer. Dr. Goldin, her doctor, recommended that she have a mammogram, where the early stage of breast cancer was discovered. The treatment was a double mastectomy. I asked her on how it has affected her life today and she said that she is grateful that the cancer was found early and that she is cured. She states, "Cancer kills so many, and that I was spared that fate, gives me a new appreciation for life." I find my mother's story very inspirational. I know that if I was to get into the research of the cure for cancer, I would be doing it for my mom.

Overview

All in all, breast cancer is a very serious problem affecting a large number of women and men. When the cure for cancer is found, it will change the entire world. With increased awareness, breast cancer will be cured.