Sunday, 28 April 2013

Certain Breast Changes on protection of breast cancer

 Certain Breast Changes on protection of breast cancer
If you've been diagnosed with certain benign (not cancer) breast conditions, you may have a higher risk of breast cancer. There are several types of benign breast conditions that affect breast cancer risk:
Excessive growth of normal-looking cells: Doctors call this "proliferative lesions without atypia." In these conditions, cells in the ducts (the pipes of the breast that drain the milk out to the nipple) or lobules (the parts of the breast that make milk) are growing faster than normal, but the cells look normal. Doctors call these conditions:
  • ductal hyperplasia (without atypia)
  • complex fibroadenoma
  • sclerosing adenosis
  • papilloma or papillomatosis
  • radial scar
Being diagnosed with one of these conditions can double your breast cancer risk.
Excessive growth of abnormal-looking cells: Doctors call this "proliferative lesions with atypia." In these conditions, cells in the ducts or lobules are growing faster than normal and look abnormal. The specific conditions are:
  • atypical ductal hyperplasia
  • atypical lobular hyperplasia
Being diagnosed with one of these conditions can make your risk of breast cancer 4 to 5 times higher than normal. If you have one or both of these conditions along with a strong family history, your risk can be higher.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): LCIS is abnormal cell growth in the breast lobules. While the word "carcinoma" is in its name, LCIS isn't a true breast cancer. If you've been diagnosed with LCIS, your risk of breast cancer is 7 to 11 times higher than average. LCIS and a strong family history makes your risk even higher.
Hormonal therapy medicines: SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) have been shown to reduce the risk of developing hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in women at high risk. Tamoxifen and Evista (chemical name: raloxifene) are the two SERMs used in this way.
  • Tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women at high risk. Certain medicines may interfere with tamoxifen's protective effects. Visit the tamoxifen page to learn more.
  • Evista has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Visit the Evista page for more information.
Hormonal therapy medicines do not reduce the risk of hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.
Together, you and your doctor can decide if medicine to lower your risk is a good option for you.

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