Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It can also occur in men, but it is very rare. The causes of the cancer are not fully understood, but various risk factors have been identified.
The principal one is age: the risk of developing it increases with age, and most cases occur in women over 50. Other risk factors include: a family history of the disease; having started periods at an early age or having a late menopause; not having had children or having them late in life; being overweight; moderate to heavy alcohol intake; using the combined oral contraceptive pill; and hormone replacement therapy. In some cases, breast cancer may be linked to inherited genes, including the genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
The first noticeable symptom of breast cancer is often a painless lump. Other symptoms include a change in breast size or shape; a lump or swelling in the armpit; dimpling of the skin over the breast lump; a rash around the nipple; a change in the appearance of the nipple, such as becoming inverted (retracted inward); and an unusual nipple discharge, which may contain blood.
The cancer may spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs. Possible treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In some cases, hormone therapy or biological therapy medication may also be used. Mammography screening to detect breast cancer early is available in some countries.

Othere related diseases

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is inflammation of the upper part of the female reproductive organs, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervi...

PLACENTAL ABRUPTION
In a placental abruption, the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before the baby is born. The cause is usually unknown, but abruption is more common...

POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is characterized by multiple ovarian cysts; high levels of male sex hormones (which are produced naturally in women, but usually onl...

PREMATURE LABOR
Also known as preterm labor, premature labor is birth of a baby before the 37th week of pregnancy. If labor occurs very early, the baby may have health problems...

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME
Also known as premenstrual tension, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the combination of physical and psychological symptoms that many women experience in the week...

PROLAPSE OF UTERUS AND VAGINA
A prolapse of the uterus or vagina is when one or both of these organs is displaced due to weakening or stretching of their supporting tissues (which might happ...

PROSTATE CANCER
Cancer of the prostate gland is a slow- growing cancer that mainly affects older men. It is often not fatal. The cause is unknown, although it is more common in...

PROSTATITIS
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. It may develop suddenly and cause severe symptoms (acute prostatitis) or more gradually (chronic prostatitis)...