According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is a malignant tumour originating from the cells of the breast. The cancerous cells usually multiply and invade other tissues surrounding the breast. Majority of the malignant tumours start in the cells lining the lobules or those lining the ducts. The tumours cause lumps in the breast. Breast cancer is most common in women. However, men too are prone to the disease.
Breast cancer present with the following symptoms: lumps in the breast or armpit, painful breast, abnormal nipple discharge, and change in nipple size among others. Factors that increase one’s risk for developing breast cancer are the following; being of female gender, low rate of breastfeeding, early onset of menstruation, use of hormone replacement therapy, having dense breast, being overweight, and family history of breast cancer among other factors. On the other hand, factors that can lower the risk for cancer include; late onset of menstruation, high rate of breastfeeding, being younger at first birth, and normal body weight among others.
The prevalence of cancer is highest among women in developed and developing countries. Approximately 50 percent of cases of breast cancer occur in developing countries. In addition, the developing countries account for 58 percent of deaths attributed to breast cancer (GLOBOCAN 2008, cited in World Health Organization, 2014). However, the incidence rates of breast cancer are lower in developing countries than in the developed countries. For instance, most developing countries record incidence rates of breast cancer below 40 percent (GLOBOCAN 2008, cited in World Health Organization, 2014). The incidence rates among the East African population are some of the lowest rates globally. According to the World Health Organization, 19.3 in every 100,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Eastern Africa (WHO, 2014). On the other hand, the incidence rates in Western Europe are 89.7 per 100,000 (WHO, 2014).
In the United States, new cases of invasive breast cancer were estimated to at 232,340 in 2013 (American Cancer Society, 2013). Out of this estimated, new breast cancer cases among the male population were estimated at 2, 240 (). The number of deaths attributed to breast cancer was also estimated at 40,030 in 2013 (American Cancer Society, 2013). Statistics also show that breast cancer exhibits the highest incidence rate among all types of cancers among the US women population (DeSantis, Ma, Bryan, and Jemal,, 2014).
Problem statement
Efforts are being made to reduce the burden of breast cancer significantly across the globe. Various global initiatives project a future with low prevalence and incidence rates of breast cancer. In addition, efforts are being made to promote health practices that lower the risk for breast cancer among women.
Cancer is one of the chronic non-communicable illnesses with the highest burden. In addition, the incidence rates are rapidly rising in the developing countries. In addition, it is a major cause of death among women globally. For instance, Ferlay, J., Héry, C., Autier, P., & Sankaranarayanan (2010) state that breast cancer causes 410, 000 deaths among women worldwide. Despite all the efforts being made to address the burden of this disease, it continues to cause high mortality among women across the globe.
Justification
More insight into all aspects of breast cancer is very important in order to inform policies aimed at eliminating or reducing the burden of the disease. Consequently, findings from this study will be instrumental in promoting awareness of many aspects of breast cancer among the population at risk.
Specific objectives
Specific objectives of this study include the following: to identify the risk factors for breast cancer, to identify factors that lower the risk for breast cancer, to find out the burden of breast cancer, and to identify the common diagnostic methods used for breast cancer.
Research questions
The research question for this study includes; what factors increase the risk for breast cancer? What factors lower the risk of breast cancer? What is the global burden of breast cancer? What diagnostic methods are commonly used for breast cancer?
Significance of the study
Many efforts should be made to gain more insight into all aspects of breast cancer so that appropriate and effective awareness can be carried out. Consequently, this study will provide evidence-based insight onto some of the most important aspects of breast cancer.
Limitation
The study was based on secondary sources. There were inadequate sources on certain aspects of breast cancer. This fact could have affected the findings from the study.
ReferencesTop of Form
American Cancer Society. (2013). Breast cancer facts & figures 2013-2014. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society.
DeSantis, C., Ma, J., Bryan, L., & Jemal, A. (January 01, 2014). Breast cancer statistics, 2013. Ca: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 64, 1, 52-62.
Ferlay, J., Héry, C., Autier, P., & Sankaranarayanan, R. (2010). Global burden of breast cancer. In Breast Cancer Epidemiology (pp. 1-19). Springer New York.
