Cancers or carcinogenic growths affect the reproductive systems of both men and women around the world. In this discourse the writer will discuss breast cancer as it pertains to contributing factors; primary altered cell/tissue effects, effects of hormone levels; potential for metastasis and extended effects, treatments, and prognosis.
The primary contributory factors influencing breast cancer growths have been identified as late first births in women; family history of breast cancer; female gender; fibrocystic breast changes occuring during hormonal interactions during pregnancy. Scientists have discovered obesity, excessive alcohol intake; contraceptive pills and endocrine disruptors in the environment as secondary factors ( McCance, & Huether, 2009).
When considering the altered cellular/ tissue effects it has been discovered that normal cells divide and subdivide then stop. Neoplasms do not operate in this manner. In breast cancer as many other neoplamic growths, cells do not know when to halt cellular division. Mutations destroy their ability to remember the sequel of binary fission to stop subdivision and growth persists in a disorganized sequence. Over expression of leptin stimulates proliferation and development of cancer cells. Specific tissue changes relate to lumps in the breast or near the arm; and change in size and shape of the breast ( Marieb, & Hoehn, 2007).
Further studies have linked indiscriminate cell mutations to estrogen production and exposure levels. After menopause adipose tissue produces the most estrogen. There is evidence from research that obese post menopausal women secret a higher level of endogenous estrogen which predispose to the incidence among this age group. Contemporary studies are aimed at discovering what levels of estrogen / progesterone put women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer since marked fluctuations among levels during menstruation and menopause have been found (McCance & Huether, 2009)
Researchers have found also significant relationships between estradiol plasma levels and breast cancer. This varies among women with no prior use of postmenopausal hormone and those who have taken estrogen therapy estradiol. Levels were 12% higher in women with breast cancer than those undiagnosed (Aceves, Anguiano & Delgado, 2005).
Whether a malignancy will metastasize largely depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed; the client’s response to radiation besides the hereditary implications of the tumor. Breast cancers according to recent findings are classified according to the histological appearance when mammograms are interpreted. Mostly, growths are embedded in the epithelial lining, ducts and lobes of the breast. Once growths can be contained within these areas metastases do not occur easily. However, when cells escape into the lymphatic system it is difficult to control the rate at which distribution occurs to other parts of the reproductive system and beyond to brain or spinal column (Lacroix, 2006).
Response to treatment lies also in the stage of detection. In stage one, lumpectomy and radiation are recommended and the prognosis is much better with a life expectancy of more than 10 years after reconstruction surgery. Stage two and three have lesser survival rates and are treated with mastectomy along with chemotherapy. Stage four is when the tumor has metastasized to other organs in the reproductive systems or skeletal muscles. The 10 year survival rate is 5% without treatment and 10 % with the optimal treatment (McCance, & Huether, 2009)
References:
Aceves C Anguiano B Delgado G 2005 Is Iodine A Gatekeeper Of The Integrity Of The mammary gland?" Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 10 (2): 189–196.
Lacroix M (December 2006). "Significance, detection and markers of disseminated breast cancer cells". Endocrine-related Cancer 13 (4): 1033–67
Marieb, E. & Hoehn, K. (2007). Human Anatomy & Physiology (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
McCance, K. & Huether, S. (2009). Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children (6th ed.).
