Breast cancer

What is cancer?

Cancer arises from a cell somewhere in the body. If the cancer cell arises in a particular organ, it is given a specific name. There are two basic types of cancer. Those arising from epithelium (cells, lining glands or ducts or surfaces) are called carcinomas.

Those arising from connective tissue and muscle are called sarcomas.

What makes; a cell become malignant or cancerous? Well, here we have to turn to molecular biology and molecular genetics to get an answer.

Each organ in the body consists of millions and millions of cells. The cells are so tiny that they can only be seen under a microscope. Even so, inside each cell, is the most intricate and highly complex machinery imaginable. --------------------------------?

The common cancers in women in South Africa are list in the following table (table 7.1).

• Breast

• Gynaecological - cervix - uterus - ovary

• Skin - basal cell carcinoma - squamous cell carcinoma - malignant melanoma

• Colon / rectum

• Esophagus

• Lung

• Stomach

• Haematological - lymphoma - leukemia

• Bladder

• Soft tissue tumours (e.g. muscle sarcoma)

• Miscellaneous - pancreas - thyroid - kidney - salivary gland - brain