Cancer In The Twentieth Century Essay

Cancer is a group of more than 200 different diseases, and can generally be described as an uncontrolled growth and spread of cells, in which abnormal cells are able to invade other tissues through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream(1). It may be caused by internal factors (such as inherited mutation, hormones, immune deficiencies, conditions and mutations arising from metabolism) or external factors (tobacco, radiation, chemicals or infectious organisms) (2).

The twentieth century has often been called as the disease century. This is because more than a hundred sorts of cancer have been found in this century, and secondly, because colossal medicinal endeavors were made to battle all kinds of cancers all over the world. In the early decades of the century, cancer was considered to be a fatal disease, and although many cancers remain deadly, medical therapy has developed essentially over the years such that most cancers

Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules and Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are link by thin tubes called ducts. Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels which carry an almost colourless fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to organs called lymph nodes which are small bean-shapedstructures that are found throughout the body which filter substances in a fluid called lymph and help to fight infection and disease. Groups of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), and above.

Types of breast cancer

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non invasive , precancerous condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct . The rate expanded in all ages but more in women older than 50 years (7). The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In few cases, DCIS may end up invasive cancer and spread