Breast cancer is projected to affect 1 in every 8 women in the US alone. This represents about 12% of the entire population. This alarming statistics show that there is a need to refocus the fight against treating cancer and redirect it towards prevention. The following information could help the American Cancer Association to make a move towards more research promoting prevention rather than the treatment of cancer (DeSantis et al., 2014).
Breast cancer is enormously a complex condition, with the ability of arising from numerous genetic as well as environmental causes. It tends to form in the existing cells of the breast. According to Crotty (2014), each cell in the human body including the breast cells has the potential to differentiate into any type of specialized cell. According to Berghe et al. (2014), this happens during the four stages of mitosis or even more precisely broken DNA replication. The four stages of mitosis entail prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. The cells divide and multiply rapidly than the normal healthy cells, hence accumulating and forming lumps in the breast. These cells often metastasize through the breast to the lymph nodes. However, the cells normally choose which role to pursue. Cells therefore differentiate according to the function they will carry out. Breast cells mostly starts with the existing milk-producing ducts which are also referred to invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer can also start in the glandular tissues referred to as lobules also termed as invasive lobular carcinoma (Berghe et al. (2014).
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Studies have also shown that the breast inherited mutated genes referred to as BRCA 1 and BRCA , have been significantly linked to increased likelihood of one developing breast cancer. Normally, mutations in a cell’s DNA that often encompass normal cell cycle control systems are often believed to cause breast cancer. Apparently, the cell cycle control system is basically one of the homeostatic mechanism responsible for maintaining proper cell function and health. With the help of the mechanism, the proto-oncogenes as well as tumor suppressor genes are responsible for maintaining cell cycle and hence, ensure that only existing healthy cells multiply. However, slight disruptions in the homeostatic balance mechanism are linked to abnormal cell division, leading to cancerous growths. Thus, cancer occurs when the cells of the body lose the ability to regulate their growth and rate of differentiation. Cancer cells often begin as a neoplasm or tumor (Kamińska et al., 2015).
According to Gospodarowicz, et al. (2015), neoplasm is a localized growth of abnormal cells in the breast . Unlike other breast cells, the neoplasm differentiates, grows, multiplies and even dies without the control of the body. Gospodarowicz, et al. (2015), explains that these cells sometimes continue growing into unregulated masses when they are supposed to have died. They may manifest is the form of tiny lumps on the skin or deeper within the skin. The neoplasm may be benign or non cancerous. It may also be malignant or pre cancerous. Wolff et al. (2015) further state that those that cause breast cancer are malignant or pre cancerous. The type of pre cancerous neoplasms may eventually develop into breast cancer. The malignant neoplasm that causes cancer is thought to have been caused by a genetic mutation of the cells DNA. The American Cancer Association can invest in research to reduce the transition rate from pre cancerous neoplasms to malignant neoplasms. This will reduce the occurrence of breast cancer because it is a difficult condition to eliminate completely (Wolff et al., 2015).
McCance and Huether (2018) point out that the body often fights vigorously to avoid the formation of cancer cells in the body. This is done and regulated by nucleotides. According to McCance and Huether (2018) , the nucleotides in the DNA control and monitor the cell cycle at all times. They initiate the differentiation of a certain cell type when cells of that nature die and reduce in quantity. The authors also adds that the nucleotides also stop the division of cells to facilities reproduction and differentiation when the cells become numerous and sufficient. The nucleotides also have the ability to detect abnormality in a certain breast cell. This may be caused by disease , malformation or even poor diet and lifestyle in general. (Berghe et al. (2014) also adds that the nucleotides initiates apoptosis to rid the body of such cells. Breast cancer forms when this cells multiply to a level that is unsustainable for apoptosis. The abnormal breast cells repeat the metaphase and anaphase stage continually. The cells become localized to a certain region and the body accepts them as normal.
Given that the general cause of breast cancer has been attributed to gene mutation, then it possible to reduce its occurrence. The American Cancer Association can focus eradication efforts into identifying or creating ways to prevent the mutation (Olver, 2016). Alternatively, the research can be used to find ways to stop the identified mutation or reverse it. Such a move will help to completely eradicate cancer and make it an ordinary ailment instead of a killer disease.
References
Berghe, T. V., Linkermann, A., Jouan-Lanhouet, S., Walczak, H., & Vandenabeele, P. (2014). Regulated necrosis: the expanding network of non-apoptotic cell death pathways. Nature reviews Molecular cell biology , 15 (2), 135.
Crotty, S. (2014). T follicular helper cell differentiation, function, and roles in disease. Immunity , 41 (4), 529-542.
DeSantis, C., Ma, J., Bryan, L., & Jemal, A. (2014). Breast cancer statistics, 2013. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians , 64 (1), 52-62.
Gospodarowicz, M. K., Brierley, J. D., & Wittekind, C. (Eds.). (2017). TNM classification of malignant tumours . John Wiley " Sons.
Kamińska, M., Ciszewski, T., Łopacka-Szatan, K., Miotła, P., & Starosławska, E. (2015). Breast cancer risk factors. Przeglad menopauzalny= Menopause review , 14 (3), 196.
McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2018). Pathophysiology-E-Book: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children . Elsevier Health Sciences.
Olver, I. N. (2016). Prevention of breast cancer. The Medical journal of Australia , 205 (10), 475-479.
Wolff, A. C., Blackford, A. L., Visvanathan, K., Rugo, H. S., Moy, B., Goldstein, L. J., & Hughes, M. E. (2015). Risk of marrow neoplasms after adjuvant breast cancer therapy: the national comprehensive cancer network experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 33 (4), 340.
