Breast cancer begins with abnormal cells developing in breast tissue. It can be confined to the breast or may spread beyond your breast or into other parts of your body. The most common type of breast cancer begins in the ducts designed to carry milk to the nipple. But cancer also may occur in the small sacs that produce milk, called lobules, or in other breast tissue. Breast cancer varies widely and the treatment options are selected to match your individual needs.

Symptoms

Early breast cancer usually doesn't cause pain. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it may cause changes that you should watch for:

• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple pulled back (inverted) into the breast
• Ridges or pitting of the breast, making the skin look like the skin of an orange
• A change in the look or feel of the skin of the breast, areola or nipple such as warmth, swelling, redness or scaliness

Causes of Breast Cancer

The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown and there are no fixed causes for breast cancer. Myths in identifying the causes of breast cancer are more prevalent than the real cause.

Some of the causes that have been collectively associated with breast cancer are:

• The chances of breast cancer depends on age, as the person gets older the chances of it are more
• Family history of close relative like mother, sister and daughter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer increases the risk factor
• Early start onset of menses and early menopause are also associated with breast cancer
• Exposure to radioactive rays are carcinogenic and increases the chances of breast cancer
• Using hormone replacement therapy might also cause it
• Exposure to harmful chemicals (working in a chemical factory that uses harmful chemicals like Organochlorines)
• Late childbearing

Coping with Breast Cancer

The most important factor behind any disease is the way you cope with it and find a safe treatment. Breast cancer is a serious disease but with time and proper breast cancer treatment you will recovery from the initial trauma of the disease. Eating healthy and maintaining a balanced lifestyle along with family and friends cope to a great extent in coping with the