Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer affecting women. It is also the second most frequent cause of cancer death.

Causes of breast cancer - hypersensitivity of estrogen and/or progesterone-specific receptors within breast tissue are responsible for the majority of breast cancer cases. It is believed that these two hormones may be responsible for proliferation of breast cells and resultant tumor formation. Additionally the mutations of two abnormal genes, BRCA1 and BRCA, have been found to play an important role in the development of breast cancer.
The incidence of breast cancer begins in early adulthood, with a sharp rise in incidence to the time of menopause. After menopause, the incidence of cancer decreases significantly.

Breast cancer does not affect women exclusively: one percent of all breast cancers occur in men.