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Page 315
| 12 Breast Cancer |
| . . . and now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest is love. Corinthians 13:1-3, 13 |
| Breast cancer, like other cancers, is the end result of a multistage process of carcinogenesis. This process involves a series of genetic changes resulting in an altered cell and, ultimately, in the clinical appearance of breast cancer. This complex process includes inherited and acquired susceptibility factors as well as endogenous and exogenous exposures; they lead to genetic or other biological changes that alter cell function and growth, causing increased cell proliferation. Eventually, these mutations can lead to invasive cancer. (See table 12.1.) |
| That's the bad news. The good news is that while there are many initiating and promoting factors for breast cancer, there are just as many protective factors that can inhibit or even reverse these stages. |
| Let's take a look at breast cancer statistics and demographics. |
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