What is cancer? How does it start? Cancer is the familiar name for more than 100 diseases. The type of cancer one has depend on its origination in the body. Cancer begins to form when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably. The cells continue to grow. Abnormal cells are formed. Unlike normal cells that grow, divide, make new cells and die, cancer cells continue to grow out of control. The cells attack tissue which is what forms a cancer cell. Every cell has DNA. In a normal cell, when the DNA is damaged, the cell either reconstructs the damage or dies. In a cancer cell, the damaged DNA is not renewed, instead, the cell continues to reproduce more cells that the body does not need. The new cells carry the flawed DNA of the initial cell.
Cancer cells travel and create new tumors that attack …show more content…
It is suggested that nearly a quarter of a million new cases will be determined in women this year. More than 40,000 of those cases will be fatal. Although on the decline since 1989 and credited to overall awareness, it is the second leading cause of death in women. The lifetime risk of a man obtaining breast cancer is 1 in 1000. 1 out of 5 men who have breast cancer also has a close male or female relative with the disease. Annual exams are recommended, starting at age 30 when there is a family history of the disease, otherwise, age 40 is when one should start having exams. It is unfortunate that some insurance companies, even with a family history of breast cancer, will not cover a routine exam until age