According to the reports by the Breast Cancer Organization of the USA, it was estimated that there were a total of over 260,000 cases of breast cancer in 2010. Of the newly infected cases, a majority of the patients suffer from invasive cancer. In fact, there were 207,090 cases of invasive breast cancer, while the remaining 54,010 new cases had non-invasive cancer.

Any type of cancer is a condition when certain cells in a particular body organ start growing and multiplying rapidly. This uncontrolled growth leads to formation of lumps and tumors in the body. Over a prolonged period of time, the infection travels to other part of body. Therefore breast cancer starts from the tissues of the breast.

Types of Breast Cancer

Experts of medical fraternity conclude that there are two main types of breast cancer:

• Cancer which starts in the milk ducts are known as Ductal carcinoma. This being the most common type of breast cancer, affects majority of cancer patients.
• The second form of cancer known as Lobular carcinoma starts in lobules, which are responsible for production of milk.

Other than this, females can also get infected in case they have cancer in nearby part of the body. The infection could travel from lungs.

Causes of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can be caused by a lot of factors. Some of them are listed here:

• Age -With increasing age women are susceptible to breast cancer. This is proved by the fact that most of the cases of breast cancer is detected in women over 50 years of age.
• Genetics – One's genetic factors are also responsible for increased risk of breast cancer in a patient. If the genes that control the growth of cells get defected and passed on to one's sibling, then the child will face high risk of Breast cancer.
• Abnormal menstrual cycle – Females who have had pre-mature start of menstrual cycle by the age of 12 or went through a delayed menopause after the age of 55 may develop breast cancer.
• Alcohol – People who consume excessive quantities of alcohol and other toxic substances makes him more prone to this disease.
• Pregnancy – Though it may be hard to believe pregnancy can be a potential cause of breast cancer. Women who have either not been pregnant or conceive only after an age of 30 years commonly suffer from this disease.
• Hormone replacement therapy - HRT's can also trigger breast cancer since they artificially induce female hormone called estrogen into the body. Excess of this hormone can easily fuel the development of breast cancer.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

• The common symptoms include:
• Pain in the chest cavity
• Formation of lumps in Breasts
• Secretion of fluids
• Surfacing of Skin ulcers
• Inflammation around arms

Treatment of Breast Cancer

Cancer in any form is not completely curable. All doctors can do is reduce the infection and restrict in to certain parts of the body which have already registered uncontrolled growth of cells.

Certain available forms of treatment are surgeries, therapies such as chemotherapy and Radiation therapy along with use of medicines. While surgeries aim at removing the cancerous tissues and cells, they are one of the extreme measures. They reduce the speed of multiplying cells. Patients are generally treated with radiation and use of chemicals to kill the cancerous cells. The problem with use of these therapies is that healthy and unaffected cells also get killed in the process. Medicines support the therapies and speed up the process of natural regeneration of cells. They also provide necessary nutrients to the body.