Every year millions of women are affected by Breast Cancer. Some acquire Cancer by the history of the family and women who do have it won't show the symptoms until they grow older studies show that 80% of women who have breast cancer are over the age of 55. Genetic symptoms show in less that 10% of all of the breast cancers. When women have had genetic cancer, they have well recognized features that distinguish them from sporadic cases. Genetic cases make it easier on doctors to find women who have the disease. Conversely, inherited cancer results from a germ line mutation in a single gene that confers a significant predisposition to cancer. Two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified as dominant genes known to be responsible for a large proportion of cases of inherited breast cancer. A woman with a BRCA1 mutation is thought to have a 60% to 90% lifetime risk, compared with the average woman's 11% risk, with a 40% to 80% risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers.7 Unfortunately, there still remains a great deal of variability among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, and it is likely that different mutations in a given gene may confer distinct cancer risks. .
It is also important to know the symptoms of cancer. If one has doubts, it should be known how to tell what cancer looks like. For example these are some of the symptoms of Breast Cancer: .
A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
A change in the size or shape of the breast (different sizes of the breast instead of ones normal breast size.).
A discharge from the nipple (liquids).
A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple (dimpled, scaly, or puckered) .
When someone obtains these symptoms it might be late because Breast cancer does not cause pain and might not even show symptoms until the cancer grows which is why it would be smart for a woman of the ages of 45- 55 or older to get a routine mammography to find signs of early cancer.