Radiology

Radiation as Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Radiation plays a major role in the detection and treatment of breast cancer through mammograms and radiation therapy. Cancer, or tumors, are malignant growths which do not function like a normal cell. Instead, they grow uncontrollably unchecked by normal cell checkpoints. Without growing limits, the cancerous cells eventually kill normal cells by depriving them of nutrition. Malignant tumors also are unspecialized and do not function like the normal cells from the organ which they come from. The main problems with cancer cells are that they invade surrounding tissues and can spread by the lymph system or blood to other tissues and organs throughout the body.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women - behind lung cancer (www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0808808.html). White non-Hispanic women have the highest rate of breast cancer, over twice the rate for Hispanic women. The lowest rates occur among Korean, American Indian, and Vietnamese women (www.cancer.gov). Breast cancer has been on the rise, but now due to more effective treatment mortality rates are slowly beginning to decrea

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Since normal cells can repair themselves, they will survive and regrow. Radiation therapy destroys the cancerous cells which might otherwise attack other parts of the body. It usually involves two x-rays of each breast. One study found that friends and family had the biggest positive effect on women during and after radiation therapy (Wegnstrom et al). Cancerous cells, on the other hand, are less likely to repair themselves (How Radiation Therapy Works).

Cancerous cells have a variety of different forms. More people are realizing they have cancer than in previous years. In a study on long-term results of radiation therapy on breast cancer, it was found that of a sample of 71 patents (ranging ages from 32-82 years old) there was nine reoccurrences of breast cancer. The delivery of external radiation therapy is painless, although the actual radiation can cause the patient some discomfort. For most cancers, radiation therapy significantly reduces the possibility of cancer recurring. A study in Annuals of Surgery found that doctors should encourage multidisciplinary approaches to breast cancer care such as using both chemotherapy and radiation therapy together (Bicknell et al). A big problem with young women is that they will probably not be able to nurse their children. With this method, radioactive material is placed in the breast where the tumor previously was. This method is usually only used in drastic cases involving a large amount of cancerous cells.

Approximate Word count = 1361
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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