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Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18e
| Part 7. Oncology and Hematology > Section 1. Neoplastic Disorders > |
Chapter 90. Breast Cancer
Sections: Breast Cancer: Introduction, Genetic Considerations, Epidemiology, Evaluation of Breast Masses in Men and Women, Screening, Staging, Further Readings.
Topics Discussed: breast cancer; pathophysiology of neoplasia; therapy of neoplastic diseases.
Excerpt:"Breast cancer is a malignant proliferation of epithelial cells lining the ducts or lobules of the breast. In the year 2010, about 180,000 cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,000 deaths will occur in the United States. In addition, about 2000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Epithelial malignancies of the breast are the most common cause of cancer in women (excluding skin cancer), accounting for about one-third of all cancer in women. As a result of improved treatment and earlier detection, mortality rate from breast cancer has begun to decrease very substantially in the United States. This chapter will not consider rare malignancies presenting in the breast, such as sarcomas and lymphomas, but will focus on the epithelial cancers. Human breast cancer is a clonal disease; a single transformed cell—the product of a series of somatic (acquired) or germ-line mutations—is eventually able to express full malignant potential. Thus, breast cancer may exist for a long period as either a noninvasive disease or an invasive but nonmetastatic disease. These facts have significant clinical ramifications...."
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