From relative obscurity, breast cancer has become one of the leading causes of deaths among women in the world. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer have been reported in the United States, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. It is, in fact, the most common malignancy problem that is affecting women in North America and Europe today. But what is breast cancer and how do people get it? Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors in the breast grow and start to affect other tissues in the body. There is still no clear indications how tumors are created but what is often observed is that cancerous cells usually comes from ducts or glands.Although women's health organizations advise women to massage the breast daily and to feel for any lumps, it may a long time before a cancerous cell get big enough for us to feel it. By that time, it may already be too late.

Doctors make use of mammograms for their diagnosis.Breast at risk .All women are actually at risk, with the risk increasing with the presence of some risk factors that are already part of the natural cycle, for example, aging. Family history of breast cancer can also significantly affect the prognosis as heredity has been found to play a role. Women who got their periods before they were 12 years old and those who never had or had children after 30 years old are also more likely to develop breast cancer. There are also risk factors that medical science can help alter such as hormonal problems through replacement therapies. Women are also advised to decrease their consumption of alcoholic drinks, exercise every day and decrease the use of birth control pills. Breastfeeding has been found to decrease the risk of breast cancer development. Although there are some factors that women can avoid to prevent breast cancer from developing, cause and effect relationships between these factors and breast cancer is still debatable. For women who are already at high risk, doctors often recommend a drug called Tamoxifen, which is known to decrease the risk by as much 50 percent when taken in five years. Still, like all medications, Tamoxifen has side effects such as hot flushes, vaginal discharges and sometimes even blood clots.

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While no one is happy about getting older, the effects seem to hit women a bit harder. Even without the diseases that go along with aging, the process can affect women emotionally. Age is no longer revered in our modern societies. Women, even more than men, are often replaced at work and in the home but someone younger.

Age-related diseases can affect women and men alike. But some aging processes, such as menopause, are experienced only by women. Although not a disease, some of the symptoms of the process can be very difficult to manage. Men do not have to deal with the feeling that they are in the body of someone else.

A medical issue that does affect men and women alike is arthritis. Leg arthritis is a fairly common disease. It does not just come with age and it may not come at all. But as people advance in age, arthritis becomes a much more likely occurrence.

Our bodies are generally not as forgiving when they are older. If good nutritional habits were not put in place at a younger age, it is never too late to start. Eating the right foods can help with many ailments, such as arthritis.

Although breast cancer does affect more women then men, men too can become victims of it. While all cancers are stressful, this type is especially so due to the fear of mastectomies. Having breast tissue removed can leave a woman feeling like she is somehow less of one. Many patients and survivors find a way to move forward by joining a support group.

Of course the cosmetic effects of aging are also difficult and in some ways worse for women. As a man gets older he can be referred to as distinguished or weathered and this can be attractive. Being described as stately does not quite come across the same way. It is a positive term but there is no hint of sexual attractiveness.

To combat these changes, a woman often spends a great deal of time and money trying to find the right product to turn back the hands of time. Anti aging wrinkle cream, for example, is often used to keep the skin smooth, especially on the face. If nothing else, being proactive is good for self-esteem. Another possibility is acupuncture. Consistent acupuncture face-lifts can make a difference.

It is not easy growing old. The most important things you can do for the health of your body and mind is to stay positive and maintain a lifestyle that is healthy. Fortunately, there are also a number of women who are growing older gracefully to serve as examples for us all.