Cancer of the Breast
Cancer of the breast usually arises from cells in the ductal system (90 per cent) rather than the lobular structures (10 per cent). Both are exceedingly rare under the age of 20. Both genetic and environmental factors play a part in the development of Cancer of the breast: some families carry genes that make them much more likely to develop it (the gene is called BRCA1) or Cancer of the breast and ovary (the gene is BRCA2). In such families there will be women (mothers, grandmothers, sisters or aunts) who developed breast Cancer at an early age; if the family pedigree indicates the possibility that an unaffected woman might carry this gene then genetic counselling might be beneficial. As with all cancers the earlier the treatment the better the outcome: women should be aware of their breasts and how to examine them, their family history, and the availability of screening.
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