Understanding breast cancer : cell biology and therapy : a visual approach / Joel D. Pardee.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pardee, Joel D., author.

Series:

Colloquium digital library of life sciences

Colloquium series on the cell biology of medicine 2153-0521 ; # 5.

Colloquium series on the cell biology of medicine, 2153-0521 ; # 5

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Breast--Cancer.

Breast.

Breast Neoplasms.

Medical Subjects:

Breast Neoplasms.

Physical Description:

1 electronic text (xii, 40 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA) : Morgan and Claypool, [2011]

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

The mysterious disease of cancer, including breast cancer, has plagued mankind since the dawn of recorded history. Regarding the elusive cause of the disease, the "Father of Medicine," Hippocrates of Athens (460-377 bc), wrote that, "For instability is characteristic of the humours and so they may be easily altered by nature and by chance." The enigma has persisted until today. In 1971, then President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act and declared a "War on Cancer." He believed the counsel of scientists and physicians that if sufficient resources were committed to the fight, cancer could be virtually eliminated within 5 years. The prophesy failed. Although mortality from a few cancers, most notably leukemias, has been significantly reduced, carcinomas, cancers of the epithelium, which account for 80% of cancer deaths, remain unchanged. While tremendous advances have taken place in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms operant in cancer, it has proven exceedingly difficult to prevent the occurrence or to halt the progress of the disease. The very best therapy remains early detection while the primary tumor is small and localized to a single site, followed by removal of the offending growth by surgery and/or radiation. The great challenge of finding a cure confronts us yet, and it is effective intervention at the molecular level that offers our best hope. We still must find the "magic bullet."

Contents:

The problem of cancer

How carcinomas become lethal

Stage I, transformation

Stage II, invasion

Stage III, metastasis

Stage IV, disseminated disease

Breast cancer

Early warning

Tumor growth

Mammary gland anatomy

Normal ductal epithelium

Transformation, stage I

Invasion, stage II

Micrometastasis

Breast cancer and estrogen

Point of attack

The estrogen receptor

Treating breast cancer

Premenopausal estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

Primary tumor without metastatic disease

Premenopausal breast cancer: relapse with metastatic disease

Conclusion

References.

Notes:

Part of: Colloquium digital library of life sciences.

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-40).

ISBN:

9781615040766

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.