5 things people need to know about breast cancer

A five-year study could lead to improved breast cancer screenings

Breast cancer is the most prevalent kind of disease that has been affecting women from all over the world. The World Health Organization estimated around 508,000 women die of this disease every year. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - While some women fall prey to breast cancer, more and more women are surviving the disease.  
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so Dr. Laura Esserman, of UC San Francisco, provided five essential pieces of information every woman should know about breast cancer.
Dr. Esserman is currently preparing for a five-year study that will tap into technology to improve breast cancer screening and, eventually, patent results. She leads the Athena Breast Health Network, which is a collaboration of five medical centers from the University of California medical centers and its partners. She plans to launch the WISDOM study soon.

The study will determine whether a personalized approach to breast cancer screening will be as good and safe as an annual mammogram. It pays to know more about this kind of cancer as emerging knowledge offers hope.
Here is the list of five things women should know about breast cancer:
1. Breast cancer is many diseases
Some forms of cancer are relatively tame while others can be extremely aggressive. A patient with breast cancer can have a condition so severe, radiation is not an option. Since there's always more than one choice, it is a doctor's responsibility to make sure their patients understand all of their options. 
2. Not all breast cancer is life-threatening
According to the American Cancer Society, more than one in five new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S. are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or 'stage zero' cancer. These conditions can be watched but not aggressively treated. 
3. Breast screening is worthless for some women
It's about time that there should be a modern, proper breast cancer screening that can figure out who is at a higher risk of having different types of breast cancer. 
This is what WISDOM research is all about.  Genetics influence risk and improved screening can help women who do not show signs of cancer through normal screenings.

4. Consider taking part in a clinical trial
Presently, there are only three to five percent of women who participate in trials, and improvements in clinical care heavily depend on research. In screening for breast cancer, the only way for researchers to learn is for women to take part in the studies. 

5. Precision medicine is tailored to patients
Precision medicine is a combination of patient preferences, clinical performances and biological progression. Rather than receiving a generic prescription for chemotherapy or hormones, people can take only what their body requires, which can cut down on side effects and potentially lead to faster healing.
Through research, doctors will not only be able to efficiently screen breast cancer in patients, but also be able to help prevent people from developing it. WISDOM's goal is to collect and address big issues concerning breast cancer and eventually develop technology to help stop cancer entirely.

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