My counts . . . hrm . . .(Blogathon #45)

I think I somehow goofed up my post counts, cause I think I’m going to end on post #51 . . . my mind is going LOOPY!

The breast is composed of two main types of tissues: glandular tissues and stromal (supporting) tissues. The glandular tissues house the milk-producing lobules and the ducts (the milk passages). The stromal tissues include fatty and fibrous connective tissue. Any changes in the glandular or stromal areas may cause symptoms of benign breast conditions.

Some women experience changes to their breast tissue over their lifetime. These changes can include an increase in the number of breast cells (hyperplasia) or the emergence of atypical breast cells (atypical hyperplasia). In some instances, a portion of breast tissue that exhibits abnormal characteristics can eventually develop into a cancerous tumor. That is why physicians carefully monitor patients with abnormal breast cells, to ensure that if cancer develops at a later date, it is detected and treated early. Some patients with atypical hyperplasia may also be recommended to take the drug tamoxifen to help prevent breast cancer. While the appearance of atypical hyperplasia increases the risk of breast cancer, not all women with abnormal breast cells go on to develop breast cancer.

This post is for the Blogathon 2006! I am blogging for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information about what I am doing, please click here!