Preface

This book provides a unique blend of carefully presented and structured information covering a broad array of relevant breast cancer related issues. The first eight chapters cover breast cancer epidemiology, etiology, breast cancer subtypes, cur-rent and emerging surgical innovations to treat and image breast cancer, a description of noninvasive lymphedema assessment methods to detect and track this important treatment complication and the potential role of platelets and galectins in breast cancer metastasis. The last five chapters are devoted to the description of forward-looking albeit potential breast cancer treatment possibilities. Breast cancer has become the most diagnosed cancer globally, surpassing lung and prostate cancers. Part of this increase may be attributed to improved detection but may also be due to changes in female fertility patterns along with lifestyle changes. Although developed countries have the highest incidence of breast cancer the mortality rates vary widely from global region to region but are highest in socio-economically low areas. However even in developed countries, there appears to be a disproportionately higher mortality rate among black women than white. Chapter 1 delves deeply into these and other issues from a global perspective. The etiology of breast cancer is attributed to a complex interaction between various modifiable and non-modifiable factors that is determined by genetics, environmental, nutritional, hormonal, and heritable elements. Risk factors include prior history of breast cancer, positive family history, obesity, tall stature, smoking, alcohol consumption, early menarche, late menopause,  CONTINUE READING…..