Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death, exceeded only by lung cancer in 1985. One woman in eight who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer at some time during her life. Breast cancer is not just a woman's disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1600 men develop the disease yearly and about 400 may die from the disease. Breast cancer risk is higher among those who have a mother, aunt, sister, or grandmother who had breast cancer before age 50. If only a mother or sister had breast cancer, your risk doubles. Having two first-degree relatives who were diagnosed increases your risk up to five times the average. For women without a family history of breast cancer, the risks are harder to identify. It is known that the hormone estrogen feeds many breast cancers, and several factors - diet, excess weight, and alcohol consumption - can raise the body's estrogen levels.

There are several risk factors that are responsible for breast cancer. Following are some risk factors

• Genetic factors - Changes in a woman's genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, and others may increase the risk for breast cancer. Tests from family members who have been known to have breast cancer can reveal the presence of specific gene changes in family members. In order to improve the detection of this disease in women who have these changes in their genes health care providers may be able to suggest ways to try to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

• Puberty - A woman's menstrual and reproductive history can place a woman at risk for breast cancer. Women having their first menstrual period before age 12 have a greater risk for developing breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer increase the older a woman is when she had her first child.

• Family history - The chance of a woman developing breast cancer is greater if her mother, sister or daughter has a history of the disease. If a family member developed breast cancer before the age of 40, the risk is even greater for a woman developing breast cancer. Other relatives having breast cancer, either on her maternal or paternal side of the family, can also place a woman at greater risk for developing breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Types

Breast cancer is mainly of two types:

• Ductal carcinoma- occurs in milk ducts

• Lobular carcinoma- occurs in the milk secreting breast lobules

Categorically breast cancer can also be divided into following types:

• In-situ breast cancer- cancer cells remains confined within their place of origin and do not attack surrounding breast tissue.

• Invasive or metastatic breast cancer- cancer cells break free of their place of origin, and spread to different parts of the body.

Like all cancer types, breast cancer also progresses through different stages. Breast cancer stages are based on the size of the breast lump or tumor, whether the cancer is in-situ type or malignant, and whether the cancer has spread beyond the breast tissue.

These risk factors are some common and found in almost 90 percent of women. There are chances of treating breast cancer by early breast cancer detection. Generic arimidex is the effective cancer medication which is chemically composed of anastrozole. It is effective for the reduction of the breast cancer symptoms. Generic Arimidex is also used in the treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It works by suppresses the enzyme aromatase. This enzyme plays essential role in the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Generic Arimidex (Anastrozole) bind to aromatase enzyme through competitive inhibition. Thus it decreases the levels of estrogen in the blood and helps to control breast cancer symptoms.