Rock Valley College health science program

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life. If detected early enough, the five-year survival rate is 90% or higher, although individual prognosis depends on the type of cancer, the stage of development when detected, and the treatments prescribed. The two most common types of breast cancer are ductal carcinoma, where tumors form in the cells of the milk ducts, and lobular carcinoma, which occurs in the milk-producing glands. Detection and therapy may include digital mammography, ultrasound, biopsy, chemotherapy and alternative radiation therapy.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, according to the American Cancer Society. The prostate gland is located below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra. Enlargement of the prostate can be one of the early warning signs of prostate cancer. In the early stages, the patient may notice discomfort in urination. For men who are 50 and older, the most effective way to detect prostate cancer is through screening tests such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, or the minimally invasive ultrasound imaging procedure. The National Cancer Institute leads a national effort to reduce suffering and death due to cancer.