Breast Cancer Background 

Every cell in the body has the potential, under the appropriate circumstances, to become cancerous. In a normal cell, a series of precise and orderly mechanisms dictate the speed and timing of cell growth, division and death. But sometimes, this cell cycle can go awry. External factors, such as carcinogens, toxins and UV rays, can damage the cells’ DNA, triggering the loss of the control mechanisms that dictate when and how fast certain cells divide and/or die. Heredity can also play a role in some types of cancers, particularly when combined with these external triggers.