Considered to have occurred when there is no period for 1 year

• follicles in ovary spontaneously degenerate

• eggs are no longer produced, ends child-bearing years

• estrogen & progesterone are no longer produced in the ovary

between 45 and 55 years old

(occurs gradually)

• hot flashes & dizziness

• irritable

• headaches

• fatigue

• drier skin with less elasticity -> wrinkles

• breasts decrease in size

• possible change in hair distribution

• osteoporosis

Maintains density

• causes calcium to be absorbed from the gut

• promotes calcium deposit in bones

1. Sex
2. Race
3. Size
4. Nutrition
5. Exercise that puts weight on bones
6. Overall health

• milk and milk products

• dark green vegetables

• nuts

• seeds

a hormone from the Thyroid Gland the causes calcium to be put into bones

Possible Problem with the Breast

Premenstrual Tenderness

swelling and tenderness

Breast tissue is prepared each month

(along with egg & endometrium)

• Estrogen causes cell division in breast tissue

• Progesterone causes an increase in glandular activity

• An increase in blood supply to breast occurs

LEADS TO SWELLING AND TENDERNESS

Possible Problems with the Breast

Fibrocystic Breast Disease (disorder)

feels like there are many lumps in the breast

(like a sack of marbles)

• built up tissue is not completely reabsorbed and forms cysts

Possible Problems with the Breast

Fibroadenoma

noncancerous lump in breast

• a single small, moveable lump
• usually in upper and outer quadrant

• deprive other cells of nutrients

• prevent other cells from performing their duties

• block important pathways (air, blood, nerve)

NOT CANCER

stays in one place

CANCEROUS

cells spread (metastasize)
multiple tumors form in other parts of the body

spread via blood vessels or lymphatic system

A change in a gene's information

(changes the instructions for the protein, so new protein may not function properly)

NORMAL form of a gene that stimulates the cell cycle for growth and repair

• acts like an "accelerator"

NORMAL form of a gene that slow the cell cycle

• stops the cell cycle at the checkpoints
• act like "brakes"

MUTANT proto-oncogene that over stimulates cell division

• "stuck accelerator"
• can help induce cancer

MUTANT tumor-suppressor gene that impairs the ability to slow cell cycle

• "broken brakes"
• enhances tumor formation

a tumor-suppressor gene that detects damaged DNA

upon detection, it will:

1. Stop cell division

2. initiate DNA repair

       if successful, cell returns to cycle

       if repair fails, damage can lead to cancer

3. if too much damage, triggers programmed cell death (Apoptosis)

1. Genes regulate the cell cycle
2. Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis)
3. Limited Life Span
4. Need for Blood Supply
5. Need for Cell Attachment

mutations in the cell cycle genes cause the cell to lose control over cell division

Oncogene: over stimulates cell division

Mutant Tumor-suppressor Gene: impairs the ability to slow cell cycle

cancer cells have mutations in other genes that prevent the damaged cells from being destroyed

p53 doesn't function properly, no programmed cell death occurs

cancer cells produce Telomerase which in turn produces telomeres, which protect the cancerous cell's mutated genes

Telomerase is not present in normal cells

Cells normally stop dividing upon contact with other cells, cancer cells divide even when touching other cells -> formation of a tumor

cancer cells produce growth factors that attract new blood vessels

Blood Vessels bring nutrients and remove waste

Provides a route for cancer cells to spread

1. Carcinogens
2. Viruses
3. Radiation

1. Previous breast or other form of cancer
2. Gender
3. Age
4. Family history
5. Hormone history prolonged
6. Obesity
7. Alcohol