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English Abstract

At present time, whereas the rate of breast cancer is in constant progression, it seems interesting to us to explain the different attitudes to breast cancer and the existing treatments. To do this, we used some articles from Internet, we interviewed a doctor (Doctor Dietrich) and we examined students and doctors' knowledge about cancer.

First, let's define breast cancer: it is an anarchic and fast mutation of the breast cells. The risk factors are: heredity (with the recent discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes), women's hormonal life (their age at first menstruation, first pregnancy, number of children, etc.), viral factors, nutrition, age and environment. Depending on those risk factors, there are some prevention techniques like healthy life or a still controversial drug called Tamoxifène.

When the tumor is discovered, a good diagnosis permits a better recovery. Investigation techniques are diverse. Once the diagnosis is established, various treatments are possible: the oldest is surgery; then chimiotherapy, hormonotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy; the most recent is biotechnology, which currently stirs up a lot of controversy on ethical grounds.

Doctor Dietrich doesn't always agree with this information we gathered from Internet. Thus, he doesn't agree about environmental risk factors of cancer. He explains that a vaccine against cancer is not for the near future and insists on chimiotherapy being the most appropriate treatment so far. Moreover, he specifies that biotechnology doesn't present any counter indication and is a little critical about administrative heaviness. Genetical detection presents the advantage of defining the population at risk. Doctor's ethical problems are different from those explained in the articles we have read.

Thirdly, we collected some answers from students and doctors. Their analysis reveal that students don't know a lot about cancer and doctors who aren't cancer specialists aren't really well informed about the new discoveries.

To conclude, the new treatments give many hopes for the future, even if a universal vaccine is still out of reach and different ethical issues prevent scientific progress.