Breast and ovarian cancer

Abstract

Cancer, a spectrum of diseases that are all characterized by loss of regulation over cell growth and differentiation and acquisition of the ability to metastasize to distant parts of the body, is the second leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 565,000 deaths, or about 25% of all deaths, each year [1]. In addition to the individual and social burden of the disease, the yearly direct medical costs of cancer are estimated at $60.9 billion and indirect morbidity costs at $15.5 billion [2].