Editing Breast (section)

==Clinical significance==
{{Main|Breast disease}}

The breast is susceptible to numerous benign and malignant conditions. The most frequent benign conditions are [[puerperal mastitis]], [[fibrocystic breast changes]] and [[mastalgia]].

[[Lactation]] unrelated to pregnancy is known as [[galactorrhea]]. It can be caused by certain drugs (such as [[antipsychotic]] medications), extreme physical stress, or [[endocrine]] disorders. Lactation in newborns is caused by hormones from the mother that crossed into the baby's bloodstream during pregnancy.

===Breast cancer===
{{Main|Breast cancer}}

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women<ref>
{{cite web |author = World Health Organization |date = February 2006 |title = Fact sheet No. 297: Cancer |url =https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html |access-date = 26 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140213212322/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html |archive-date = 13 February 2014 |url-status = live |df = dmy-all |author-link = World Health Organization }}</ref> and it is one of the leading causes of death among women. Factors that appear to be implicated in decreasing the risk of breast cancer are regular breast examinations by health care professionals, regular [[mammograms]], [[Breast self-examination|self-examination of breasts]], healthy diet, exercise to decrease excess body fat,<ref>
[http://hms.harvard.edu/public/disease/breast_cancer/7things.html Seven things you should know about breast cancer risk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704055600/http://hms.harvard.edu/public/disease/breast_cancer/7things.html |date=4 July 2010 }} Harvard College. Last updated June 2008</ref> and [[breastfeeding]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/26/5_Supplement/IA23|journal=Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention|title=Reducing cancer risk by enabling women to breastfeed|date=May 2017|volume=26|issue=5 Supplement|pages=IA23|doi=10.1158/1538-7755.CARISK16-IA23|access-date=23 September 2019|archive-date=23 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923170533/https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/26/5_Supplement/IA23|url-status=live|last1=Stuebe|first1=Alison M.}}</ref>

===Male breasts===
Both females and males develop breasts from the same [[embryology|embryological]] tissues. Anatomically, male breasts do not normally contain lobules and acini that are present in females. In rare instances, it is possible for very few lobules to be present; this makes it possible for some men to develop lobular carcinoma of the breast.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Erhan |first1=Yamaç |last2=Zekioglu |first2=Osman |last3=Erhan |first3=Yildiz |date=October 2006 |title=Invasive lobular carcinoma of the male breast |journal=Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=365–366 |issn=0008-428X |pmc=3207588 |pmid=17152578}}</ref> Normally, males produce lower levels of estrogens and higher levels of [[androgen]]s, namely [[testosterone]], which suppress the effects of estrogens in developing excessive breast tissue. In boys and men, abnormal breast development is manifested as [[gynecomastia]], the consequence of a biochemical imbalance between the normal levels of estrogen and testosterone in the male body.<ref>{{cite book |author = Olson, James Stuart |title = Bathsheba's Breast: Women, Cancer and History |publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press |location = Baltimore |year = 2002 |page = [https://archive.org/details/bathshebasbreast00olso/page/109 109] |oclc = 186453370 |isbn = 978-0-8018-6936-5 |url = https://archive.org/details/bathshebasbreast00olso/page/109 }}</ref> Around 70% of boys temporarily develop breast tissue during adolescence.<ref name=mgh2010/> The condition usually resolves by itself within two years.<ref name=mgh2010/> When [[male lactation]] occurs, it is considered a symptom of a disorder of the [[pituitary gland]].

===Plastic surgery===
[[File:Mastectomy Procedures.jpg|thumb|upright|Conventional mastectomy ''(top)''; skin sparing mastectomy and [[latissimus dorsi]] myocutaneous flap reconstruction, prior to nipple reconstruction and tattooing ''(bottom)'']]

[[Plastic surgery]] can be performed to [[Breast augmentation|augment]] or [[Breast reduction|reduce]] the size of breasts, or to [[reconstructive surgery|reconstruct]] the breast in cases of deformative disease, such as [[breast cancer]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.sexarchive.info/ATLAS_EN/html/secondary_characteristics.html |title = Secondary sex characteristics |publisher = .hu-berlin.de |access-date = 31 October 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130622035035/http://www.sexarchive.info/ATLAS_EN/html/secondary_characteristics.html |archive-date = 22 June 2013 |url-status = live |df = dmy-all }}
</ref> Breast augmentation and breast lift ([[mastopexy]]) procedures are done only for cosmetic reasons, whereas breast reduction is sometimes medically indicated.<ref name=love_c1/> In cases where a woman's breasts are severely asymmetrical, surgery can be performed to either enlarge the smaller breast, reduce the size of the larger breast, or both.<ref name=love_c1/>

Breast augmentation surgery generally does not interfere with future ability to [[breastfeed]].{{sfn | Lawrence | 2016 | pp= 613–616}} Breast reduction surgery more frequently leads to decreased sensation in the nipple-areola complex, and to low milk supply in women who choose to breastfeed.{{sfn | Lawrence | 2016 | pp= 613–616}} Implants can interfere with [[mammography]] (breast x-ray images).