Define, Compare and Contrast the following conditions:
Fibrocystic breast disease
Fibroadenoma
Malignant breast tumor
Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in proper current APA style with support from at least 3 academic sources.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Comparing and Contrasting Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Fibroadenoma, and Malignant Breast Tumors
Breast health is a critical aspect of women’s health, and understanding the various conditions that can affect breast tissue is essential for early detection and treatment. Three common breast conditions include fibrocystic breast disease, fibroadenoma, and malignant breast tumors. This essay will define these conditions, compare and contrast their characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Definitions
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) is a benign condition characterized by the presence of fibrous tissue and cysts in the breast. It is most common in women aged 30 to 50 years and is often associated with hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle (Baker et al., 2018). Symptoms may include breast pain, tenderness, and lumpiness, which typically fluctuate with the menstrual cycle.
Fibroadenoma
Fibroadenoma is another benign breast condition, often described as a solid tumor composed of glandular and stromal (connective) tissue. It commonly occurs in younger women, particularly those in their teens and twenties (Huang et al., 2021). Unlike fibrocystic disease, fibroadenomas are usually well-defined, painless lumps that do not change in size with the menstrual cycle.
Malignant Breast Tumor
Malignant breast tumors refer to cancerous growths in breast tissue. There are various types of breast cancer, but the most common form is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which originates in the milk ducts and can spread to surrounding tissues (American Cancer Society, 2023). Breast cancer can occur at any age but is more prevalent in women over 50 years old. Symptoms may include a lump in the breast, changes in breast shape or size, skin dimpling, and discharge from the nipple.
Comparison of Characteristics
Etiology
– Fibrocystic Breast Disease: The exact cause of FBD is unclear, but it is believed to be associated with hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, particularly elevated estrogen levels (Baker et al., 2018).
– Fibroadenoma: The etiology of fibroadenomas is not well understood; however, they are thought to be influenced by hormonal factors, particularly estrogen (Huang et al., 2021).
– Malignant Breast Tumor: The development of breast cancer involves genetic mutations and environmental factors. Risk factors include age, family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2), and lifestyle factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption (American Cancer Society, 2023).
Symptoms
– Fibrocystic Breast Disease: Symptoms include breast tenderness, lumpiness, and cyclic changes in breast tissue that correlate with the menstrual cycle.
– Fibroadenoma: Symptoms typically include a painless, mobile lump within the breast that remains stable over time.
– Malignant Breast Tumor: Symptoms may include the presence of a hard lump, changes in the texture or appearance of the breast skin, discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or size of the breast.
Diagnosis
– Fibrocystic Breast Disease: Diagnosis typically involves a clinical breast examination followed by imaging studies such as mammography or ultrasound to differentiate it from other conditions.
– Fibroadenoma: Diagnosis is usually made through clinical examination and confirmed via imaging studies like ultrasound or biopsy if necessary.
– Malignant Breast Tumor: Diagnosis involves a combination of clinical examination, imaging studies (mammography, ultrasound), and biopsy to confirm the presence of cancerous cells.
Treatment Options
– Fibrocystic Breast Disease: Treatment is often conservative and may include lifestyle modifications such as reducing caffeine intake, wearing supportive bras, or using over-the-counter pain relievers. In rare cases where symptoms are severe, surgical intervention may be required.
– Fibroadenoma: Treatment may involve observation if the fibroadenoma is small and asymptomatic. Surgical excision may be considered if there are concerns regarding size or changes in characteristics.
– Malignant Breast Tumor: Treatment for breast cancer varies based on cancer type and stage but may include surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and hormone therapy (American Cancer Society, 2023).
Conclusion
In summary, fibrocystic breast disease, fibroadenomas, and malignant breast tumors represent different breast conditions with distinct characteristics. While fibrocystic breast disease and fibroadenomas are benign and often require minimal intervention, malignant breast tumors pose significant health risks requiring comprehensive management. Understanding these differences is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of regular breast examinations and awareness of any changes in breast health.
References
American Cancer Society. (2023). Breast cancer facts & figures 2023-2024. American Cancer Society.
Baker, J. M., Pomeranz, M. K., & Morrow, M. (2018). Fibrocystic breast disease: A review. Journal of Women’s Health, 27(8), 1055-1062. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2017.6556
Huang, Y., Chen, X., & Li, X. (2021). Fibroadenoma of the breast: A comprehensive review. The Breast Journal, 27(4), 379-384. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbj.14217
