What is breast cancer?

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is cancer beginning in the breast. Most breast cancer begins in the ducts, some breast cancer begins in the lobule, but rarely breast cancer begins in the stroma.

The breast is made up of three basic parts the lobules (or milk producing glands), the ducts (or tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple) and the stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue that surrounds the ducts, lobules, blood vessels, and the lymphatic system).

The Lymphatic system is a circulatory type system used to transport lymph (a form of our bodies immunity against infections) and waste away from the body. The lymph system includes lymph nodes. There is a concentration of lymph nodes in the beast, axilla, and groin.

Cancer is a cell that duplicates incorrectly. There are several phases of cell replication and the defect can occur in any one stage of replication. In Breast cancer some patients are identified as HER2 positive. HER2 is a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and has been identified as a protein that promotes the growth of cancer. HER2 is not restricted to breast cancer, but its presence usually signifies more aggressive cancer that is less responsive to hormone therapy.

Malignant (Cancerous) cells have common characteristics. The most notable is rapid reproduction. Thus, clumping and causing what is referred to as a tumor.

Malignant cells have a simple agenda. They search for a connection to an adequate blood supply so they can continue to replicate quickly. When a tumor of malignant cells secures a blood supply the chances of travel increases. If a malignant cell breaks off, travels through the blood to another part of the body and then begins replicating defectively and rapidly the disease is said to have metastasized.

In breast cancer metastasis often occurs via the lymphatic system as well as the blood stream. The number of lymph nodes involved can indicate chances of metastasis or even decreased survival rates.

Metastatic is a term used for malignant cancer when the original malignancy starts to develop after moving to another part of the body. When a patient has one cancer that moves to a second location they still only have one cancer. For example: if a patient has pancreatic cancer and it moves to the liver instead of saying the patient has pancreatic cancer and liver cancer it is said the patient has metastatic pancreatic cancer. The original cancer always bears the name of all following locations.

Breast cancer is either invasive or in situ (non-invasive). Most breast cancer is invasive which means it begins in the ducts or lobules, breaks free from its original cells, and enter the lymph system. In situ breast cancer the abnormal replication remains confined inside the original cell.

Breast cancer survival rate is increased with early detection and treatment. Cancer is identified as early or late detection based on the stage of the cancer. Cancer is staged by considering tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis. For example, stage I would be a tumor less than 2 c.m. with no lymph node involvement and no metastasis. Staging is from I – IV. Once a cancer has metastasized if automatically becomes stage IV regardless of size or lymph involvement.

Who gets breast cancer?

Everyone can get breast cancer, including men. More Caucasian women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year than any other race, but African-American woman are more likely to die from breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer in Native Americans has been increasing.

Ashkenazi Jewish woman (ancestors from central and eastern Europe) have an increased risk of having a gene mutation identified by the BRCA blood test. In breast cancer there are three genes that can be identified. One mutation increases the risk of breast cancer. Some women have more than one mutation. Having all three mutations is very rare in other populations, but in Ashkenazi Jewish woman 1 in 40 have all three

A small amount of breast cancer patients are men. Almost 2000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Because men usually have further advance cancer before diagnosis there mortality rate is higher than woman.

The most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men are:

Nipple discharge (usually bloody)

In inverted nipple

Breast lump

Local pain

An Itching and pulling sensation.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Age: most breast cancer is diagnosed in woman over the age of 50, however younger woman can have breast cancer.
Family history: if two immediate family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Personal history: woman who have a tumor in one breast are at increased risk for further tumors involving both breasts.
Race
Other breast diseases: There are several benign breast conditions that do not show an increase of breast cancer, however, atypical hyperplasia and proliferated breast disease without atypia do show and increase incidence of breast cancer.
Previous radiation to the chest or breast
Menstrual cycle beginning prior to age 12 or menopause occurring after age 50.
Use of oral contraceptives
Not having children
Not breast-feeding
Ten years or more of Hormone Replacement therapy (HRT)
Alcohol: more than 2-5 drinks daily
Obesity especially after menopause. The correlation suggests this is because fat cells can produce estrogen.
Exposure to environmental pollutants.

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

Change in look or feel of breast or nipple
Nipple discharge: Discharge that is bloody or clear (not milky) from only one breast or without squeezing.
A palpated lump

How is breast cancer prevented and detected early?

The most effective way to detect breast cancer early is monthly self-breast exam.

The American cancer society recommends yearly mammograms for woman 40 and older.

For woman with a first degree family member diagnosis earlier mammograms are recommended. A woman with first-degree family history should begin mammograms ten years before the age of the family members diagnosis.