Main Page Conditions InDepth: Breast Cancer
by
Michelle Badash, MS Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the breast. Normally, the cells of the breast divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass is called a tumor. A tumor can be benign or malignant.
A benign tumor is not cancer and will not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor is cancer. Cancer cells divide and damage tissue around them. They can enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body. This can be life-threatening. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women; it is estimated that over 182,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the US in 2008. Although the majority of breast cancer cases occur in women, men can develop it as well; approximately 2,000 men developed breast cancer in the US in 2008. Caucasian, Hawaiian, and African-American women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the US. The lowest rates occur among Korean, Native American, and Vietnamese women. Breast Anatomy and the Development of Breast CancerThe breast consists of lobes, lobules, and bulbs that are connected by ducts. The breast also contains blood and lymph vessels. These lymph vessels lead to structures that are called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found under the arm, above the collarbone, in the chest, and in other parts of the body. Together, the lymph vessels and lymph nodes make up the lymphatic system, which circulates a fluid called lymph throughout the body. Lymph contains cells that help fight infection and disease. When breast cancer spreads outside the breast, cancer cells are most often found under the arm in the lymph nodes. In many cases, if the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, cancer cells may have also spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or through the bloodstream. Types of Breast CancerBreast cancer can develop in different ways and may affect different parts of the breast. The location of cancer will affect the progression of cancer and the treatment. Most breast cancers are carcinomas—malignant tumors that grow out of the surface or lining of the glandular tissue of the breast. Other very rare types of breast cancer are formed in the surrounding and supporting tissues, and your doctor may call these sarcomas, acinar tumors, or lymphomas. Breast cancer is divided mainly into the pre-invasive or “in-situ” form, or the invasive or infiltrating form. The pre-invasive form is restricted to the breast itself and has not yet invaded any of the lymphatics or blood vessels that surround the breast tissue. Therefore, it does not spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body. Treatments are generally local only and a cure is a reality for almost all patients. Pre-invasive Forms
LCIS does not warrant treatment by surgery or radiation therapy. Close follow-up is most commonly indicated, and LCIS is not easily seen on mammogram. Recent data suggest that this condition may be a precursor to invasive lobular cancer. There may be some forms of LCIS that require more aggressive local therapy and closer follow-up. Invasive Forms
What are the risk factors for breast cancer? What are the symptoms of breast cancer? How is breast cancer diagnosed? What are the treatments for breast cancer? Are there screening tests for breast cancer? How can I reduce my risk of breast cancer? What questions should I ask my doctor? What is it like to live with breast cancer? Where can I get more information about breast cancer?
References:
Breast cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov
. Accessed January 31, 2006.
Breast cancer. Womens' Health.gov website. Available at:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/
. Accessed January 27, 2006.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Mohei Abouzied, MD Last Updated: 09/12/2012
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