What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can be defined as a malignant tumor that forms in the cells of the breast. The female breast is made up of milk-producing glands called lobules; tiny ducts that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple; stroma which is the fatty and connective tissue that surrounds the ducts and lobules, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. It is more common for breast cancer to develop in the lobules and ducts; although it may also develop in any part of the breast and in surrounding lymph nodes, such as those of the underarm.

Breast cancer is significantly more common among women; however men can develop the disease also.

Types

There are many different types of breast cancer, some more common than others. A primary distinction between breast cancers is if it is in situ or noninvasive meaning that cancerous cells are located in a specific area of the breast without spreading; or if the cancer is infiltrating or invasive meaning that cancerous cells go to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph nodes. If your breast cancer is stage I, II, III or IV, you have invasive breast cancer

Common forms of breast cancer

• Ductal carcinoma in situ: Cancerous cells exist within the milk ducts and have not spread to other parts of the breast or the body. It may become invasive if left untreated.
  
  
• Invasive ductal carcinoma: Cancerous cells that exist within the milk ducts and eventually break through the wall of the duct and invade local breast tissue. This cancer can eventually metastasize, that is to say spread to other parts of the body.
  
  
• Lobular carcinoma in situ: Cancerous cells are confined in the lobules (the glands that make breast milk) and do not spread to other parts of the breast or body.
  
  
• Invasive lobular carcinoma: Cancerous cells that exist in the lobules eventually spread to surrounding tissue and can metastasize to other parts of the body.

Rare and less common forms of breast cancer include:

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Inflammatory breast cancer
  
• Medullary carcinoma
  
• Metaplastic carcinoma
  
• Micropapillary carcinoma
  
• Mucinous carcinoma
  
• Paget's disease of the breast
  
• Sarcoma of the breast

For more information on these less frequent forms of breast cancer please contact Oasis of Hope to speak with one of our Oncologists.

Risk factors

There is a long list of factors that can influence your probabilities of developing breast cancer, however, having one or more of these risk factors doesn't necessarily mean that you will develop breast cancer.

The following is a list of risk factors:

• Sex: Women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
  
  
• Age: The probability of getting breast cancer increases as you get older. Most women are over 60 when they are diagnosed.
  
  
• Personal health history: Having breast cancer in one breast increases your risk of getting cancer in the other breast.
  
  
• Family history: You are more likely to develop breast cancer if your mother, father, sister or daughter has had breast cancer. Having other relatives with breast cancer in either your mother's or your father's side may also increase the risk.
  
  
• Obesity after menopause: Being overweight or obese after menopause increases your risk of breast cancer.
  
  
• Certain genome changes: Changes in certain genes, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, substantially increase the risk of breast cancer.
  
  
• Not having children: Women who have not had children or were pregnant after age 35 have a higher risk for breast cancer. Breast-feeding may help lower this risk.
  
  
• Breast density: Women whose mammograms show a larger area of dense tissue are at increased risk of breast cancer.
  
  
• Radiation therapy to the chest: Women who have had radiation to the breast before age 30 are at a higher risk of breast cancer.
  
  
• Previous use of DES: DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States around 1940 to 1971. Women who took DES during pregnancy have a higher risk of breast cancer. The possible effects on their daughters are under study.
  
  
• Menstrual period and Menopause: Women who started menstruating before age 12 and/or menopause after age 55 have a higher risk. Also, women who take menopausal hormone therapy for many years have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
  
  
• Race: In the United States, breast cancer is more common among white woman than in African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander or American Indian.
  
  
• Other risk factors: Certain breast changes, having abnormal breast cells, using oral contraceptives within the past 10 years, lack of physical activity and heavy drinking.

Symptoms

Breast cancer symptoms vary widely from person to person. Also, some types of breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all; this is why routine check-ups and self-examinations are strongly recommended.

The following is a list of common breast cancer symptoms, these symptoms may be part of a different condition other than cancer, if you are experiencing any of these, consult with your doctor:

• A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue.
  
  
• Changes in touch such as feeling hard, tender or warm.
  
  
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk or bloody discharge from the nipple.
  
  
• Changes in the size, shape or color of the breast.
  
  
• Swelling, redness, dimpling (like the skin of an orange), irritated or itchy breast.
  
  
• Changes in the appearance of the nipple, inverted nipple, peeling or flaking of the nipple skin.
  
  
• Pain in the chest or breast area.