About

Breast Cancer

 

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed among women. Almost all breast cancer types are called adenocarcinoma (cancers that originate in glandular tissue). Breast cancer most often develops in the walls of the ducts or in the milk-producing lobules. Tumors occur for unknown reasons when cells multiply and gather to form an identifiable mass. Some types of tumors are benign or non-malignant, and are noncancerous. Others are malignant, or cancerous. Unlike benign tumors that don’t invade surrounding tissues, cancerous tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells can spread through neighboring tissue, the lymph system, and the blood stream. When cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. Approximately 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) are estimated to develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Eighty percent of women with breast cancer are more than 50 years of age. Ninety-nine percent of breast cancers occur in women and about 1% occur in men. The diagnosis and treatment choices for men and women are essentially the same.

Risk Factors

+ Family History

Your family history and genetics may place you at a higher risk for Breast Cancer. Some gene mutations inherited from family appear to increase the risk of breast cancer. DNA makes up the genes that control every cell’s behavior. About 1 in 10 breast cancer cases show changes in genes from parents and family heritage. Your doctor will collect a medical history from you about your background and your knowledge of medical conditions of your ancestors. This helps determine whether your risk for hereditary breast cancer warrants genetic testing. Doctors may involve the expertise of genetic counselors. Advances in genetic research have enabled identification of some of these genes, like BRCA1 and BRCA2. Mutations of these and other genes have been found to increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

+ Life Style

Research shows that Smoking and drinking excessive amounts of Alcohol can increase the risk of Breast Cancer.

+ Environmental Factors

Exposure to certain chemicals or toxic materials.

+ Previous Breast Cancer

Women who have had breast cancer in one breast are at higher risk of developing another breast cancer, either in the same breast, or in the other breast.

Types of Breast Cancer

When cancer tissue is examined under a microscope, the pathologist determines the kind of cancer cells and their characteristics. This tells us whether or not the cancer is invasive. Invasive cancers have the ability to grow beyond the original duct or lobule and can spread to other parts of the body. Most breast cancers are the invasive type, though most have not spread beyond the breast when the cancer is first discovered. Non-invasive breast cancer is also called in situ cancer, which is limited to its original location (e.g. duct walls). These cancer cells do not spread to other places. They do not metastasize. Less common breast cancers include: inflammatory breast cancer, invasive pleomorphic lobular carcinoma, medullary cancer, metaplastic carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and Paget’s disease of the nipple.


 

+ Invasive ductal carcinoma

is cancer that originates in a breast duct, grows through the duct wall and can spread to other tissues. About 80% of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas.

+ Ductal carcinoma

in situ is non-invasive cancer cell growth that is confined to the breast duct. While this is a non- invasive cancer, it is treated similarly to invasive cancer.

+ Invasive lobular carcinoma

is cancer that originates from a breast lobule. Approximately 10% to 15% of breast cancers are of this type.

+ Lobular carcinoma

in situ is non-invasive cancer cell growth that is confined to the breast lobules. LCIS is not considered a true cancer and is often called lobular neoplasia. It is, however, a marker for increased risk of developing breast cancer. Treatments include observation over time with regular screening and hormone therapy for risk reduction, or in rare cases, removal of both breasts as a precaution (bilateral prophylactic mastectomy).

 

A Note To Men

While breast cancer in men is rare, risk factors include:

 

  • Age 60 and above

  • Family history of breast cancer

  • A rare genetic disorder (Klinefelter’s syndrome) that causes overproduction of estrogen

  • Radiation to the chest

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