What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different types of breast cancer. The type of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast become cancerous. Breast cancer can start in different parts of the breast. The breast is made up of three main parts: lobules, ducts and connective tissue. Lobules are the glands that produce milk. The ducts are the tubes that carry milk to the breasts. Connective tissue (made up of fibrous and fatty tissue) surrounds and holds everything together. Most breast cancers start in the ducts or lobules.
Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. If breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized. The most common types of breast cancer are:
Ductal invasive breast cancer:Cancer begening the ducts and cancer cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Lobular invasive breast cancer: Cancer beganing the milk-secreting lobuls and cancer cells spread from the lobules into the breast tissue. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people have no symptoms at all. Some warning signs of breast cancer include:
- Palpable mass tissues in the breast or axilla
- Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
- Irritation of the breast skin
- Redness or flaking in the breast or nipple
- Nipple retraction or nipple pain
- Any
The morphological structure of breast is not same in any women.What's normal for you may not be normal for another woman. Many women find their breasts to be soft or lumpy. The way your breasts look and how your breast feel to touch can be affected by things like starting your period, having children, losing or gaining weight. Breasts also tend to change as you age.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
Everyone should be familiar with the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any abnormalities should be investigated by a health care professional. Most people with breast cancer symptoms and signs notice it at first, but having these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you have breast cancer. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you notice anything unusual. Possible signs of breast cancer include:
Breast tenderness or thickening in the breast area or axilla
A change in skin texture or enlarged pores in the skin of the breast
A lump in the breast
Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
Unexplained breast swelling
Asymmetry of the breasts
If I have certain symptoms, is it possible that I have cancer?
Most of the time, these symptoms are not due to cancer, but any breast cancer symptoms you notice should be investigated as soon as they are discovered. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated.
If I don’t have any symptoms, should I assume I don’t have cancer?
Regular checkups can be important even before there are any obvious signs of breast cancer. During your visits to your doctor, you should tell him or her about your personal and family medical history and get a physical exam. In addition, your doctor may order one or more imaging tests, such as a mammogram.
Hereditary Breast Cancers
All cancers are caused by changes in the material in our bodies called genes.
When genes are damaged, they can develop changes called mutations. Over time, the damage can accumulate in cells so that they grow out of control and cause cancer. Hereditary breast cancer can also occur in some cases.
It takes more than one gene mutation to develop cancer. For most people who develop cancer, the gene mutations that cause cancer occur over a lifetime and cause cancer later in life. Some people are born with a gene mutation that they inherited from their mother or father. This damaged gene puts them at a higher risk of cancer than most people. When breast cancer occurs because of an inherited gene mutation, it is called hereditary breast cancer. Cancers that occur because of an inherited mutation are called hereditary cancers.
It is possible for breast cancer to be inherited genetically. Therefore, if there is a member of your family who has had breast cancer, you should not neglect your check-ups and perform regular manual examinations. Even the slightest sign is enough to see a doctor. Hereditary breast cancer should not be underestimated and people who are at such risk should definitely consult a doctor.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Cancer grows when a cell experiences DNA damage, but it is still unknown why or how the DNA is damaged. It can be genetic or environmental, or in most cases, a combination of the two. However, there are some established risk factors associated with breast cancer. Here are those factors;
Gender: Breast cancer is approximately 100 times more common in women than in men.
Age: Two out of three women with invasive cancer have cancer diagnosed after the age of 55.
Family History and Genetic Factors: If your mother, sister, father or child has been diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you are at high risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.
Personal Health History: If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast, you are at increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast in the future.
Menstrual and Reproductive History: Early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), or being a nulliparous can increase your risk of breast cancer.
Dense Breast Tissue: Having dense breast tissue can increase your risk of breast cancer and make it harder to detect symptoms.
Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity can increase your risk of breast cancer.
Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables can increase your risk of breast cancer.
Being Overweight or Obese: Being Overweight or Obese can increase your risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol: Frequent alcohol consumption can increase your risk of breast cancer. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk.
Early Detection of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Early detection is key to breast cancer treatment. There are steps you can take to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages.
The most important screening test for breast cancer is a mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. It can detect breast cancer up to two years before a tumor can be felt by you or your doctor. Women who are 40 to 45 years old or older, who are at average risk for breast cancer, should have a mammogram once a year.
The following are some of the known risk factors for breast cancer. However, most cases of breast cancer cannot be traced to a single cause. Talk to your doctor about your specific risk:
Age
The chance of developing breast cancer increases as women age. Almost 80 percent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.
A Personal History of Breast Cancer
A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast is at risk for developing cancer in the other breast.
Breast Cancer History
A woman is at risk for breast cancer if her mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer, especially at a young age (before age 40). Having other relatives with breast cancer can also increase her risk.
Genetic Factors
Women with certain genetic mutations, including changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, are at increased risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. Other gene changes may also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Birth and Menstrual History
Women who started menstruating at an early age (before age 12)
Women who entered menopause late (after age 55)
Women who have never had children are at increased risk for breast cancer.