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Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs mainly in women but occasionally occurs in men. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer. 2

The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. The remainder of this document refers only to breast cancer in women. For information on breast cancer in men, see the American Cancer Society’s document,Breast Cancer in Men. 1

The term breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. The breast is composed of two main types of tissues: glandular tissues and stromal (supporting) tissues. Glandular tissues house the milk-producing glands (lobules) and the ducts (the milk passages) while stromal tissues include fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast. The breast is also made up of lymphatic tissue-immune system tissue that removes cellular fluids and waste. 3

Doctors who treat women with breast cancer are glimpsing the possibility of a vastly different future. After years of adding more and more to the regimen � more drugs, shorter intervals between chemotherapy sessions, higher doses, longer periods of a harsh therapy � they are now wondering whether many women could skip chemotherapy altogether. 8

Like all cells of the body, a man’s breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. Because women have many more breast cells than men do and perhaps because their breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of female hormones, breast cancer is much more common in women. 2

The remainder of this article outlines several forms of breast cancer that may be found in women. Click here to learn more about breast cancer in men. 3

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a noncompetitive walk to help fight breast cancer and provide hope to people facing the disease. Your participation will support the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving research, prevention, early detection, and support programs for thousands of patients and their families. 7

Knowing if the cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes is important because if it has, there is a higher chance that the cells could have also gotten into the bloodstream and spread (metastasized) to other sites in the body. The more lymph nodes that are involved with the breast cancer, the more likely it is that the cancer may be found in other organs as well. This is important to know because it could affect your treatment plan. But not all women with lymph node involvement develop metastases, and it is not unusual for a woman to have negative lymph nodes and later develop metastases. 1

All women are at risk for developing breast cancer. The older a woman is, the greater her chances of developing breast cancer. Approximately 77% of breast cancer cases occur in women over 50 years of age. 5

Most breast lumps are not cancer, but all lumps should be checked out by a doctor to be sure. Breast lumps that are not cancer may be scar tissue or cysts (fluid-filled lumps or sacs) or they can be due to normal breast changes associated with hormone changes or aging. 17

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen. 11

Gynecomastia is the most common male breast disorder. It is not a tumor but rather an increase in the amount of a man’s breast tissue. Usually, men have too little breast tissue to be felt or noticed. A man with gynecomastia has a button-like or disk-like growth under his nipple and areola, which can be felt and sometimes seen. While gynecomastia is much more common than breast cancer in men, both can present as a growth under the nipple, which is why it’s important to have any such lumps checked by your doctor. 2

When a lump is found, the doctor will want to test it. The best way to do this is usually with a biopsy. In a biopsy, a small amount of breast tissue is removed with a needle or during a small operation. Then, the tissue is examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells. 17

This is a term used to describe a cancer that begins in the lining layer (epithelial cells) of organs such as the breast. Nearly all breast cancers are carcinomas (either ductal carcinomas or lobular carcinomas). 1

Doctors can?t make any promises, but some habits — like exercise and a healthy diet — may cut your risk of breast cancer. Read more about breast cancer prevention. 16

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One Response to “Breast Cancer”

  1. Treat Cancer on April 24th, 2008

    Treat Cancer with Flavonoids:

    http://www.treat-cancer.nl/

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