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Breast Cancer is a prevalent and significant health issue affecting women worldwide.
It is currently the most common cancer globally, which accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide.
This cancer develops in the breast cells, primarily in the ducts or lobules.
Breast cancer can affect both women and men, but it is more prevalent in women.
Detecting breast cancer early is crucial for successful treatment and improved survival rates.
With ongoing research and advancements in medical science, efforts are focused on prevention, early detection, and effective treatment strategies to combat this complex disease.
This article will explore different forms of Breast Cancer, their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Types of Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer type determines where the cancer began in the breast, whether it has progressed, and whether certain hormones promote its growth.
Knowing the type of Breast Cancer can help get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are the different types of this cancer,
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
It is the early stage of Breast Cancer that does not spread.
In this disease, the lining of the breast ducts has abnormal cells.
Even though these cells haven’t spread outside the ducts yet, they could become invasive if not handled.
Most of the time, a mammogram is used to find DCIS, and with the right treatments, it is elementary to get rid of.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
IDC is the most usual form of Breast Cancer, which makes up about 80% of all cases.
It starts in the milk tubes and spreads to the breast tissue around them.
IDC can show up in the breast as a lump or a thickening, and it can change the size or shape of the breast.
Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
LCIS is not a proper form of cancer but a sign of a higher risk of developing Breast Cancer.
It grows in the lobules of the breast that make milk and does not spread to other parts of the body.
LCIS usually doesn’t appear as a lump, often found accidentally during a breast biopsy.
Even though LCIS does not spread to other parts of the body, it is a sign that you are more likely to get invasive Breast Cancer in the future.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
ILC starts in the breast’s milk-making glands (lobules) and could spread to other tissues and close organs.
It happens less often than IDC and makes up about 10% of all Breast Cancer cases.
ILC may not form a lump that can be felt, so it can be hard to find with a mammogram.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
In this type of Breast Cancer, the cells lack Estrogen and Progesterone receptors and produce little or no amount of HER2 protein.
TNBC doesn’t react to hormone therapies or treatments that target HER2, which makes it harder to treat.
Chemotherapy is often the primary treatment for this type of cancer.
HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
HER2-positive Breast Cancer can be found when the HER2 protein is overproduced.
It happens to about 15–25% of people with Breast Cancer.
HER2-positive Breast Cancers are more aggressive.
But targeted treatments that block the HER2 protein have primarily improved the chances of survival for these patients.
Paget Disease of the Breast or Nipple
It is an uncommon type of Breast Cancer that affects the nipple or the dark area around it, known as the Areola.
The affected area gets scaly, red, and itchy.
People with Paget Disease of the Breast often have one or more tumors inside the same breast, mostly Ductal Carcinoma In Situ or Invasive Breast Cancer.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
It is a form of Breast Cancer that is aggressive, spreads quickly, and must be treated immediately.
Cancer cells get under the skin and stop the lymph vessels in the breasts, which makes the breasts swell, turn red, and look thick.
Metastatic Breast Cancer
It is a type of Breast Cancer that has the potential to spread throughout the body, like the liver, bones, lungs, and brain.
The term “metastatic” refers to cancer that has spread beyond the site of origin in the body.
It is also known as Advanced, Secondary, or Stage 4 breast cancer.
Stages of Breast Cancer
Source: freepikThe Breast Cancer stage is a way to talk about how far the disease has spread and how big it is.
It helps doctors and nurses determine the best ways to treat patients and guess their outlook.
These stages are also helpful in determining the Breast Cancer survival rate.
Here’s a rundown of all the stages:
Stage 0
DCIS stands for ductal cancer in situ, which is stage 0. It means there are abnormal cells in the walls of the breast ducts, but the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the ducts.
Stage 1
There are two types of stage I Breast Cancer.
When a tumor is in stage IA, it is small and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other areas nearby.
Stage IB means that there is either no tumor in the breast but small groups of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, or there is a small tumor but no lymph node involvement.
Stage 2
The tumor is more significant than in Stage I but still localized to the breast.
It may not involve nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 2A: The tumor is smaller than 2 centimeters and has spread to 1-3 lymph nodes, or it is between 2 and 5 centimeters and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage 2B: The tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters in size and has spread to 1-3 lymph nodes, or it is more significant than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage 3
Stage 3 also has smaller groups within it.
Stage IIIA is when a tumor is bigger than 5 cm and has spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit or when a tumor of any size has spread to the lymph nodes near the breastbone.
In stage IIIB, the cancer may have spread to the chest wall, made the breast swell, or have sores.
Cancer has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone at Stage IIIC.
Stage 4
At this most severe stage, Cancer is metastasized or becomes mobile.
Tumor of any size has spread to other organs, such as the lungs, brain, bones, liver, distant lymph nodes, or chest wall.
This is the most advanced stage of Cancer, called Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Symptoms
In this section, we will explore the symptoms of Breast Cancer.
Lump or Thickening
Source: freepikA lump or growth in the breast tissue is one of the most vital signs of Breast Cancer.
This lump may feel different than the breast tissue around it and may not move easily when pressing it.
But it’s important to remember that not all lumps in the breast are cancerous.
Lumps can also be caused by things that aren’t harmful, like cysts or fibroadenomas.
Changes in breast size or shape
Breast Cancer can cause changes in the size or shape of the breasts that are easy to see.
This could mean that one breast gets bigger or lower than the other or that the shape of the breasts changes a lot.
Changes that can’t be explained should be closely watched and discussed with a healthcare expert.
Nipple Abnormalities
Changes in the nipple can show Breast Cancer.
Watch out for nipple inversion, when the nipple turns inward, nipple discharge (other than breast milk), or any change in how the nipple looks, such as scaling, redness, or crusting.
A doctor or nurse should look at these changes right away.
Breast pain or discomfort
Pain in the breasts isn’t always a sign of Breast Cancer.
Many times breast pain is not caused by cancer.
But if breast pain lasts long or is accompanied by other symptoms that worry you, you should see a doctor to get the right diagnosis.
Skin Changes
Changes in the skin of the breast could be a sign of Breast Cancer.
Some of these changes are redness, swelling, dimples, or puckering of the skin on the breasts that looks like an orange peel.
Also, the skin may get sores or look scaly or like it has a rash.
Swollen lymph nodes
Breast Cancer can spread to lymph nodes close by, which can cause swelling or pain in the armpit or neck area.
You should see a doctor if your lymph nodes are getting more significant or you feel pain in these areas.
Causes
Breast cancer is a complex disease whose exact causes are not yet fully understood.
However, certain factors have been identified that may increase the risk for the development of Breast Cancer, including:
Age
Age is a significant risk factor for Breast Cancer. The risk of developing increases as a person gets older.
According to the American Cancer Society, about two out of three invasive Breast Cancers are found in women aged 55 or older.
Women over 50 are also prone to be diagnosed with more aggressive forms of breast cancer.
This surged risk may be due to several factors, including changes in hormone levels as women age.
Family history
If there has been a history of Breast Cancer in your immediate family, including your parents, siblings, or children.
In that case, you may have a higher risk of developing the disease in your lifetime.
Genetic mutations
As we age, our cells are exposed to more environmental factors that can damage DNA, and our cells may also become less efficient at repairing DNA damage.
This can lead to an accumulation of genetic mutations over time, increasing the risk of certain diseases, including cancer.
Inherited genetic mutations can also become more significant as we age.
Hormones
Age can significantly impact hormone levels in both men and women.
As we age, the production of certain hormones decreases while others may increase.
The most notable hormonal changes in women occur during menopause, usually between 45 and 55.
During this time, the levels of Estrogen and Progesterone decrease significantly, which can lead to a range of symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.
Lifestyle factors
Unhealthy lifestyle choices like tobacco use, poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol consumption. Along with it sun exposure and exposure to environmental toxins can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Individuals can reduce their risk of developing cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices and undergoing regular cancer screening tests.
Treatment
Treatment for breast cancer relies on several things, such as the stage and subtype of cancer, the person’s overall health, and what they want.
Here are some popular ways to treat the problem:
Surgery
Surgical procedures often remove the tumor and surrounding tissues.
The main types of surgery for Breast Cancer include:
- Lumpectomy: This means removing the tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it
- Mastectomy: This involves removing the entire breast tissue, sometimes along with nearby lymph nodes
Radiation Therapy
Source: Mark_Kostich_from_Getty_ImagesX-rays or other particles with a lot of energy are used in this treatment to kill cancer cells.
It is often given after surgery to kill any leftover cancer cells and lower the chance that the cancer will come back.
It can also be used to shrink growth before surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
It is generally given through an IV or orally.
It can shrink tumors before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy), kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy), or treat advanced/metastatic breast cancer.
Hormone Therapy
For Breast Cancers that have hormone receptors, hormone treatment is used.
It is meant to stop the effects of Estrogen or Progesterone, which can make some Breast Cancers grow faster.
Medicines that lower hormone levels or stop hormone receptors may be used in this treatment.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted treatments go after cancer cells with certain traits, like HER2-positive breast cancer.
These drugs can stop specific proteins that help cancer cells grow.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a relatively new way to treat some kinds of Breast Cancer.
It helps the body’s defense system find cancer cells and kill them.
Immunotherapy drugs such as Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) may sometimes be used.
Breast Cancer survival rate
When figuring out a relative survival rate, women with the same type and stage of Breast Cancer are compared to all women in the community.
For example, suppose the 5-year relative survival rate for a particular stage of Breast Cancer is 90%.
In that case, it means that, on average, women with that cancer are about 90% as likely to live at least five years.
The American Cancer Society published a study on improving the survival rates of women with Breast Cancer.
It concluded that the survival of women with recurrent Breast Cancer improved between 1974 and 2000. Patients in more recent cohorts had longer survival rates.
Conclusion
Breast cancer is a complicated illness that affects a lot of people all over the world.
Early discovery, which can be done through regular self-exams, clinical exams, and screening methods, makes treatment much more effective.
People can care for their breast health if they know the signs, what puts them at risk, and what treatments are available.
We can progress in preventing, detecting, and treating breast cancer by spreading knowledge, encouraging regular screenings, and funding ongoing research.
This will save lives and improve the quality of life for those with this disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breast Cancer?
Cancer that starts in the breast cells is called Breast Cancer. It happens when cells grow in a way that isn’t normal. This makes a tumor that can grow into nearby tissues and possibly spread to other parts of the body. Early diagnosis is essential for good treatment and better results.
How does Breast Cancer cause death?
When Breast Cancer moves to other organs and tissues, a process called Metastasis can be fatal. The spread of cancer cells can stop vital organs from working and damage them, leading to organ failure and, ultimately, death.
Does Breast Cancer cause pain?
Pain can be a sign of Breast Cancer, but it is not always one. Some people with Breast Cancer feel pain in their breasts or nips, while others don’t feel any pain at all. Many other things can cause breast pain, so a doctor should check out any pain that lasts or makes you worried.
What does Breast Cancer feel like?
If you have Breast Cancer, you might feel a lump or a thickening in your breast or armpits. It can also change the size or shape of the breasts, make the nipple bleed or turn inward, make the skin dimple or puckering, and make the breast skin red or flaky.
What does a Breast Cancer lump feel like?
A lump from breast cancer usually feels like a hard, lumpy mass in the breast. It might not hurt or be painful to touch. The lump often differs from the breast tissue around it and may not move easily when you press it.
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