Breast Cancer

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. However, sometimes cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed. These extra cells form a mass of tissue that is called a tumor. Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant, which means they are cancer.

When you have invasive or infiltrating breast cancer, cells in your breast divide more rapidly than healthy cells and may spread through your breast or into other parts of your body. The most common type of breast cancer begins in the ducts, but cancer also can occur in the lobules or in other breast tissue. The breast contains many lymph vessels, which are part of the body's immune system. If cancer cells enter the lymph system, there is the possibility they will attack other parts of the body. Yet, by recognizing cancer early and taking appropriate action many women are fighting breast cancer before it has a chance to spread.

While breast cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer deaths in American women, there's more hope than ever before. Great strides have been made in diagnosis and treatment in the past two decades through clinical trials. Early detection of the condition greatly improves treatment options, chances for successful treatment and survival.

To perform a breast cancer risk assessment, go to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Web site by clicking the following link: NCI Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool

Breast Cancer Risks:

• Being older than 50
• Having never given birth or having first child after 30
• Having a menstrual period that began early or ended late in life
• Diagnosis of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), which refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule. These abnormal cells are a sign that a woman has an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This risk of cancer is increased for both breasts.
• A diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia
• Having a female relative with breast cancer, especially before menopause
• Previous history of cancer

Risk reducing Strategies:

• Frequent check-ups by a doctor, mammograms every year and routine self-breast exam every month
• Reducing estrogen exposure, either with a drug called tamoxifen or with surgery to remove your ovaries, can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer
• Surgery to remove both breasts is the most radical, but also the most effective, way to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer
• Others may take part in clinical research studies of other new preventive treatments.

Hereditary Breast Cancer

Women who have family members who have had breast cancer have a greater risk of developing breast cancer. They may have an inherited alteration in their genetic material (a gene mutation) that can lead to breast cancer and some times ovarian cancer. The two genes that have been identified to play a major role in breast cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2.

If a woman inherits an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from her mother or father, she is more likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer than a woman who has not inherited the genetic alteration. However, most breast cancers are not because of inherited alterations or mutations. Those at high risk for developing breast cancer because of a genetic alteration need to tailor their health care accordingly. This may include more frequent breast and ovarian cancer screenings, preventive medication or preventative surgery.

Individuals with a family history of certain cancers can gain a better understanding of their risks and how they affect them or their family members. Counselors help patients and their loved ones make informed decisions and tailor their health care based on the individual's level of personal risk. Talk to your physician if you are interested in getting genetic testing or learning more about your hereditary cancer risks.

Symptoms

Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for:

• A solid or irregular lump in the breast
• Any changes in texture of the skin or breast tissue
• Changes in the size of the breast
• Dimpling of skin around the breast
• Painless thickening in the breast
• Nipple retraction or deviation
• Asymmetry of the breast (not proportional)
• Scaling of skin on nipple or areola
• Thickened skin or prominent pores with swelling and redness of the breast
• Bloody or abnormal discharge from nipple
• Ulceration of the breast

See your physician immediately if you have any of these symptoms. Most often, they are not cancer, but it is important to check with your physician so any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Click the links on the left margin to review information regarding benign and pre-malignant breast conditions .