Breast Facts

Many women tend to learn much more about breast health when they begin breastfeeding their children or they develop a problem that needs medical attention. Common knowledge is that a woman’s breasts change in appearance throughout life and that the breasts are composed of fat. Breasts are actually more than that. They are a  complex network of milk-producing sacs, passageways for carrying milk, supporting tissue, lymph nodes, glands, tiny muscles and fat. When a woman goes through puberty and menopause, not only does the appearance of the breasts change but also the composition and workings of the breast tissue.

It is important to know about breast anatomy to be able to understand the normal changes that breasts undergo throughout  a lifetime. This knowledge is beneficial for knowing and understanding health problems and diseases that affect the breasts.

What is Cancer?

In a normal healthy body, natural mechanisms work to control and regulate the creation of cells, their growth and end of growth. Through our life, cells divide to create new tissue as older cells die off. The natural death of cells is called apoptosis.

Cancer is a disease where the natural control mechanisms malfunction and cells do not die off at the rate required. As a result, cell growth then exceeds cell death.

When cancer cells divide without their normal control, they accumulate into a mass of extra tissue which is called a tumor. As a tumor grows, it promotes the formation of new blood vessels to provide the oxygen and nutrients that a tumour needs to survive. Cancer cells either continue to develop in one place or they can also leave the primary tumour site and travel through the blood stream and lymphatic system (the network connecting lymph nodes throughout the body) to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs or bones.

The process whereby cancer cells leave the original tumour and appear in another part of the body is called metastasis. The first sign that a malignant tumour has spread is often swelling nearby lymph nodes, but cancer can metastasise to almost any part of the body.  It is therefore important to find malignant tumours early and treat them. Elsewhere, cancer cells may again begin to divide abnormally to create a new tumour. A person with cancer may eventually die of the disease if vital organs like the liver or lungs are affected and destroyed.

What is breast cancer ?

Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without the normal control. About 85 percent of breast cancers originate in the mammary ducts, while about 15 percent arise in the lobules . Cancerous tumours in the breast usually tend to grow slowly so that by the time one is large enough to be felt as a lump, it may have been growing for a number of years.

In breast cancer it is important to understand the difference between invasive cancer and carcinoma in situ.

Invasive Cancer

Invasive cancer develops when abnormal cells from inside the lobules or ducts invade into the surrounding breast tissue. Cancer has the opportunity to spread to the lymph nodes and, in advanced stages, to organs like the liver, lungs and bones. Because of the ability to spread to other areas, invasive cancer is considered the more dangerous of the two.

Carcinoma In Situ

The term "in situ" means "in place" . Carcinoma in situ is a condition where abnormal cells grow inside the lobules or milk ducts but do not spread to the surrounding tissue or beyond. The cells do not travel and remain "in place" inside the lobules or ducts where they first develop.
There are two main categories of carcinoma in situ:

1. Ductal carcinoma in situ
2. Lobular carcinoma in situ.

Though both the categories have the  word carcinoma  in their titles it does not mean that the cells involved in the two different carcinomas in situ are fully cancerous. Because they remain in place and do invade tissues outside of the ducts or lobules and metastasize, they are often referred to as precancerous conditions. Over a period of time they can either develop into, or raise the risk of invasive cancer.
Treatment options will be provided by your doctor, depending on your personal diagnosis and other health concerns

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has a number of warning signs – related to physical changes in the breast area. Every woman must remain alert and consult a doctor in case of any obvious changes that take place.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer to look out for are :

1. A change in the look or feel of the breast
2. A change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge.
3. A change in the look of feel of skin on the breast, nipple or areola

A change in the look or feel of the breast.

• Change in the size or shape of the breast.
• Lump or thickening in the breast, or the area surrounding the breast or the underarm.
• Warm sensation in the breast.

A change in the look or feel of the nipple.

• The nipple has turned inward or sunk into the breast.
• Irregular shape of the nipple.
• A rash on the nipple or areola.
• Tenderness of nipple, increased feeling of sensitivity or pain.

Nipple discharge.

• Secretion of blood or any fluid other than breast milk, from the nipple.

A change in the look or feel of the skin on the breast, nipple or areola.

• Dimpling of the skin on the breast (skin appears like an orange peel).
• Irritated, red, scaly, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola.

Breast pain.

• Although breast pain is usually associated with benign breast conditions rather than breast cancer, it can be a symptom of either condition.

It is important to discuss any of these symptoms with a doctor as soon as possible so that if breast cancer is present, it is more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage when it is most treatable. Knowing the top risk factors for breast cancer and managing them with regular screenings is greatly advisable, especially for people in the higher risk category.