Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in the United States, only behind certain types of skin cancer. Currently, the American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in every 8 American women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes; an estimate that equates to about 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 48,530 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in 2020 alone. While it is far less common, breast cancer can also occur in men.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which certain breast tissue cells grow at an abnormally fast rate, resulting in a growth known as a malignant tumor. The type of breast cancer an affected patient has depends on where in the breast the cancerous cells develop.
Tumors may originate in the lobules (milk glands), ducts (tubes connecting lobules to the nipple) or the fatty tissue which makes up the mass of the breast. Cancers of the lobules or ducts are the most common. Breast cancer can metastasize to other bodily tissues and organs if affected cells travel through blood vessels or lymph vessels in the breast tissue.
Types of Breast Cancer
Most types of breast cancer originate in the epithelial cells that surround tissues, called ‘carcinomas’. Cancerous breast cells can either be ‘invasive’ (in that the tumor has invaded other areas of the breast) or ‘in situ’ (contained to the milk ducts). Ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma are the two most common forms of breast cancer. Other less prevalent types of breast cancer include:
- Paget’s disease – Cancer of the nipple skin
- Medullary breast cancer – A rare subtype of ductal carcinoma
- Mucinous breast cancer – Ductal carcinoma where cancer cells are encased in mucous, which typically responds well to treatment
Known Causes and Risk Factors
Obesity and alcoholism are thought to be the biggest breast cancer risk factors. Other factors which are believed to increase breast cancer risk include:
- Use of birth control pills
- Post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT)
- Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a drug previously used to prevent miscarriage
- Exposure to high doses of radiation
- Not having children, or having children in later life
Women who inherit the mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from their mother or father have a significantly higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. A BRCA1 mutation results in a 72 percent chance of developing breast cancer; a BRCA2 mutation leads to a 69 percent chance.
Early Signs and Symptoms
A lump in the breast or armpit area could be an indicator of breast cancer. Other early breast cancer warning signs include:
- Localized pain in the breast
- New, noticeable veins on the breast’s surface
- Unusual nipple discharge
- Nipple soreness or rash
- Dimpled breast skin
- Nipple inversion
- A swollen, red, or darkened breast
Treatment Options
Depending on the type and severity of the breast cancer, it may be treated with one or more of the following:
- Surgery – Remove cancer tissue
- Chemotherapy – Medicine to shrink or eliminate cancerous cells
- Radiotherapy – High-strength radiation to eliminate cancer cells
- Biological therapy – Terminate cancer cells and manage side-effects from other treatments
- Hormone therapy – Suppress cancer growth
It’s incredibly important to conduct self-examinations at home as early detection can improve a prognosis. The American Cancer Society estimates 42,170 women in the U.S. will die from breast cancer in 2020. If you notice any change in the shape of size of a breast, or any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to seek a consultation with your doctor immediately.