Breast Cancer: Types, Stages, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications & Prevention
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Breast Cancer
Breast cancer, like all types of cancer, is caused by abnormal cells that grow out of control. It is also possible for those cells to move to areas of your body where they are not normally found. Metastatic cancer occurs when that happens. A change in the size of your breast, a lump in your breast, and changes to the skin on your breasts are all possible symptoms of breast cancer.
Occasionally, cancer does not spread further. "In situ" is the term for this. Cancer is considered "invasive" if it spreads beyond the breast. It might just spread to lymph nodes and tissues nearby. Alternatively, cancer may spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or blood.
Breast cancer ranks second most common among women's cancers. It rarely affects men as well. Mammograms can help detect breast cancer earlier.
There are different types of breast cancer. The type of breast cancer is determined by the cancer-forming cells in the breast.
Different areas of the breast can become infected with breast cancer. There are three main parts to a breast: connective tissue, ducts, and lobules. The glands that produce milk are the lobules. Milk travels through the ducts to the nipple through tubes. Everything is held together by the connective tissue. The ducts or lobules are where most breast cancers begin.
Types Of Breast Cancer
There are many different kinds of breast cancer, but there are two main types: both non-invasive and invasive. Breast cancer in situ is another name for noninvasive breast cancer.
Invasive cancer can spread to other parts of the breast. Noninvasive cancer, on the other hand, has not spread beyond the original tissue. The following are the most common types of breast cancer:
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
The kind of breast cancer with the highest incidence rate is invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells began in the ducts and spread to other parts of the breast tissue that were not in the ducts. Invasive cancer cells can also metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
The lobules are where cancer cells begin, and they then spread to nearby breast tissues from there. Invasive cancer cells have the potential to spread throughout the body.
In Situ Ductal Carcinoma
Noninvasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a condition. The cancer cells in DCIS are restricted to the breast ducts and have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue.
In Situ Lobular Carcinoma
Cancer that develops in the breast's milk-producing glands is called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). The cancer cells have not invaded the surrounding tissue, unlike DCIS.
Other forms of breast cancer that are less common include:
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
This type of cancer is rare and aggressive, and it looks like an infection. The breast skin typically exhibits redness, swelling, pitting, and dimpling in people with inflammatory breast cancer. Obstructive cancer cells in their skin's lymph vessels are to blame.
Paget’s Disease
This kind of breast cancer first develops in the nipple's ducts, but as it grows, it spreads to the nipple's skin and areola.
Tumor Of Phyllodes
The connective tissue of the breast is the site of this extremely uncommon form of breast cancer. The majority of these tumors are not cancerous, but some of them are.
Angiosarcoma
This type of breast cancer develops in the blood vessels or lymph vessels.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer(TNBC)
One of the most difficult types of breast cancer to treat, triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 15% of all cases. Because it lacks three of the markers that are associated with other types of breast cancer, it is referred to as triple negative. This complicates diagnosis and treatment.
Recurrent Breast Cancer
Breast cancer that returns after initial treatment is referred to as recurrent breast cancer. Although the initial treatment aims to eradicate all cancer cells, some may have survived despite evading treatment. Recurrent breast cancer is caused by the proliferation of these undetected cancer cells.
Male Breast Cancer
Male breast cancer is a rare form of cancer that grows in men's breast tissue. Even though men can get breast cancer, it is most frequently associated with women. Although it can occur at any age, older men are more likely to develop male breast cancer. It is unknown what exactly causes male breast cancer.
Stages Of Breast Cancer
According to the size and extent of its spread, doctors classify breast cancer into stages. The cancer stage is higher when it is large or has spread to other nearby organs or tissues than when it is small or still in the breast.
Stage 0 Breast Cancer
DCIS is breast cancer at stage 0 The cancer cells in DCIS have not spread to surrounding tissue and remain confined to the breast ducts.
Stage 1 Breast Cancer
Stage 1A: The primary tumor is no larger than 2 centimeters (cm). There is no effect on the lymph nodes.
Stage 1B: Nearby lymph nodes contain cancer. Either the tumor is smaller than 2 cm or there is no tumor in the breast.
Stage 2 Breast Cancer
Stage 2A: The tumor is either less than 2 cm in size and has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes, or it is between 2 and 5 cm in size and has spread to none at all.
Stage 2B: The tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters in diameter and has spread to one to three armpit lymph nodes. It may be larger than 5 centimeters in diameter in some instances, but it has not yet spread to any lymph nodes.
Stage 3 Breast Cancer
Stage 3A: In this stage of breast cancer, cancer has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or enlarged internal mammary lymph nodes. The primary tumor can be any size.
Cancers with a diameter of more than 5 centimeters have spread to one to three breastbone nodes and axillary lymph nodes.
Stage 3B: A tumor that has invaded the skin or chest wall may or may not have invaded up to nine lymph nodes.
Stage 3C: Ten or more axillary lymph nodes, internal mammary nodes, or lymph nodes close to the collarbone are considered to be cancerous.
Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Breast cancer in stage 4 (metastatic breast cancer) can present with a tumor of any size. Its cancer cells have spread to distant organs and nearby and distant lymph nodes.
Causes Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer develops when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. A mass or lump is the result of these cells continuing to multiply at a rate that is faster than that of healthy cells. Cells may spread (metastasize) to lymph nodes or other parts of your body through your breast.
Most of the time, cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma) are what start breast cancer. Other cells or tissues in the breast or the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) can also be the source of the disease.
About 5% to 10% of breast cancers, according to doctors, are caused by gene mutations that are passed down through families. Numerous inherited gene mutations have been linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The most well-known genes for breast and ovarian cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2, which both significantly increase the risk of both types of cancer.
Hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors may increase your risk of breast cancer, according to researchers. However, it is unclear why some people without risk factors develop cancer while others with risk factors do not. Your environment and your genetic makeup likely interact in a complex way to cause breast cancer.
Risk Factors Of Breast Cancer
However, studies have shown that many risk factors can make you more likely to get breast cancer. These are some:
- Genetics & Family History: You are more likely to develop breast cancer at some point in your life if you have breast cancer-positive parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives. A single abnormal gene that can be identified through genetic testing is responsible for between 5% and 10% of breast cancer cases.
- Age: Your risk of developing breast cancer goes up if you are 55 or older.
- Sex: Breast cancer is much more common in women than in men.
- Smoking: Numerous cancers, including breast cancer, have been linked to smoking.
- Drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol may raise your risk of certain types of breast cancer.
- Obesity: Obese people are more prone to the development of breast cancer.
- Radiation inhalation: if you have previously received radiation therapy, particularly to your head, neck, or chest, you have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- Hormones Replacement Therapy: Breast cancer is more common in those who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
- Getting Your Period Earlier In Life: Breast cancer risk increases when you start having your period before the age of 12.
- Menopause at a later age: Breast cancer is more likely to occur in women who began menopause later in life.
- Conceiving Your First Child Later In Life: There may be an increased risk of breast cancer among women who have their first child after the age of 30.
- Nulliparous: Breast cancer is more common in women who have never been pregnant than in women who have had one or more children.
Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
A painless lump or breast thickening is the most common sign of breast cancer. Even if a woman does not feel any pain, she must see a doctor as soon as possible if she discovers an abnormal lump in the breast.
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Breast cancer presents differently in each individual. Some individuals exhibit no signs or symptoms at all.
- New lumps in the breast or underarm (armpit) are among the warning signs of breast cancer.
- Swelling or thickening of a portion of the breast.
- Dimpling or irritation of the breast skin.
- Flaky or red skin in the breast or nipple area.
- Pain in the nipple area or pulling in the nipple.
- Other than breast milk, nipple discharge, including blood.
- Any breast-related discomfort or pain.
- A change in a breast's size, shape, or appearance.
- Alteration in the appearance of the nipple or the skin around it (areola); and/or abnormal discharge from the nipples.
Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer
Your healthcare provider will examine your breasts and inquire about your family history, medical history, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. Additionally, your healthcare provider will recommend breast abnormality tests. Some of these tests include:
Breasts Examination
Your doctor will examine your armpit, lymph nodes, and both of your breasts for lumps or other abnormalities.
Mammogram
Changes or abnormal growths in your breast can be observed on these specialized X-rays. A mammogram is often used to prevent breast cancer.
Ultrasonography
Sound waves are used to take pictures of your breast tissue. It's used to find lumps or other abnormalities in the breast.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
An MRI machine takes pictures of inside your breast with a magnet and radio waves. You get a dye injection before having an MRI of your breasts. An MRI produces images without using radiation, unlike other imaging tests.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Your doctor will inject a special dye into your veins to highlight suspicious areas. Then uses a scanner to take pictures during this test.
Biopsy
The only decisive way to diagnose breast cancer is with a biopsy. Your doctor will extract a core of tissue from the suspicious area using a specialized needle guided by an X-ray or another imaging test during a biopsy. In most cases, a small metal marker is left in your breast to make it easy to find the area on subsequent imaging tests. For analysis, samples from a biopsy are sent to a laboratory, where specialists determine whether the cells are cancerous.
Treatment Of Breast Cancer
The treatment of breast cancer is based on the type of breast cancer, its stage and grade, its size, and whether the cancer cells are hormone-sensitive. Your doctor also takes into account your preferences and overall health.
For breast cancer, the majority of women undergo surgery, and may also receive additional treatment such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation after the procedure. In some cases, chemotherapy may also be administered before surgery.
Surgery
The most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or hormone therapy are some of the additional treatments that many people receive. Breast cancer can be removed through a variety of procedures, including:
- Mastectomy: A surgeon removes the entire breast in this procedure. Both of the breasts are removed during a double mastectomy. The lobules, ducts, fatty tissue, and a portion of the skin, including the nipple and areola, are removed from the breast during the majority of mastectomy procedures.
- Lumpectomy: The tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are taken out during this procedure, but the rest of the breast stays intact.
- Prophylactic Contralateral Mastectomy: In this procedure, your healthy breast is removed to lower your risk of breast cancer again even if you have cancer in one breast.
- Sentinel Node Biopsy: During this procedure, some of the lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor are removed. Tests will be done on these lymph nodes. You may not require additional surgery to remove additional lymph nodes if they do not have cancer.
- Dissection Of Axillary Lymph Nodes: Additional lymph nodes may be removed by your doctor if they contain cancer cells after a sentinel node biopsy.
Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill rapidly growing cells, like cancer cells. After surgery, if your cancer has a high risk of coming back or spreading to another part of your body, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy. This will reduce the likelihood that cancer will recur.
When a woman has a larger breast tumor, chemotherapy may be administered before surgery. The objective is to reduce a tumor's size so that it can be surgically removed.
Women whose cancer has already spread to other parts of their bodies may also receive chemotherapy. To try to control cancer and alleviate any symptoms it is causing, chemotherapy may be suggested. Hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and an increased risk of infection are all common side effects of chemotherapy drugs.
Radiotherapy
High-powered beams of radiation are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. External beam radiation is used in most radiation treatments.
Doctors can now irradiate cancer from within the body due to advances in cancer treatment. Brachytherapy is the name given to this type of radiation therapy. Surgeons use brachytherapy by inserting radioactive seeds, or pellets, within the body close to the location of the tumor. The seeds work to kill cancer cells for a brief time there.
Hormone Therapy
Breast cancers that are sensitive to hormones are treated with hormone therapy, which is sometimes referred to as hormone-blocking therapy. Progesterone receptor-positive (PR positive) and estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) cancers are the terms used by doctors to describe these types of cancer.
By either preventing your body from producing these hormones or by preventing the hormone receptors on the cancer cells, hormone therapy works. Your cancer's growth may be slowed or even stopped by taking this step.
To reduce the likelihood of your cancer returning, hormone therapy can be used before or following surgery or other treatments. Hormone therapy may be able to shrink and control cancer if it has already spread.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy combats cancer by activating your immune system. Because cancer cells produce proteins that blind immune system cells, it's possible that your disease-fighting immune system not be able to attack your cancer. It functions by disrupting that process.
Targeted Drug Therapy
This therapy focuses on specific abnormalities in cancer cells. For example, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)is a protein that is excessively produced by some breast cancer cells. The protein aids in the growth and survival of breast cancer cells. The drugs can harm cancer cells while protecting healthy cells by targeting cells that produce HER2.
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized medical treatment that focuses on alleviating pain and other signs and symptoms of a severe illness. In addition to your regular care, palliative care specialists collaborate with you, your family, and your other doctors to provide additional support. While undergoing other aggressive treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, palliative care can be effective.
Complications of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a complex and potentially life-threatening disease that can lead to various complications, particularly if not diagnosed and treated early. Here are some common complications associated with breast cancer:- Metastasis: One of the most dangerous complications of breast cancer is metastasis. When cancer cells move from the breast to other regions of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain, this occurs. The treatment of metastatic breast cancer is more challenging and has a substantial influence on a person's prognosis.
- Lymphedema: Breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy can alter the natural flow of lymph fluid, resulting in swelling of the arm, hand, or breast on the treatment side. Lymphedema is a disorder that causes pain and a limited range of motion.
- Recurrence: After initial treatment, breast cancer can sometimes come back (recur) in the same breast or other areas of the body. Recurrence necessitates additional treatment and monitoring.
- Psychological and Emotional Impact: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can cause anxiety, despair, and emotional discomfort. Coping with the disease's emotional toll is an important element of overall well-being.
- Cardiovascular Complications: Cardiovascular Complications: Certain breast cancer therapies, notably chemotherapy and radiation therapy, might raise the risk of cardiovascular complications such as heart disease and heart failure.
- Bone Health Issues: Breast cancer can weaken bones, making them more susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis. Medications used to treat breast cancer can further impact bone health.
- Infertility and Hormonal Changes: Treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and ovarian suppression can affect fertility and lead to early menopause or hormonal changes.
- Cognitive Impairment: Some breast cancer patients report cognitive changes, often referred to as "chemo brain," which can include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and mental fog.
- Fatigue: Cancer-related fatigue is a common consequence that impairs a person's ability to accomplish everyday tasks and lowers their quality of life.
- Pain and Discomfort: Breast cancer can cause physical discomfort, including pain in the breast, chest, or surgical site, as well as discomfort from side effects of treatments.
- Financial Burden: The expense of breast cancer treatment, including drugs, surgeries, and continuous medical care, can be too expensive for patients and their families.
- Impact on Relationships: Breast cancer can strain relationships with family, friends, and partners, as patients and their loved ones navigate the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Prevention Of Breast Cancer
Preventing breast cancer entirely is not always possible since some risk factors are beyond our control, such as genetics and family history. However, there are several lifestyle changes and strategies that can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer:- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Throughout your life, strive to maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity, particularly after menopause, is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Regular Physical Activity: Regular physical exercise is very effective in preventing breast cancer. Exercise helps improve hormone balance and lower the risk of getting breast cancer. Every week, try to get at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or exercise.
- Balanced Diet: Follow a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products. Limit the consumption of processed and red meats.
- Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Limit your alcohol consumption. Even small quantities of alcohol can raise the risk of breast cancer, so it's best to drink in moderation or avoid alcohol entirely.
- Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding can lower the risk of breast cancer, especially if done for an extended period of time. So, try to breastfeed your child if possible. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): If considering hormone replacement therapy to manage menopausal symptoms, discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider. HRT may increase breast cancer risk in some cases.
- Limit Exposure to Hormone Disruptors: Minimize exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals found in some plastics, pesticides, and cosmetics. Choose products labeled as "phthalate-free" and "paraben-free" when possible.
- Breast Self-Exams: Perform regular breast self-exams to become familiar with your breasts' normal texture and appearance. This can help you notice any changes and seek medical attention promptly.
- Clinical Breast Exams and Mammograms: Follow recommended guidelines for clinical breast exams and mammograms. Regular screenings can detect breast cancer at an early, more treatable stage.
- Know Your Family History: Be aware of your family's history of breast cancer. If you have a family history of the disease, discuss it with your healthcare provider, as you may be eligible for more frequent screenings or genetic testing.
- Quit Smoking: If you smoke, seek help and resources to help you quit. Breast cancer is related to an increased chance of smoking.
- Reduce Stress: Practice stress reduction techniques like mindfulness, yoga, or meditation. Chronic stress may impact health and hormonal balance.
FAQs About Breast Cancer
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the breast cells. It can affect both men and women, although women are more likely to be affected.
What are the common symptoms of breast cancer?
A lump or tumor in the breast, changes in breast size or form, nipple discharge (other than breast milk), nipple changes, skin changes on the breast, and chronic breast discomfort are all common signs.
What causes breast cancer?
The exact cause of breast cancer is not known, but it is thought to result from a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Certain risk factors, such as family history and genetics, can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of methods, including mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and a biopsy (tissue sample) to confirm cancerous cells.
What are the stages of breast cancer?
Breast cancer is classified according to its size, lymph node involvement, and if it has migrated to other regions of the body. The stages are numbered 0 (early stage) to IV (advanced stage).
How is breast cancer treated?