Adult Learning

What is breast cancer?

The breast is made up of fatty tissue. They contain small chambers called lobules where breast milk is made. The milk travels through tiny channels called Ducts to reach the nipples. Lymph nodes are located inside your breast and under your arms; they are connected by lymph vessels and help your body fight against the disease. Breast cancer usually occurs when the healthy breast cells become abnormal and grow out of control, and form tumors. Breast cancer can sometimes spread to other parts of the body. About 1 in 8 women have a lifetime risk of getting breast cancer and will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and for men, the risk factor is 1 in 1000. Breast cancer that develops inside the milk duct is called Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). When ductal carcinoma in situ spreads into the surrounding tissue, it is called invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Abnormal cells can develop in the breast lobules; they are called Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). When these cells spread into surrounding tissues, they become cancerous, called invasive lobular carcinoma.

There are five stages of breast cancer.

Early stage breast cancer (Stage 0)- This stage is basically a pre-cancer stage usually defined as DCIS. DCIS is a precancerous condition and can be treated with surgery that is radiation surgery or some hormonal therapy.

Stage 1- This is the early stage of breast cancer. It is when the tumor is small, less than 2 centimeters in size, so less than three-quarters of an inch in size. In stage 1 of breast cancer, there may be no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes.

Stage 2-  This stage is a little bit more advanced and a little bit more threatening for early-stage breast cancer. So they understand this stage of the breast is that the tumor will be a little larger than 2 centimeters, but again, there will be no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes or possibly a small centimeter in size, and there is evidence of cancer in one or two or three underneath.

Later stage cancer consists of stage 3 and stage 4 breast cancer. Stage 3 breast cancer and stage 4 breast cancer together form and are called Later Stage breast cancer.

Stage 3-  Stage 3 breast cancer is generally when the tumor is larger, like more than 4 centimeters, maybe 5 or 6 centimeters in size. Most stage 3 breast cancers have evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes or multiple lymph nodes. Inflammatory breast cancer is where the cancer presents with swelling and redness, and thickening of the skin, which is a stage 3 breast cancer. The majority of patients with stage 3 breast cancer are treated upfront before surgery with chemotherapy to shrink the cancer cells to kill any cancer cells that might be seen elsewhere in the body that we cannot find. Following chemotherapy generally 

patients undergo surgery and, following surgery, radiation therapy, and then if their tumor Is sensitive to estrogen, then they undergo hormonal therapy.

Stage 4- Stage 4 breast cancer is a real threat to your life, which means that cancer has spread and grown in other parts of the body, and that the reasonpeople die of breast cancer. Generally, cancer that is growing elsewhere in the body, patients typically treated by chemotherapy at first or hormonal therapy. Surgery can play a role in some patients’ surgery in the breast, and radiation can play a role in a few situations, so later-stage breast cancer is a much bigger threat than early-stage breast cancer (https://www.balcomedicalcentre.com/).

Symptoms and signs of breast cancer-

• One of the most important signs that you should be aware of is a new lump or thickened breast tissue. But it is highly important to note that not all breast lumps are cancerous.
• Another important sign to look out for is a change in the outlook, shape or size of one or either of the breast. This could indicate potential breast cancer.
• Fluid discharge from either nipple is one of the dangerous signs of breast cancer. Sometimes the discharge is bloody in nature, but it is not necessarily that all the time discharge will be bloody in nature, so if you do notice a new kind of discharge of any color from the nipple, then consult the doctor immediately.
• Rash/ redness/ eczema around the nipple. 
• Breast pain or pain around the nipple area for a long time. 
• Changes in skin texture. It could be thickening and swelling of a part of the breast or dimpling of breast skin. 

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