Breast cancer is a condition when cancer cells form in the breast tissue. Cancer can form in the glands that produce milk (lobules), or in the ducts that carry milk from the glands to the nipples. Cancer can also form in fatty tissue or connective tissue in the breast.
Breast cancer forms when cells in the breast grow abnormally and out of control. These cells generally form a tumor that feels like a lump. Although it usually occurs in women, breast cancer can also affect men.
Types of Breast Cancers
Ductal carcinoma in situ
This cancer grows in the duct, and does not spread to the surrounding tissue. This type of cancer is an early stage cancer and is easy to treat. However, this cancer can spread to the surrounding tissue if not treated immediately.
Lobular carcinoma in situ
Is a cancer that grows in the lobules. Just like ductal carcinoma in situ, this cancer does not spread to the surrounding tissue.
Invasive ductal carcinoma
This cancer grows in the duct and can spread to the surrounding tissue, it can even spread to other areas of the body. This type of cancer occurs in 70-80% of breast cancer cases.
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Is a cancer that grows in the lobules and can spread to the surrounding tissue. This cancer occurs in 10% of breast cancer cases.
Rare Types of Breast Cancer
- Angiosarcoma. Is a type of cancer that grows in the blood vessels and lymph channels in the breast.
- Paget’s disease. Paget’s disease is cancer that grows on the nipple and then spreads to the black area around the nipple (areola).
- Phyllodes tumor. This rare type of cancer grows in the connective tissue of the breast called the stroma.
- Inflammatory breast cancer. This is a rare type of breast cancer, but it progresses quickly and blocks the lymph ducts, making the breasts appear inflamed like an infection.
- Triple negative breast cancer. Is a type of cancer that shows negative results on examining the presence of estrogen hormone receptors (ER), progesterone hormone receptors (PR), and HER-2 protein receptors in cancer tissue, which are usually positive in breast cancer.
Symptoms and Causes of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is often difficult to detect in the early stages because of its small size. A new lump can be felt if it is large enough. However, not all lumps in the breast mean cancer. Therefore, it is important to check whether the lump is cancerous or not.
It is not yet known what causes cancer cells to grow in the breast. But there are a number of factors that can put a person at risk for this disease. For example, having menstruation at an age that is too young or too old, and having family members who also have breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Breast cancer can be treated in several ways, depending on the patient’s condition and the type of breast cancer itself. Treatment efforts include:
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgical procedure
Breast cancer prevention can be done by breast self-examination or examination by medical personnel. Examination should be done regularly if you are at risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, it is advisable to exercise regularly, consume healthy foods, and not consume alcoholic beverages. Also avoid using beauty products that cause cancer.
