What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is cancer, which starts to develop, when some cells in the women breast begin to grow out of control (uncontrollable) and these are the cells which form a tumor in the breast. There are different kinds of Breast cancer, which many women’s are not aware of, like Invasive ductal carcinoma and Invasive lobular carcinoma (read more below).

1 # Invasive ductal carcinoma. IDC is the most common form of breast cancer. In this cancer cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. And , it can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.

2 # Invasive lobular carcinoma. ILC is the second most common type of breast cancer after the IDC. Cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancers.

Women Breast is Made Up of 3 Main Parts:

Do you know that women breast is made up of 3 major parts – lobules, ducts, and connective tissue?  And, the reason behind any women to develop Breast cancer is not clear yet (research still going on), but we know How and Where it’s Spread. Just to give to a clear picture, please read below about the 3 main parts, where Breast cancer Develops or Begins.

1#  Lobules : Are the glands that produce milk

2# Ducts : Ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipple

3# ConnectiveTissue : Is found in between other tissues everywhere in the body (it consists of fibrous and fatty tissue)

Most of the Breast cancer begins in the Ducts or in Lobules area and it can spread outside the breast of women and that through Blood Vessels and Lymph Vessels. It’s important to take crucial steps before it spread to other parts of the woman’s body, as it said to have metastasized.

Also Read : How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy

 

‘Women Have Higher Risk of Breast Cancer after Childbirth’

What New Research Has Found About Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer is rapidly increasing on a daily basis. Women’s are frighten and terrorize, after study shown that women after giving birth to baby are more prone to have Breast Cancer (have an increased risk of developing Breast Cancer).

The Research is published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has concluded that women who already has their first baby, or may have an increase risk of developing breast cancer, in comparison to women of their same age and who didn’t have children. And, the risk will be continued (last more than) for about 24 years, after the Baby Birth.

Also, according to them the risk enhances in woman who are older at their first baby birth or has a family history. Women who earlier had a greater number of births, are at higher risk of developing breast cancer after childbirth. Risk of breast cancer was higher in women who had given birth to their first child after age 35. Breastfeeding can’t stop your risk factor of developing Breast Cancer.

(Findings from a pooled analysis of 15 prospective studies are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.)

 

Tests to Detect Breast Cancer

Do you that, there are few Screening tests that can help in finding the breast cancer in its early stages, before any symptoms appear.

1 # Mammograms :

It’s an X-ray photograph of the breast and they are commonly used to screen for breast cancer. If an abnormality is detected on a screening mammogram, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram to further evaluate that abnormality.

2 # Breast Ultrasound :

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to form an image (sonogram).  Ultrasound may be used to determine whether a new breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.

3 # Breast MRI Scans:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the structures within the breast. You may receive an injection of dye. Unlike other types of imaging tests, an MRI doesn’t use radiation to create the images.

4 # Biopsy:

In Biopsy, a sample of tissue taken from the woman’s body in order to examine it more closely and deeply. This is the only definitive way to make a diagnosis of breast cancer. During a biopsy, your doctor uses a specialized needle device guided by X-ray or another imaging test to extract a core of tissue from the suspicious area. 

 

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

Swelling near the part of the breast

Change in the shape, size, or appearance of a breast

Pain in Breast or in Nipple

Peeling, mount, or flaking of the pigmented area of breast skin surrounding the nipple (areola).

Redness, scaliness or swelling over your breast.

Nipple retraction (turning inward) or Discharge from Nipple

 

2019 Year Estimates for Breast Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2019 are: 

> About 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. 

> And, about 62,930 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). 

> About 41,760 women will die from breast cancer.

Source:  www.cancer.org , www.mayoclinic.org