Understanding Breast Cancer and Breast Tumors

Definition

No matter what type of cancer it is, the disease always refers to an abnormal growth of cells in the body. Ordinarily, cells multiply in such a way that new cells replace old ones without abnormally increasing in number. The rate at which cell growth takes place is controlled by “genes” in each cell. Now sometimes these genes go out of order, and the result is unregulated and continuous cell growth. When the growth is rapid enough and large enough to cause damage, it is said to be cancerous. Breast cancer is the abnormal cell multiplication in the breast area.

Abnormal cell growth is called a tumor. A tumor can be either benign or malignant. Benign means the cells multiply too slowly to do harm to adjacent parts and organs of the body. Malignant means the tumor grows fast and spreads damage wherever it goes. This is why cancerous breast tumors need to be removed; otherwise the rest of the breast will be affected by the disease as it spreads. Sometimes even a benign tumor can eventually cause harm as well.

Stages of Development

The cancer usually starts in either the lobules - the glands that produce milk - or the ducts or passages that bring milk to the nipples. In some cases the cancer will first appear in the fatty breast tissues known as the stromal tissues. If left unchecked, the cancer will eventually find its way to the whole breast area and the lymph nodes. Through the lymph nodes, the cancer can spread to the rest of the human body.

The stages of breast cancer development are classified as follows:

Stage 0

The cancer is in its original location, not affecting other breast areas.

Stage I

The cancer grow up to three centimeters, without affecting the lymph nodes.

Stage IIA

One of three possibilities:

a) There is no tumor in the breast, but is found in the underarm lymph nodes

b) The cancer is less than 2 cm but has spread to the lymph nodes

c) The tumor is two to 5 centimeters even though it has not yet reached the lymph nodes

Stage IIB

a) Tumor is 2-5 cm and has reached the lymph nodes

b) Tumor is 5 cm but has not gone to the lymph nodes

Stage IIIA

a) No cancer is in the breast; it is seen in the auxiliary lymph nodes or other areas, or the tumor may be in the breastbone lymph nodes

b) Same as above, except that the tumor is now of any size wherever it is

Stage IIIB

a) Breast tumors of any diameter have spread to the chest or the skin. May reach the auxiliary lymph nodes or nodes near breastbone

Stage IIIC

a) No sign of tumor in breast or cancer may be of any size, may reach the walls of the chest or the breast skin. The growth reaches the lymph nodes near the collarbone or to nodes near the breastbone.

Stage IV

The abnormal cell growth reaches the other areas in the body.

Statistics

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease, next only to lung cancer. It is a hundred times more likely to occur in women than in men, although the odds of survival for each person is the same. While cancer may run in the family, it appears that the majority of cases happen as a result of aging and other circumstances, rather than genetics.