An invasive cancer is breast cancer. A person’s DNA damage or genetic mutation is the primary cause of breast cancer.
The survival rate for breast cancer has significantly increased due to advancements in screening and treatment. Between 1989 and 2017, the overall rate of breast cancer decreased by almost 40% (Trusted Source).
However, a 2019 study revealed that the rate among women in the United States between the ages of 20 and 39 may no longer be dropping.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that:
In the United States, there are more than 3.8 million breastTrusted Source cancer survivors.
About 1 in 38 people will pass away from breast cancer (2.6%).
By the end of 2021, there will be about 281,550 new instances of invasive breast cancer diagnosed.
Approximately 43,600 breast cancer-related fatalities are anticipated by the end of 2021.
Reducing the risk of death requires awareness of the symptoms and the necessity of screening.
Males may also be affected by breast cancer in rare cases. The topic of this article will be female breast cancer.
Symptoms
A swollen patch of tissue in the breast, a lump in the breast, or a sore under the armpit are typically the initial signs of breast cancer.
Other symptoms Are:
The monthly cycle has no bearing on armpit or breast pain, nor does it affect color changes like redness in the Breast skin or rashes surrounding or on a single nipple. Pitting can resemble the surface of an orange.
Discharge that could include blood from a nipple
A recessed or flipped nipple
A shift in the breast’s dimensions or form peeling, flaking, or scaling of the breast or nipple skin
The majority of breast lumps are benign. Nonetheless, a medical practitioner should examine any breast lump that is discovered.
Is Breast Cancer Painful?
One of the earliest indications of breast cancer is frequently a lump or mass in the breast Trusted Source. These bumps are usually painless. A person may feel as though their menstrual cycle is connected to pain in the breast or nipple area.
Breast cancer usually causes gradual pain. Anyone experiencing breast pain ought to speak with a medical practitioner, particularly if it is severe or continues.
Causes
A woman’s breasts consist of thousands of lobules, connective tissue, and fat after puberty. These are little glands with the ability to make milk. The milk is transported to the nipple through tiny tubes, called ducts.
Genetic alterations or damage to DNA are the causes of breast cancer. These may be linked to inherited genetic flaws, exposure to estrogen, or hereditary cancer-causing genes such the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
An individual’s immune system targets any aberrant DNA or growths when they are well. This does not occur in cancer patients.
Consequently, cells in breast tissue start to proliferate uncontrolled and stop dying according to normal processes. This uncontrollably rapid cell division results in a tumor that starves neighboring cells of oxygen and nutrients.
The inner lining of the milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk are typically where breast cancer begins. It may then proceed to other bodily areas from there.
Stages
Based on the tumor’s size and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other body areas, a doctor can identify the cancer’s stage.
Breast cancer can be staged in a variety of ways (Trusted Source). Stages 0–4 are included in one, with subcategories for each level. We go over each of these key phases below. Substages can provide details about a tumor, like whether or whether it is HER2 receptor positive.
Stage 0: Another name for this is ductal carcinoma in situ. The malignant cells have not permeated the surrounding tissues; they are restricted to the ducts.
Stage 1: The tumor’s diameter at this point is up to two centimeters (cm). Either no lymph nodes have been impacted, or lymph nodes contain tiny populations of cancerous cells.
Stage 2: The tumor measures 2 cm in diameter and has either begun to spread to adjacent nodes or it is between 2 and 5 cm in diameter and has not reached the lymph nodes.
Stage 3: The tumor is either larger than 5 cm and has only reached a few lymph nodes, or it is up to 5 cm across and has spread to multiple lymph nodes.
Stage 4: The cancer has progressed to distant organs, usually the brain, lungs, liver, or bones.
Age
As people age, their chance of breast cancer rises. The risk of breast cancer in the ensuing ten years is 0.06% for those who are 20 years old. By 70 years of age, this percentage rises to 3.84%.
Genetics
A person is more likely to get breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both if they have certain mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes are inherited by people.
There is also evidence linking TP53 gene mutations to an elevated risk of breast cancer.
A person’s risk of having breast cancer rises if a close relative currently has the disease or has previously had it.
According to the guidelines, those who have a family history of breast cancer linked to BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations should also undergo this testing. This includes those who have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, for instance.
History Of Breast Cancer Or Breast Lumps
A person with a history of breast cancer has a higher chance of developing the disease again than someone without one.
The likelihood of subsequently developing cancer is increased in some cases of noncancerous breast tumors. Atypical ductal hyperplasia and lobular cancer in situ are two examples.
Inquire with your doctor about genetic testing if you have a history of peritoneal, fallopian tube, breast, or ovarian cancer.
Estrogen Exposure and Breastfeeding
Breast cancer risk seems to grow with prolonged oestrogen exposure.
This exposure could entail a late menopausal transition or early menstruation. Estrogen levels in the body are higher between these dates.
Breastfeeding seems to lower the risk of breast cancer, especially if it continues for more than a year. The decrease in estrogen exposure that occurs after pregnancy and lactation could be the cause of this.
Cosmetic Implants and Breast Cancer Survival
Based on research (Trusted Source), most people concur that silicone breast implants do not raise the risk of breast cancer.
A meta-analysis from 2015There was no correlation found between cosmetic breast augmentation and an increased incidence of breast cancer, according to 17 research including this population (Trusted Source). The study actually revealed that the incidence among these subjects was lower than predicted.
According to a different study conducted in 2021, women who have cosmetic implants had far lower incidence of breast cancer than women who do not.
Types
Breast cancer comes in a variety of forms. Ductal carcinoma, the most prevalent type of Trusted Source, starts in a milk duct. Another kind is called lobular carcinoma, and it starts in a lobule, which is a small gland that secretes milk.
Breast cancer that is deemed “invasive” occurs when malignant cells spread to adjacent tissue. The likelihood of the cancer spreading to other bodily parts increases.
Breast cancer that is “noninvasive” stays in its original location. These cells might eventually spread out.
Diagnosis
Breast cancer is frequently identified by a physician as a consequence of normal screening or when a patient reports symptoms. The tests and procedures that can assist the physician in making and confirming the diagnosis are described below.
Treatment
The best strategy relies on a number of variables, such as:
- The type and stage of the cancer
- The sensitivity to hormones
- Age, general health, and preferences of the individual
The main treatment options:
- Radiation Therapy
- Surgery
- Biological therapy, or targeted drug therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Approximately one month following surgery, a patient may get radiation therapy. It entails applying precise radiation dosages to the tumor in order to eradicate any cancer cells that may still be present.
Chemotherapy
If there is a significant chance that the cancer will spread or recur, a doctor may recommend cytotoxic chemotherapy medications to destroy the cancer cells. Adjuvant chemotherapy is the term used by doctors to describe chemotherapy administered after surgery.
Before surgery, a doctor may occasionally advise chemotherapy to help reduce the tumor and facilitate its removal. We refer to this as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.