Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts is known as breast cancer. Breast cancer generally starts in the ducts or lobules of the breast. The breast lobule is the breast gland that is responsible for milk production. This milk is transported from the lobules to the nipples by a thin tube called the ducts of the breast. Breast cancer can also begin in the fibrous breast tissues, known as stromal tissues.
Breast cancer occurs when the cells in the breasts grow and divide uncontrollably, leading to the formation of a mass of tissue known as a tumor. Breast cancer treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy.
Types:
Breast cancer can be invasive or non-invasive. Invasive types of breast cancer can spread from the breast glands or ducts to the other parts of the breast, while non-invasive cancer does not spread from the original tissue.The common types of breast cancers are:
1. Ductal carcinoma in situ:
This is a non-invasive type of cancer. The cancer cells are confined to the breast ducts and do not invade the surrounding breast tissue.
2. Invasive ductal carcinoma:
Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most commonly observed type of breast cancer. It begins in the milk ducts of the breast and later invaded the nearby tissue in the breast. It can also spread to nearby tissues and organs.
3. Lobular carcinoma in situ:
The growth of this type of cancer is seen in the milk-producing glands of the breast. The cancer cells generally do not spread to the surrounding tissue.
4. Invasive lobular carcinoma:
This type of cancer first develops in the lobules of the breast. It invades the nearby tissue.
5. Phyllodes tumor:
Phyllodes tumor is a rare type of breast cancer. This cancer grows in the connective tissue of the breast. Most of these tumors are benign (non-cancerous), but some may be malignant (cancerous).
6. Paget’s disease of the nipple:
This type of breast cancer begins in the ducts of the nipple. As cancer grows, it begins affecting the areola and skin of the nipple.
7. Angiosarcoma:
The growth of this type of breast cancer is seen on the lymph vessels or blood vessels in the breast.
Causes:
The precise cause of breast cancer is not known. Breast cancer occurs due to changes or mutations in the breast cells. This results in the growth and multiplication of the cells in an abnormal manner, leading to the formation of a mass or tumor. The mutations can be somatic (not inherited) or genetic (inherited from a parent) in nature. Somatic mutations are the main cause of breast cancer.
Risk factors: Certain factors increase the chances of developing breast cancer and may include:
The symptoms of breast cancer may include:
The type of treatment done for breast cancer depends on the type and stage of breast cancer, size of the tumor, and the overall health status of the patient. The following forms of treatments can be done for breast cancer:
1. Surgery:
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for breast cancer and may include the following:
a) Lumpectomy: This procedure involves the surgical removal of the tumor and some part of the surrounding tissue, while the remaining part of the breast is left intact.
b) Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the entire breast is called mastectomy. The surgical removal of both breasts is known as a double mastectomy.
c) Sentinel node biopsy: Some lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor are removed, and then sent to the laboratory for testing. If cancer cells are not found, no additional surgery is required to remove the lymph nodes.
d) Axillary lymph node dissection: In the case of lymph nodes that are found to be cancerous, additional lymph nodes may require removal by the surgeon. This procedure is known as axillary lymph node dissection.
e) Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: The surgical removal of the healthy breast, along with the affected breast is called contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This is done for reducing any chances of developing breast cancer again.
2. Radiation therapy:
This procedure involves the use of high-powered radiation beams like x-rays and protons for targeting and killing cancer cells.
3. Chemotherapy:
This therapy includes the use of some drugs or medication to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to remove cancer. Chemotherapy can be performed before surgery to shrink the cancer cells, allowing them to be removed easily.
4. Hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy helps in blocking the production of female sex hormones (progesterone and estrogen) or blocks the hormone receptors on the cancer cells by using certain medications. This therapy helps in slowing or stopping the growth of cancer.
5. Targeted therapy drugs:
This procedure involves the use of drugs that attack specific abnormalities within the cancer cells, ultimately killing the cancer cells.
6. Immunotherapy:
Certain drugs boost the body’s immune system (disease-fighting system of the body) to fight cancer in immunotherapy.
The risks associated with the various breast cancer treatments include:
1) Surgery:
2) Chemotherapy and other drug therapies:
3) Radiation therapy:
4) Hormone therapy:
MBBS | MS | MCh (Surgical Oncology) - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon