Breast Cancer Defined

by National Institute on Aging

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and produce more cells as needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes, however, the process goes wrong. Cells become abnormal and form more cells in an uncontrolled way.

These extra cells form a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign, which means not cancerous, or malignant, which means cancerous. Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors form in the breast tissue.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in American women. It is more common among older women than younger women. Men can get breast cancer too, although they account for only one percent of all reported cases.

When cancer grows in breast tissue and spreads outside the breast, cancer cells are often found in the lymph nodes under the arm. If the cancer has reached these nodes, it means that cancer cells may have spread, or metastasized, to other parts of the body.

When cancer spreads from its original location in the breast to another part of the body such as the brain, it is called metastatic breast cancer, not brain cancer. Doctors sometimes call this "distant" disease.

Breast cancer is not contagious. A woman cannot "catch" breast cancer from other women who have the disease. Also, breast cancer is not caused by an injury to the breast. Most women who develop breast cancer do not have any known risk factors or a history of the disease in their families.

Today, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. Over two million women are breast cancer survivors.

Surviving Breast Cancer

There are several ways to treat breast cancer, but all treatments work best when the disease is found early.

Every day researchers are working to find new and better ways to detect and treat cancer. Many studies of new approaches for women with breast cancer are under way. With early detection, and prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for women with breast cancer can be positive.

Quiz

1. Cancer is a disease where cells divide and grow normally.

FALSE is the correct answer. Cancer is a disease in which cells become ABNORMAL and keep dividing and forming more cells without order or control. Under the microscope, a cancer cell will usually appear larger and less regular in shape than a normal cell.

2. Both men and women can get breast cancer.

TRUE is the correct answer. Men can get breast cancer too, although they account for only one percent of all reported cases.

3. Breast cancer is contagious.

FALSE is the correct answer. A woman cannot "catch" breast cancer from other women or men who have the disease. Also, breast cancer is not caused by an injury to the breast.

4. There are very few women who survive breast cancer.

FALSE is the correct answer. Today, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. There are over two million women who are breast cancer survivors.

Causes and Risk Factors

No one knows why some women develop breast cancer and others do not. Although the disease may affect younger women, three-fourths of all breast cancer occurs in women age 50 or older.

Researchers often talk about breast cancer in two ways: in situ and invasive. In situ refers to cancer that has not spread beyond its site of origin. Invasive applies to cancer that has spread to the tissue around it.

Older age and the following risk factors increase a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. Risk factors are conditions or agents that increase a person's chances of getting a disease.

• Breast cancer among one or more of your close relatives, such as a sister, mother, or daughter, increases the risk.
• Having no children or having your first child in your mid-thirties or later increases the risk.
• Having your first menstrual period before age 12 increases the risk.
• Race can be a factor. White women are at greater risk than black women. However, black women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die of the disease.
• Five percent to 10 percent of all breast cancers are thought to be inherited.

When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for. You can help safeguard your health by learning the following warning signs of breast cancer.

Warning signs of breast cancer:

• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
• A change in the size or shape of the breast.
• Nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple is pulled back or inverted into the breast.

Warning signs of breast cancer:

• Ridges or pitting of the breast. The skin looks like the skin of an orange.
• A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels. For example, the skin may be warm, swollen, red, or scaly.

You should see your doctor about any symptoms like these. Most often, they are not cancer, but it's important to check with the doctor so that any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Some women believe that as they age, health problems are due to "growing older." Because of this myth, many illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. Don't ignore your symptoms because you think they are not important or because you believe they are normal for your age. Talk to your doctor.

Quiz

1. 'In situ' breast cancer refers to

A. cancer that has spread throughout the body.
B. cancer that has spread to local lymph nodes.
C. cancer that appears in only one place in the body.

C is the correct answer. In situ cancer remains at the site where it first occurs and does not spread to surrounding tissue.

2. Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for breast cancer?

A. older age
B. riding bicycles
C. having a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer

B is the correct answer. Exercise has NOT been shown to be a risk factor for breast cancer, and, in fact, some studies indicate that it could reduce risk.

3. Which of the following are possible symptoms of breast cancer?

A. a change in the size or shape of the breast
B. nipple discharge or tenderness
C. ridges or pitting of the breast
D. all of the above

D is the correct answer. Each of these symptoms gives important information to the doctor. But all symptoms together mean cancer could be there. Other possible warning signs are a change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels. For example, it may be warm, swollen, red, or scaly.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.