Breast Cancer: Facts, Symptoms & Information

Breast cancer is a disease that starts in the tissues of the breast. The disease is fairly common and deserves attention, affecting one in eight women in the course of a lifetime. A breast is made up of three main parts: glands, ducts, and connective tissue. The glands are responsible for producing milk, the ducts for carrying milk to the nipple, and the connective tissue (composed of fibrous and fatty tissue) connects and holds everything together. There is no such thing as a "typical breast." What is normal for one woman might not be normal for another. Many women say that their breasts feel lumpy or uneven. The look and feel of breasts can be affected by getting your period, having children, losing or gaining weight, and taking certain medications. Breasts also tend to change as you age.

Breast Cancer Lumps

Cancer can cause lumps in the breast but there are other conditions that can cause lumps in the breast. Breast lumps can be caused by other various medical conditions, the most common being fibrocystic breast condition and cysts.

Fibrocystic changes can occur in one or both breasts and are common in women (especially during the reproductive years). Having fibrocystic breasts does not increase your risk for breast cancer but does create some difficulties interpreting lumps that you or your doctor finds on an exam. Many women feel tenderness in addition to the lumps and bumps associated with fibrocystic breasts.

Cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that can develop in the breast and can be drained in the doctor's office.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Regular breast cancer exams are important because early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. As the cancer grows some symptoms may include:

  • Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
  • Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple
  • Fluid coming from the nipple (can be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and look like pus)
  • Bone pain
  • Breast pain or discomfort
  • Skin ulcers
  • Swelling of one arm (next to the breast with cancer)
  • Weight loss

Commons Types of Breast Cancer

There are two main types of breast cancer including:

  • Ductal carcinoma which starts in the ducts that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
  • Lobular carcinoma which start in the lobules, the milk producing parts of the breast.

Other common types of Breast Cancer include:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - The abnormal cancer cells are only in the lining of the milk ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.

Invasive ductal carcinoma- The abnormal cancer cells break through the ducts and spread into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) - The cancer cells are found only in the breast lobules. Lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS, does not spread to other tissues very often.

Invasive lobular carcinoma- Cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

For more information on breast cancer:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/index.htm
http://www.breastcancer.org/

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