Figure 1. Basic anatomical structure of the breast.

Breast cancer is a form of cancer that begins with the formation of a small, localized tumor or lump located in the tissue of the breast. Usually, these tumors or lumps will appear in the lobules—which are responsible for the production of milk, or the ducts—which connect the lobules to the nipple. On occasion, a lump or tumor will begin in the nonglandular tissue, but this does not occur very often (Figure 1).

Although a woman may discover the presence of a lump, it does not necessarily mean that she has breast cancer. In fact, most breast tumors are made of benign cells(Figure 2), which means they are noncancerous and incapable of invading other parts of the body. When a person is diagnosed as having a benign tumor, they can usually have the tumor removed, and, in most cases, the tumor does not return. In short, benign breast tumors are not a threat to life! However, they should not be ignored.

Figure 2. Benign cells on the left malignant cells on the right.

Even though most tumors found in the breast are benign, a tumor is no laughing matter. If you discover a lump in your breast, it is in your best interest to see a doctor just in case your breast tumor is one of the few…the feared…the malignant. The cells of malignant tumors (Figure 2) are completely capable of breaking away from the original tumor, entering the blood stream or lymphatic system and forming secondary tumors in other parts of the body. This is basically how breast cancer spreads. It should be noted that malignant tumors are A THREAT TO LIFE!

Figure 3. Paget's Disease

Stage 0—Sometimes called noninvasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ, it is the earliest stage of breast cancer and is considered to be the least lethal. This stage of cancer includes lobular carcinoma in situ or ductal carcinoma in situ. An example of stage 0 cancer is Paget’s disease of the nipple (Figure 3).

Lobular carcinoma in situ(LCIS): Refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule. These abnormal cells seldom become invasive cancer. However, the presence of LCIS increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer in both breasts. For this reason, it is important for women with LCIS to have a physical exam two or three times a year, as well as a mammogram every year.

Figure 4. DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS): Refers to cancer cells in an area of abnormal tissue in the lining of the duct that has not invaded surrounding tissue. If left untreated, cancer cells may break through the duct and spread to nearby tissue, eventually becoming an invasive cancer. Nearly 100% of women with cancer at this stage can be cured (Figure 4).

Figure 5. Stage 1 breast cancer.

Stage 1—Stage 1 is one of the earlier stages of breast cancer. In this particular stage, the cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and the tumor is no more than an inch across (Figure 5). Most women treat this stage of cancer with chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy in addition to surgery. Or they may have surgery and radiation therapy.

Figure 6. Stage 2 breast cancer

Stage 2—In this stage the tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters in size (Figure 6). The lymph nodes may or may not be positive for cancer. Many women who are in this stage of cancer are treated through chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy in addition to surgery. Or, like stage 1 cancer, they may have surgery and radiation therapy.

Figure 7. Inflammatory breast

cancer.

Stage 3—Stage 3 cancer is also called locally advanced cancer. In this stage of cancer, the tumor is more than 5 centimeters across and is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes. Or it has spread to other lymph nodes or tissues near the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer (Figure7) is a type of locally advanced cancer. Patients with this stage of cancer usually treat it through local treatment, such as surgery or radiation, to the breast and underarm in accordance with systemic treatment—which would include hormonal and chemotherapy.

Figure 8. Cancer can spread

to the lungs, bones, liver and

brain.

Stage 4—Considered to be metastatic cancer, this is the stage where cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. Women in this advanced stage of cancer usually receive chemotherapy and hormonal therapy in an attempt to destroy and control the disease. Many women may also undergo surgery or radiation therapy in order to control the disease that has spread beyond the breast and into other parts of the body. Check out figure 8 to see where breast cancer can possibly spread.