Occurring in both men and women, breast cancer forms in tissues of the
breast, usually the ducts and lobules. Each breast is divided into 15-20
sections called lobes. Lobes contain many smaller lobules. Lobules contain
groups of tiny glands that can produce milk. The breasts also contain
lymph vessels, which carry a clear fluid called lymph. The lymph vessels
lead to small, round organs called lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes
are found near the breast in the axilla, above the collarbone, in the
chest behind the breastbone, and in many other parts of the body.
No one knows the exact cause of breast cancer, although there are many
risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing the
disease. Some of the risk factors are age, personal history of breast
cancer, family history, certain breast changes, genetic alterations, reproductive
and menstrual history, race, radiation therapy to chest, breast density,
taking diethylstilbestrol, being obese after menopause, physical inactivity,
and, use of alcoholic beverages. A woman should talk with her health care
provider about personal risk of getting breast cancer and screenings available
to detect breast cancer. Screenings available to detect breast cancer
before any symptoms would arise are: mammogram, clinical breast exam,
and breast self-exam. Symptoms that women should watch for are a change
in how the breast or nipple feels, a change in how the breast or nipple
looks, and nipple discharge.
If a woman has a breast change, her doctor must determine whether it is
due to breast cancer or some other cause. Additional tests that are performed
to determine this are clinical breast exam, diagnostic mammography, ultrasound,
MRI, and/or biopsy. Often, tissue must be removed from the breast to help
the physician determine if cancer is present. If the diagnosis is cancer,
the physician needs to know the stage of the disease to determine treatment
plan. Staging may involve x-rays and labs and often the extent of the
cancer is not known until after surgery to remove the tumor in the breast
and the lymph nodes under the arm. Once the testing is complete and staging
is done, your physician will discuss all available treatment options consisting
of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy.
A treatment plan that is best for you will then be decided upon by you
and your healthcare team.
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