BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer develops when normal cells of the breast undergo genetic mutation that is not controlled by the immune system before the abnormal (mutated) cells replicate and grow tumors, which can invade other, healthy tissue and metastasize (spread) to remote parts of the body through the lymphatic system. The causes for cancer-producing mutations are not conclusively understood, but as in most cancers (and, in fact, many diseases) these mutations are believed to be the result of both environmental influences (such as diet, exercise, smoking, stress and other life style factors) and genetic predispositions. It is important to note that by far not all breast masses are cancerous, and that many women live with benign masses, such as fibroadenomas, which are generally unconcerning. There are different types of cells present in the breast, including fat cells, muscle cells (the pectoral muscle between the breast and the rib cage), skin cells, epithelial cells, blood vessels and the lymphatic (immune) system. The vast majority of cancers grows from epithelial cells which line the lobular and ductal structures, the system that produces and transports milk during lactation. These cancers are called lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma, respectively. In fact, it is estimated that about 85% of all breast cancers derive from ductal and about 15% of all breast cancers derive from lobular cells - with very few cancers that do not originate from the ductal or lobular structures, but instead develop from connective tissue cells, including fat and muscle cells (such as, for instance, Angiosarcoma, which develops from epithelial cells of the blood and lymphatic system, and other types of sarcoma). Breast cancer is one of (if not the) most prevalent cancer in the world. It is estimated that in 2020, more than 2 Million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than half a Million died of the disease. Prognosis and treatment options greatly vary depending on several factors, including the type of cancer (the histological makeup of the cells), the grade of the cancer (its aggressiveness, i.e. its ability to grow and spread quickly), and the stage of the cancer (how far advanced it is, i.e. how much it has already gown or spread). Because treatment options are often more and better with an earlier diagnosis, it is important to be aware of the (early) signs and symptoms of breast cancer, including: ​