Breast Cancer: Learn More About

Breast cancer is a condition in which the cells proliferate uncontrollably. It comes in a variety of forms. The type of breast cancer is determined by which cells become cancerous.

Breast cancer can begin in a variety of locations within the breast. A breast is composed of three major structural components: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. The lobules are the milk-producing glands. The ducts are tube-like structures that transport milk to the nipple. The connective tissue (which is composed of fibrous and fatty tissue) envelops and supports everything.

Kinds of Breast Cancer

Breast cancers classify into the following subtypes:

Invasive ductal carcinoma. Outside the ducts, the cancer cells spread throughout the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also move to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells spread from lobules to surrounding breast tissues. Additionally, these cancer cells are aggressive and can move to other areas of the body.

Symptoms and Signs:

Symptoms and signs may include the following:

A breast bulge or enlargement that does not feel normal in comparison to the surrounding tissue
A breast’s size, shape, or appearance changes
Skin changes over the breasts, such as dimpling
The pigmented skin region surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin peels, scales, crusts, or flakes.
The skin over your breasts may be red or pitted, similar to the skin of an orange.

Causes

Breast cancer develops when certain cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide at a faster rate than healthy cells and collect, forming a lump or mass. Through your breast, cells may move (metastasize) to your lymph nodes or other parts of your body.

Most of the time, it develops with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). It can also start in the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissues within the breast.

Researchers have discovered hormonal, behavioral, and environmental risk factors. However, it is unknown why some people with no risk factors acquire cancer and others never do.

Breast cancer that is inherited

According to doctors, approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers causes by gene abnormalities passed down through generations of a family.

Suppose you have a significant family history or other cancers. In that case, your doctor may offer a blood test to discover a particular BRCA.

Consider requesting a referral from your doctor to a genetic counselor who may analyze your family’s medical history. Additionally, a genetic counselor can clarify the benefits, hazards, and limitations of genetic testing to aid you in making a joint decision.

Risk Factors

Breast cancer risk factors include the following:

Being a woman. Breast cancer is far more common in women than in men.
Aging. risk increases with age.
Breast cancer runs in the family. If your mother, sister, or daughter were diagnosed, especially when young, your risk of developing is enhanced. Nonetheless, most women diagnosed do not have a family history of the disease.
Radiation exposure. If you got radiation to the chest as a kid or adolescent, your risk of developing is enhanced.

Other Factors

Obesity. Obesity raises your risk of developing.
Begin your menstruation earlier in life. Beginning your period before the age of 12 significantly increases your risk of developing.
Menopause begins at an older age. If you start menopause later in life, you have a greater risk of developing.
Being a parent for the first time at a later age. Women who become pregnant for the first time after reaching 30 may have an increased.
Never having been pregnant. Breast cancer is more prevalent in women who have never been pregnant than women who have had one or more pregnancies.
Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women. Breast cancer risk enhances in women who take hormone treatment drugs that combine estrogen and progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms and signs. When women discontinue these drugs, their risk of breast cancer diminishes.
Consumption of alcohol. Consumption of alcohol raises the risk of developing.