Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the breast tissue. It is the most common type of cancer in women and can also affect men. In this article, we will discuss the different types of breast cancer, symptoms, causes, and treatment options available.

Our cells can expand and divide uncontrollably due to mutations, and these mutations are changes in the genes that control cell growth resulting in cancer. Cancer that begins in breast tissue is referred to as breast cancer. Breast ducts or lobules are typically where breast cancer starts to grow. Ducts are the conduits that move the milk from the glands to the nipple, while lobules are the organs that create it.

Cancer can also develop in fatty tissue or even fibrous connective tissue of your breast. Unchecked cancer cells typically invade nearby healthy breast tissue and have the capacity to go to the lymph nodes under the arms. Once cancer has reached the lymph nodes, it gets a route to travel to other body regions.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a complex disease with many different types and subtypes. Breast cancer is classified based on a number of parameters, including the characteristics of the cancer cells, the presence or lack of certain receptors, and other specific aspects. Here are some examples of common types of breast cancer:

Infiltrating (invasive) Ductal Carcinoma

This cancer begins in the milk ducts of your breast, penetrates the duct wall, and then spreads to the nearby breast tissues. This is the most prevalent type of breast cancer as it accounts for about 80% of all cases.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ, also known as Stage 0 breast cancer, is regarded by some as precancerous because the cells haven't moved past your milk ducts. This condition is remarkably curable. Prompt treatment is necessary to stop cancer from becoming invasive and spreading to other tissues.

Infiltrating (Invasive) Lobular Carcinoma

Your breast's lobules, where breast milk is produced, are the origin of this cancer. 10% to 15% of breast cancers are caused by this. Breast lobules with abnormal cells are known as lobular carcinoma in situ, a precancerous disease. Although it isn't genuine cancer, this sign may point to a later risk of breast cancer. Therefore, it's crucial for women with lobular carcinoma in situ to undergo routine mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for 15% of all cases, is one of the hardest breast cancers to cure. It is referred to as "triple-negative breast cancer" because it lacks three of the markers connected to other kinds of breast cancer. This makes diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

This kind of cancer is uncommon and aggressive, and it looks infectious. Redness, swelling, pitting, and dimpling of the breast skin are the most common symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer. It is brought on by obstructive cancer cells in the lymphatic vessels under the skin. The breast disease Paget's nipple and areola's skin are both affected by this cancer.

Breast cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer symptoms differ from women to women, and some women may not detect any symptoms at all in the early stages of the disease. However, it is critical to be aware of the frequent signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Here are some examples of common symptoms:

• Thicker or lumpier breast tissues than the rest of the breast
• A breast's size, shape, or appearance changing
• Alterations to the breast's skin, such as dimpling
• A recently flipped nipple
• The skin that is coloured around the nipple (areola) or breasts peels, scales, crusts, or flakes.
• Redness or pitting similar to that of an orange on your breast

Breast Cancer Causes

The aberrant growth of some breast cells leads to breast cancer. These cells continue to multiply more quickly than healthy cells do resulting in a bulk or lump. Cells can spread (metastasize) through your breast in order to reach your lymph nodes or other regions of your body.

Invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer, typically starts with cells in the ducts that produce milk. Breast cancer can also begin in other cells or tissues within the breast, including the glandular tissue known as lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma).

The risk of breast cancer may be increased by hormonal, behavioral, and environmental variables. It is not known why some persons with risk factors never develop cancer while others do. Breast cancer is probably caused by a complex interaction between your environment and genetic make-up.

Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer treatment involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The exact treatment plan will depend on factors such as the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the patient's overall health and preferences. Below we'll discuss the treatment options for cancer.

Breast Cancer Surgery

A region of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor as well as the diseased section of your breast are removed during breast cancer surgery. There are various forms of surgery available based on your circumstances. These are

• Lumpectomy: It is often known as a partial mastectomy. The surgery involves removal of the tumor and a thin margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Most often, a few lymph nodes in the breast or under the arm are also removed for analysis. In the weeks following a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is usually administered to the patient.
• Mastectomy: This procedure removes your entire breast. Your nipple and areola (the dark skin surrounding your nipple) may be preserved with a nipple-sparing mastectomy in some circumstances.
• Sentinel Node Biopsy: The sentinel node biopsy was developed to prevent the unnecessary removal of a sizable number of lymph nodes that are not impacted by the cancer because lymph nodes that are removed after an early diagnosis of breast cancer are frequently found to be cancer-free. The sentinel lymph node is located by a doctor injecting a dye that tracks to the first lymph node that cancer would spread to. If a lymph node is devoid of malignancy, other lymph nodes do not need to be removed. Additional lymph nodes may need to be removed if that lymph node contains cancer. Although more than one sentinel node is frequently found, the likelihood of developing swelling in your arm (lymphedema) decreases the fewer lymph nodes that are removed. A sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed with either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.
• Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: An axillary lymph node dissection may be performed to remove any lymph nodes that the cancer has spread to. This entails having many of your axilla's lymph nodes removed.
• Modified Radical Mastectomy: Your entire breast as well as your nipple are removed during this procedure. Your chest muscles are not affected, but nearby lymph nodes under your arms are taken out.
• Radical Mastectomy: Nowadays, unless the breast cancer has spread to your chest wall muscles, this procedure is rarely used. Your surgeon will completely remove your breast, nipple, underarm lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles during a radical mastectomy.

Chemotherapy

Your doctor can tell you to go for chemotherapy for breast cancer before lumpectomy to reduce the size of the tumor. It is occasionally administered following surgery to eliminate any cancer cells that may still be present and lower the possibility of recurrence. If the cancer has gone beyond your breast to other body parts, your doctor may advise chemotherapy as your main treatment.

Radiation Therapy

After a mastectomy or lumpectomy, radiation therapy is frequently administered in order to eradicate any leftover cancer cells. Individual metastatic tumors that are hurting other issues can also be treated with it.

Hormone Therapy

Hormones like progesterone and oestrogen helps some types of breast cancer to fuel their growth. Hormone therapy can either reduce oestrogen levels in these situations or prevent oestrogen from binding to breast cancer cells. Medical professionals generally use hormone therapy following surgery to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence. The treatment may also be used to treat cancer that has spread to other organs in your body or to shrink a tumor before surgery.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy destroys breast cancer cells by harnessing the power of your own immune system. Intravenously (via a vein in your arm or hand) is how treatment is administered. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy may be used together by your doctor to treat breast cancer.

Targeted Drug Therapy

Some medications can specifically target cancer-causing cell traits. Your doctor might suggest using a targeted drug therapy if your breast cancer has spread to other organs in your body. Monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and margetuximab, antibody-drug conjugates like ado-trastuzumab emtansine and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan, and kinase inhibitors like lapatinib, neratinib, and tucatinib, are some of the most popular medications used to treat breast cancer.

FAQs

How does breast cancer start?

Medical professionals are aware that breast cancer develops when some breast cells start to grow abnormally. These cells multiply more quickly than healthy cells do, continue to assemble, and eventually form a mass. Your lymph nodes or other places of your body may receive a cell invasion (metastasis) from your breast.

Is breast cancer very serious?

Early-stage breast cancer patients often successfully manage their illness with treatment. In actuality, a lot of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer go on to lead full, productive lives. However, late-stage breast cancer is more challenging to treat and can be fatal.

Can a 25 year old get breast cancer?

Even though breast cancer mostly affects older women, it can occasionally strike women under the age of 45. In the United States, women under the age of 45 make up around 9% of all new instances of breast cancer.

Can breast cancer be cured?

Majority of the patients who receive treatment for breast cancer experience success. As the time passes, the risk of recurrence also decreases. Unfortunately, recurrence can occur even years after treatment, so no one can say with absolute certainty that you are cured.

How to check for breast cancer at home?

Look at your breasts in the mirror and up close. Check for any textural changes in your skin like dimpling, puckering, indentations, or your skin may resemble an orange peel. Take notice of each breast's outline and shape as well. If the nipple turns inward, look for it.

Do breast lumps hurt?

Although some lumps are painful, most are hard and painless. But not every lump is cancer. benign breast conditions that can also result in lumps, such as cysts. However, it's crucial to immediately have any new lump or mass examined by a doctor.