What is Breast Cancer? What are its Symptoms and its Treatment?

As defined by the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is “a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.”

Many people are familiar with breast cancer because of the attention this disease has received in the past couple of decades. The color pink has been closely associated with breast cancer, of course, especially the pink ribbons in the traditional twist pattern.

When breast cancer strikes it hits normally healthy cells in the milk-producing glands and other tissue that make up the breasts. (Breasts are a complex combination of ducts – tubes that carry milk, fatty tissue, blood vessels and connective tissue.) Most breast cancer starts in the ducts, though some instances begin in the glands (lobules).

The cancer society reminds women and family members that most breast lumps are not cancerous. But any indication of abnormal lumps in the breast should be examined and sampled to make sure. In most cases the lumps are caused by fibrous cysts. If a lump is cancerous it could be carcinoma, which starts in the lining of the breast. According to the ACS, “Nearly all breast cancers are carcinomas (either ductal carcinomas or lobular carcinomas).”

When you are discussing this condition with your doctor you might want to ask about other types of breast cancer: adenocarcinoma, carcinoma in situ, invasive carcinoma and sarcoma. In fact there are many specific types of breast cancer. The diagnosis depends on location within the breast, where the cancer begins and a few other details.

A small collection of cancer cells may not be detected by self-inspection. A mammogram will detect many lumps that are not found by the individual. Of course, the traditional symptom is the breast lump (sometimes in the armpit). Inflammatory breast cancer is a bit different in that this type expands across larger areas and may look like a rash on the skin. Be alert for pain or extreme sensitivity in the breast or nipple, as well as lymph node swelling in the armpits.

Treatment options include surgery, radiation-therapy program, a carefully planned program of increasing hormones and chemotherapy. These may be used in combinations depending on the diagnosis, the doctors involved and the individual’s health conditions. The cancer society indicates that surgery and radiation therapy are commonly used for local instances of breast cancer because they remove/destroy specific collections of cancer cells.

Hormone therapy and chemotherapy might be used for problems that involve more than localized cancers (systemic). It is also important to have support from family members and friends. The results are not proven by any means but some people have found success with major changes in diet and nutrition, along with the use of herbal supplements, vitamins and other “alternative” methods. Some members of the medical community don’t follow the chemical and radiation therapies they consider toxic. They also feel that some treatments might even increase the dangers associated with breast cancer. The type of treatment is an individual decision that should be made after talking with doctors, family members and others.