Description - from the National Cancer Institute

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.

The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.

Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to organs called lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They filter substances in lymph and help fight infection and disease. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

• Older age.
• Menstruating at an early age.
• Older age at first birth or never having given birth.
• A personal history of breast cancer or benign (noncancer) breast disease.
• A mother or sister with breast cancer.
• Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
• Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram.
• Hormone use (such as estrogen and progesterone).
• Drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Caucasian race.

The genes in cells carry the hereditary information that is received from a person’s parents. Hereditary breast cancer makes up approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancer. Some altered genes related to breast cancer are more common in certain ethnic groups.

Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing other cancers. Men who have an altered gene related to breast cancer also have an increased risk of developing this disease. (For more information, refer to the PDQ summary on Male Breast Cancer.)

Tests have been developed that can detect altered genes. These genetic tests are sometimes done for members of families with a high risk of cancer. (Refer to the PDQ summaries on Screening for Breast Cancer, Prevention of Breast Cancer, and Genetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer for more information.)

A doctor should be seen if changes in the breast are noticed. The following tests and procedures may be used:

• Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.
• Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. If a lump in the breast is found, the doctor may need to cut out a small piece of the lump. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. Four types of biopsies are as follows:
  • Excisional biopsy: The removal of an entire lump or suspicious tissue.
  • Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue.
  • Core biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue using a wide needle.
  • Needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration biopsy: The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle.
• Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue. If cancer is found in the breast, tissue from the tumor is examined in the laboratory to find out whether estrogen and progesterone could affect the way cancer grows. The test results show whether hormone therapy may stop the cancer from growing.

The treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery) depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is in the breast only or has spread to other places in the body), the type of breast cancer, certain characteristics of the cancer cells, and whether the cancer is found in the other breast. A woman’s age, menopausal status (whether a woman is still having menstrual periods), and general health can also affect treatment options and prognosis.

Wegner Center Resources

100 Questions & Answers about Breast Cancer - Book
Wegner Books WP 870 B881 2003

Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors - Book
Wegner Books WP 870 D353 2001

Homespun Medical Tips - Requires RealAudio

Cancer Therapy
with Dr. David Elston, Oncologist from Sioux Falls, SD (January 2002)

Web Resources

Breast Cancer Home Page from the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/types/breast
This site provides information for patients and health professional arranged in the following categories: treatment; prevention, genetics, causes; screening and testing; clinical trials; cancer literature; general cancer library; related information; and statistics.

Learn about Breast Cancer from the American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/lrn/lrn_0.asp
Learn about breast cancer, risk factors, prevention, treatment, and more.  You can also read stories of hope from people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
http://www.nabco.org
The leading non-profit information and education resource on breast cancer in the United States.  This site provides a gateway to information from a variety of breast cancer organizations.

Current Literature

Breast Cancer from MEDLINEplus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html
MEDLINEplus provides extensive information from the a variety of trusted sources, in English and in Spanish.

Medem Medical Library - Cancer
http://www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
Medem's award-winning Medical Library represents the full rant of patient education information from medical societies and other trusted sources, and is unsurpassed in quality, breadth and depth of health care information.