Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the breast
tissue. It occurs when breast cells divide without control or order.
Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing
uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms,
called a growth or tumour.
The term cancer refers to malignant tumours, which can invade nearby
tissues and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumour
does not invade or spread. Although most people think of breast
cancer as affecting women, men can develop breast cancer as well.
Risk Factors
The cause of breast cancer is unknown, but research shows
that certain risk factors are associated with the disease. Risk
factors for breast cancer include:
- sex: female
- age: 50 or older
- personal history of breast cancer
- family members with breast cancer
- changes in breast tissue, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia,
radial scar formation, and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- changes in certain genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, and others)
- race: Caucasian
- tobacco use
- increased breast density (more lobular and ductal tissue and
less fatty tissue)
- radiation therapy before the age of 30
- overuse of alcohol
Over the course of a lifetime, increased exposure to estrogen,
the female sex hormone, can also increase the risk of getting breast
cancer. High estrogen levels can result from:
- early onset of menstruation
- late onset of menopause
- no childbearing or late childbearing
- absence of breast feeding
- taking hormone replacement therapy for long periods of time
(more than four years)
It's also important to note that studies show that most women with
known risk factors do not get breast cancer, and many women who
get breast cancer have none of the risk factors listed above, other
than the risk that comes with growing older.
Symptoms
When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all.
But as the cancer grows, it can cause the following changes:
- a lump or thickening in or near the breast, in the underarm
area, or in the neck
- a change in the size or shape of the breast
- nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple pulled back (inverted)
into the breast
- ridges or pitting of the breast skin (like the skin of an orange)
- a change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple
looks or feels (for example, warm, swollen, red, or scaly)
While these general symptoms may also be caused by other, less
serious health conditions than breast cancer, if you experience
any of these these symptoms you should see your doctor.
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and
perform a physical exam. Tests may include:
- clinical breast exam
In this exam, the doctor carefully feels the breast lump and the
tissue around it. The doctor examines the size and texture of
the lump and determines whether the lump moves easily. The doctor
will examine both breasts, since the tissue can be very “lumpy”
throughout the breast in some patients.
- mammography
Mammograms are x-rays of the breast used to see lumps or other
changes in breast tissue.
- ultrasonography
This is the use of high-frequency sound waves to see whether a
lump is a fluid-filled cyst (usually not cancer) or a solid mass
(which may or may not be cancer).
- breast biopsy
Types of biopsies for breast cancer include:
fine-needle aspiration
This type of biopsy involves the removal of fluid and/or cells
from a breast lump using a thin needle.
needle biopsy
A needle biopsy is the removal of tissue with a needle from
an area that looks suspicious on a mammogram but cannot be
felt.
surgical biopsy
A surgical biopsy is either an incisional biopsy (cutting
out a sample of a lump or suspicious area) or excisional biopsy
(cutting out all of a lump or suspicious area and an area
of healthy tissue around the edges).
Prevention
The cause of breast cancer is unknown, so finding it early and
treating it is the best way to prevent dying from the disease.
Because it does not cause symptoms in the early stages, it
is important to have screening tests to find the cancer before
symptoms appear.
- Women age 20 or older should perform a breast self-exam (BSE)
every month.
- Women between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast
exam by a health professional every three years. A breast exam
should be performed more regularly if there is a family history
or there have been previous breast biopsies.
- Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every
year. Some advocate a mammogram should be given sooner for patients
with a strong family history or for patients who have had previous
breast biopsies performed.
- After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health care
professional every year.
Treatment at UPMC Whitfield Cancer Centre
There are numerous approaches to breast cancer treatment, including
surgery, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, and radiotherapy.
The health care and oncology professionals practicing at UPMC
Whitfield Cancer Centre specialize in radiation therapy, and
will work with you, your doctor, and other specialists to design
the most effective radiation treatment and recovery plans for
your particular needs, including:
Breast Cancer In-Depth: Information from UPMC Cancer
Centers
UPMC
Cancer Centers, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is one
of the largest integrated community networks of cancer physicians
and health care specialists in the United States. Working with
the University
of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the academic and research
partner, UPMC Cancer Centers strives to offer patients the
latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis,
and innovative treatment. With the UPMC Whitfield Cancer Centre,
UPMC is continuing to fulfill its mission to bring world-class
cancer treatment to patients right in their own communities.
- Learn more about
breast cancer from the experts at UPMC Cancer Centers
(This link will take you to the website for UPMC
Cancer Centers.)
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