Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast grow out of control. Normally, cells in our body go through a predictable life cycle, with old cells dying and new cells emerging to take their place. This orderly process goes awry sometimes. Cells multiply too much, creating a growth called a tumor.
Not all tumors are cancerous. A benign tumor is a growth that is not cancerous;it will not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other partsof the body. A malignant tumor is cancerous. Which means cells from it can break off and travel throughout the body, taking root elsewhere and creating more tumors.
Doctors describe breast cancer according to the types of breast cancer tissue in which it grows. Most cancers begin in the ducts of the breast (the tubes that carry milk) and is called DUCTAL CANCER. A less common type is INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER, which involves the skin over the breast as well as the tissue underneath. LOBULAR CANCER arise in the glands that produce milk.
Who's At Risk ?
Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer deaths among women. Growing older is, in fact, the biggest factor affecting most women's risk of developing breast cancer. Most breast cancers are found in women over age 50. Here is your risk by age group:
Under 30: 1 in 5,900
31-35: 1 in 2,300
36-40: 1 in 1,200
41-50: 1 in 590
51-60: 1 in 420
61-70: 1 in 330
71-80: 1 in 290
Other Risk Factors
In addition to age, researchers have identified the following factors as ones that can increase your risk for breast cancer:
Carcinoma In Situ
Doctors also classify a case of cancer based on how far it has spread. The earliest stage of disease is noninvasive breast cancer, or CARCINOMA IN SITU. This is a growth still confined to its original site. Some doctors consider this stage to be precancerous rather than cancerous. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a common noninvasive breast cancer.
