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Of Lumps, Bumps And Breast Cancer
You feel a mild soreness in the breast so you checked for lumps.
You felt a little bump. The next best step is to consult a
doctor, you might have breast cancer. Breast cancer is a
malignant tumor that starts from the cells of the breast. Breast
cancer occurs mainly in women but this does not mean that men are
safe from this disease.
A woman's breast is made up of lobules, which are glands that
make the milk; ducts, which connect lobules to the nipples; fat
and connective tissues; blood vessels; and lymph vessels. Most
breast cancers begin in the ducts. It may also begin in the
lobules then spread to other tissues.
When one feels a lump in the breast, there is really no virtual
worry because most lumps are benign which means that they are not
cancerous. In fact, benign breast tumors are abnormal growths but
do not really pose threats because they do not spread outside of
the breast. However, some benign lumps increase the risk in
having breast cancer.
Then there are lumps that are not really tumors at all which are
often caused by fibrocystic changes -- cysts are fluid-filled
sacs while fibrosis is the formation of scar-like tissue. These
changes can cause swelling of the breasts resulting to being
lumpy and sometimes a fluid discharge from the nipples.
There are different types of breast cancer and knowing them will
greatly help in assessing the disease.
Carcinoma in situ is a term used for early stage of breast cancer
where the cancer cells are still confined to the place where it
started. In particular, the cancer cells are confined in the
lobules or the ducts, depending on where it started. The cancer
cells have not gone into the fatty tissues in the breast nor
spread to other organs of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ is the most common type of noninvasive
breast cancer. Similar with Carcinoma in situ, the cancer cells
have spread through the walls of the duct into the fatty tissue
of the breasts. Almost all women with breast cancer at this stage
can be cured and the best way to find is through the use of
mammogram.
Lobular carcinoma in situ is the condition which begins in the
milk-making glands but does not go through the walls of the
lobules. This is not a true cancer but this can increase the risk
of a woman to have breast cancer later. For this very reason, it
is of utmost importance for women with this type of condition to
follow the guidelines for breast cancer.
Infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma is a type of breast
cancer that starts in the milk passage, breaks through the duct
walls, invades the fatty tissue of the breast then spread to
other parts of the body. This is the most common type of breast
cancer.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma starts in the milk glands then
travel to the other parts of the body.
As of now, there is no exact cause for breast cancer but there
are certain factors that are linked to the disease. Some factors
that cannot be controlled are age, gender, family history,
personal history of breast cancer, and race. Factors such as not
having children, birth control pills, diet, exercise, and alcohol
are some of the factors that can be controlled which may lessen
or heighten the risk of a woman to have breast cancer.
There are several tests that may confirm and disconfirm if you
suspect breast cancer such as imaging tests which includes
mammography, breast ultrasound, and ductogram and biopsy which
includes fine needle aspiration biopsy, stereotactic core needle
biopsy, and surgical biopsy.
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information
about cancer, please go to: http://cancer.besthealthlink.net/or
for updated links and information on all health related topics,
go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/
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