Breast Cancer

Ductal carcinoma: cancer begins in the cells of the ducts ( most common type ).
Breast profile: A ducts B lobules C dilated section of duct to hold milk D nipple E fat F pectoralis major muscle G chest wall/rib cage Enlargement: A normal duct cells B ductal cancer cells C basement membrane D lumen (center of duct)

Lobular carcinoma: Cancer begins in the lobes or lobules

Breast profile: A ducts B lobules C dilated section of duct to hold milk D nipple E fat F pectoralis major muscle G chest wall/rib cage Enlargement: A normal cells B lobular cancer cells breaking through the basement membrane C basement membrane

Inflammatory breast cancer

Cancer has spread to the skin of the breast the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm. The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a Risk factor.

Hereditary breast cancer

It represents 5% to 10% of all breast cancer. 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. Tests have been developed that can detect altered genes.

Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.

Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues to check for signs of cancer.

Excisional biopsy :The removal of an entire lump of tissue. Incisional biopsy :The removal of part of a lump or a sample of tissue. Core biopsy: The removal of tissue using a wide needle. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: The removal of tissue or fluid, using a thin needle.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging):

A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

Estrogen and progesterone receptor test:

Effects of estrogen and progesterone on the growth of cancer cells The test results show whether hormone therapy may stop the cancer from growing.

 The process used to find out whether the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body is called Staging. the staging process determines the stage of the disease , important to determine the plan treatment.

The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:

Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue. Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body. Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.

 When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer

On the bone scan multiple osseous metastases can be seen

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ): Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is an invasive condition
Stage I: The tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread outside the breast. Stage IIA: the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes. Stage IIB larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes. In stage IIIA: Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the sternum

 Stage IIIB The tumor may be any size and cancer has spread to : to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast to axillary lymph nodes to lymph nodes near the sternum. Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. Stage IIIC the tumor may be any size and may have spread to: the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast. to lymph nodes above or below the clavicle to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the sternum. Cancer that has spread to the skin of the breast is inflammatory breast cancer. In operable stage IIIC, the cancer is found in lymph nodes below the clavicle In inoperable stage IIIC, the cancer is found in lymph nodes above the clavicle Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

1- Surgery
a)- Breastconserving surgery, an operation to remove the cancer but not the breast itself

1- Surgery
b)- Total mastectomy: Surgery to remove the whole breast that has cancer. This procedure is also called a simple mastectomy.

1- Surgery
c)- Modified radical mastectomy:
Surgery to remove the whole breast that has cancer, many of the lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles, and sometimes, part of the chest wall muscles.

1- Surgery
d)- Radical mastectomy:
Surgery to remove the breast that has cancer, chest wall muscles under the breast, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm. This procedure is sometimes called a Halsted radical mastectomy.

Radiation therapy
cancer treatment using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance are placed directly into or near the cancer.

Chemotherapy
Cancer treatment using drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When Systemic chemotherapy : the
drug is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body

Regional chemotherapy :
drugs act on site of introduction

Hormone therapy
Cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action to stops cancer cells from growing. The hormone estrogen, which makes some breast cancers grow, is made mainly by the ovaries. Treatment to stop the ovaries from making estrogen is called ovarian ablation. Hormone therapy with aromatase inhibitors decrease the body's estrogen by blocking an enzyme called aromatase from turning androgen into estrogen.

Try to maintain a healthy weight throughout your life Do not smoke and limit alcohol consumption Eat healthy and limit fatty food Exercise regularly and stay active at every stage of life Avoid medications and antibiotics except when absolutely necessary