Why Breast Cancer is Important to Know About
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. About 1 in 8 women will develop it in their lifetime, meaning it’s a disease that can affect all of us—whether it’s us or someone we love. That’s why it’s really important to learn about how to prevent, diagnose, and treat it.
The good news is that breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if it’s caught early. Early detection makes a big difference—if found early, the outcome is often very positive, and the treatments tend to be less intense, which means less pain and fewer side effects.
However, approximately 5-10% of breast cancer cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations, such as those in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Family history can increase the risk, but many cases do not have a strong family history. In some cultures, there may be a stigma around cancer, especially cancer in certain areas of the body, which can make it harder for people to talk openly about it. This can delay diagnosis and treatment, so it’s essential to break the silence and encourage awareness.
How Does Breast Cancer Start?
Breast cancer, like all cancers, starts when one cell becomes abnormal. Typically, cells grow and stop once they’ve matured. But cancer cells keep growing and dividing, sometimes out of control, and they can damage healthy tissue around them. This usually happens because of changes (or mutations) in the cell’s genes. These changes can be inherited or caused by things like too much exposure to harmful substances. However, in many cases, there’s no obvious reason for these changes to happen. Additionally, cancer cells can evade the body’s immune system, which may also play a role in the disease’s development.
What’s the Difference Between Benign and Malignant Tumors?
Tumors happen when cells grow too quickly. The main difference between benign and malignant (cancerous) tumors is how they grow. In benign tumors, the growth eventually slows down or stops. But in malignant tumors, the cells keep growing and spreading. If untreated, cancer can spread to other parts of the body, which doesn’t happen with benign tumors. Benign tumors are typically non-cancerous and do not invade nearby tissues or spread (metastasize), whereas malignant tumors can invade surrounding tissues and metastasize to distant organs.
How Does Cancer Spread?
Cancer cells can break away from the original tumor and travel to other parts of the body, like the liver, lungs, or bones, through the blood or lymph system. So, when someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, doctors will usually do some extra tests, like a CT scan or a bone scan, to check if the cancer has spread. However, since the likelihood of the disease spreading in the early stages of breast cancer is very low, these measures are not typically requested in patients diagnosed in the early stages unless there are symptoms or signs of metastatic disease.
Cancer cells in the breast typically double in number every 100 days. It takes about a billion cells to form a lump that’s 1 cm in size. This means breast cancer could be growing for years before it becomes noticeable as a lump or shows up on a mammogram. The time it takes for the cancer to show up varies—sometimes it can appear in less than a year, but other times it can take as long as 10 years, depending on how fast the cancer is growing.
Because we can’t always know when the cancer first started, doctors recommend regular breast cancer screenings, including clinical exams and mammograms, typically starting at age 40 or 50 and continuing every 1-2 years, depending on personal risk factors and national guidelines. The guidelines for breast Cancer Screening in Canada are available here.
Types of Breast Cancer: A Simple Guide
Breast cancer can be mainly grouped into two main categories based on where it starts:
Cancer that starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules).
Cancer that starts in the milk ducts (the channels that carry milk).
These two types of cancer are then further divided into two categories:
1. Non-Invasive (In Situ) Cancer
This means the cancer is still contained in its original location and hasn’t spread. The cells are either in the milk ducts or milk-producing glands, but they haven’t invaded nearby tissue. While this type of cancer can still be serious, it is less dangerous because it hasn’t spread yet.
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): This is a common form of cancer that starts in the milk ducts but stays inside the ducts. If untreated, it can sometimes become an invasive cancer, but most cases can be treated with surgery or radiation.
- Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS): This cancer starts in the milk-producing lobules but doesn’t spread. While rare, it can raise the risk of developing invasive breast cancer later on.
2. Invasive (Infiltrating) Cancer
In this type of cancer, the cancer cells have spread beyond their original location into nearby tissue and may spread to other parts of the body.
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): This is the most common type of breast cancer, starting in the milk ducts and spreading to nearby tissue. It makes up about 75-80% of breast cancer cases.
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC): This starts in the milk-producing lobules and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. About 15% of breast cancer cases are this type.
Less Common Types of Breast Cancer:
Inflammatory Breast Cancer:
This rare form of cancer causes the breast to swell and feel warm. The skin may look red or feel thick, like an orange peel. Sometimes, it can be mistaken for an infection. It’s important to get checked if you notice these symptoms, as it can develop quickly.
Paget’s Disease of the Nipple:
This is a type of breast cancer that affects the nipple, causing itching, flaking, and peeling of the skin. It may be confused with other skin conditions like eczema. It’s often found alongside other non-invasive cancers and requires early attention.
Key Takeaways:
- Not all breast cancers are invasive or dangerous right away. Some types can be treated before they spread.
- If you notice unusual changes in your breast, such as a lump, skin changes, or nipple changes, it’s important to see a doctor.
- Early detection and treatment are key to managing breast cancer.