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Breast cancer – Causes, types, and management

Breast cancer – Causes, types, and management

Cancer that originates in the breast tissue is called breast cancer. It is the second most common cancer among women in the country. The condition is seen in women more than men. Fortunately, advancements in screening and breast cancer treatment have enabled dramatic improvements in survival rates over the years. The symptoms include changes in the texture and shape of the nipples, discharge from the nipples, and a lump in the breast. 

Read on to learn the causes, types, and management options of breast cancer. 

Causes of breast cancer
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal breast cells divide and multiply more rapidly than healthy cells. These abnormal cells accumulate to form a lump or mass. Doctors have not been able to know the exact cause of breast cancer. However, multiple factors can trigger the chances of developing the disease, and they include:

  • Family history and genetics
    The risk increases if you have parents or close relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Having gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are passed down from parents to children, also increases the risk.
  • Age
    The risk of breast cancer increases with advancing age. 
  • Gender
    The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in women than in men.  
  • Personal history of breast conditions
    The risk increases when an earlier biopsy has indicated atypical hyperplasia of the breast or lobular carcinoma in situ or if cancer has been detected in one breast.
  • Radiation exposure
    The risk of developing the disease increases if you have been exposed to radiation in your head, neck, or chest areas during past treatments.
  • Hormone replacement therapy
    Women who use hormone replacement therapy may be more prone to breast cancer.

Types of breast cancer
Breast cancer  can be categorized into two broad types— invasive and non-invasive. 

Invasive breast cancer
Cancer that has spread from the place of origin to other parts of the body is termed invasive breast cancer. The two subtypes of this breast cancer are:

Invasive ductal carcinoma
This type of invasive breast cancer starts in a milk duct and spreads to nearby tissues. Milk ducts are the tubes through which milk is carried from the lobules to the nipples. Over time, cancer may metastasize to other parts of the body.

Invasive lobular carcinoma
This type of cancer begins in the breast lobules and spreads to nearby tissues. Lobules refer to the glands in the breast that produce milk. A thickened area of breast tissue that does not feel like the rest of the breast upon contact is usually a symptom of invasive lobular carcinoma. 

Some of the less common types of invasive breast cancer include:

  • Locally advanced breast cancer
    If the tumor is 5 cm or larger, or the cancer cells have spread to areas such as the skin or muscle, it is known as locally advanced breast cancer. 
  • Metastatic breast cancer
    When cancer-causing cells have spread beyond the breast to the bones, lungs, liver, or brain, it is called metastatic breast cancer or advanced or stage 4 breast cancer.  

Paget’s disease of the nipple
This is a rare form of breast cancer wherein cancer cells grow in the nipple or the areola. Most often, women with Paget’s disease also have either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer. 

Inflammatory breast cancer
This is a rare type of invasive breast cancer wherein cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels of the breast. The affected breast becomes red and inflamed.

Non-invasive breast cancer
Cancer that has not spread beyond the tissue from where it started is called non-invasive breast cancer. The two main types of non-invasive breast cancer are:

  • Ductal carcinoma in situ
    DCIS is a condition that starts in the milk ducts, but one that has not spread into surrounding breast tissues. Without timely treatment, there is a risk of DCIS becoming invasive cancer. 
  • Lobular carcinoma in situ
    Lobular carcinoma in situ is a benign breast condition wherein there are abnormal cells in the breast’s lobules, but they rarely turn into cancer.

Treatment options
There are several ways to treat and manage breast cancer and its symptoms. The treatments largely depend on the type of breast cancer and how far it has spread.

Surgery
In most cases, surgery may be needed to treat breast cancer. A lumpectomy, also referred to as breast-conserving surgery, removes cancer and some normal tissues surrounding it. A mastectomy is a procedure to remove the whole cancerous breast. 

Chemotherapy
In this cancer treatment, prescriptions are administered to destroy fast-growing cancer cells. They are orally ingested or intravenously administered. They also may be given after surgery to decrease the chance of relapse. Chemotherapy may also be given before surgery to shrink larger breast tumors and enable easy removal with surgery. 

Hormonal therapy
Breast cancers that are sensitive to hormones are treated with hormonal therapy. This treatment uses prescriptions to block hormones from attaching to cancer cells or stop the body from making estrogen after menopause. 

Radiation therapy
This treatment uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. External radiation therapy uses high-energy beams toward the area with cancer. Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy is done by placing a radioactive substance inside the body.

Targeted therapy
This type of treatment attacks specific abnormalities within the cancer cells without harming normal cells. This treatment option for breast cancer is commonly used in combination with chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy
To fight breast cancer, immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system. For this therapy, substances made naturally by the body or in a laboratory are used to stop or slow cancer cell growth. This treatment option can also be used in combination with chemotherapy or targeted therapy, depending on the severity of the condition.

Though breast cancer cannot be prevented, there are certain things you can do to detect cancer before it spreads. For example, you should examine your breasts monthly for changes and get a routine mammogram done yearly. In addition, you should contact your healthcare provider for further examination and testing if you notice any changes in your breasts.

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