Breast Cancer
Medical Reviewing Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
"Your mammogram is suspicious for breast cancer." "Your biopsy
was positive for breast cancer." These are among the most terrifying words
a woman can hear from her doctor. Breast cancer elicits so many fears, including
those relating to surgery, death, loss of body image and loss of sexuality.
Managing these fears can be facilitated by information and knowledge so that
each woman can make the best decisions concerning her care. Optimally, these
issues are best discussed with the patient's doctor on an individual basis. What
follows is a review of information on breast cancer intended to aid patients and
their families in their navigation through the vast ocean of breast cancer
issues.
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Families with Breast Cancer
Medical Author: Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 Ms. G. is a 40-year-old woman with two small
children. Like most women, she is concerned about her chances of developing
breast cancer. She asks her doctor about her risks.
Although breast cancer is a worry for most women, Ms. G. is especially worried because of a
family history of breast cancer. Her mother and sister had breast cancers that were diagnosed
at young ages.
A woman with a family history of breast cancer
has a lot of concerns. Among other things, she is thinking of her job, children,
and husband, as well as how her medical insurance and health team will be able
to serve her needs in the future should a crisis arise.
What are the facts about families that have multiple members with breast cancer?
Inherited breast cancer disorders account for a
small minority of breast cancers overall. Genes are the "messages" in
each cell of the body that determine the ultimate design of our bodies. Genes
can be damaged by the environment. Additionally, people can be born with defects
in the genes that remove the body's defenses against cancers. Only in about 10%
of all breast cancer cases is there actually a genetic defect that can be
tested. This means that 90% of breast cancers are due to other causes. In fact,
most cases of breast cancer occur in women who do not have a family history of
breast cancer. A complex interplay between environmental and genetic factors
affect the development of breast cancer, and all the key factors have not yet
been identified.
Top Searched Breast Cancer Terms:
type, research, male breast cancer, statistics, awareness, prevention, warning signs, treatment, mammogram, mastectomy, breast biopsy, inflammatory breast cancer
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Introduction to breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. While the majority of new breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormality seen on a mammogram, a lump or change in consistency of the breast tissue can also be a warning sign of the disease. Heightened awareness of breast cancer risk in the past decades has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates. Still, breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Although breast cancer in women is a common form of cancer, male breast cancer does occur and accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.
Research has yielded much information about the causes of breast cancers, and it is now believed that genetic and/or hormonal factors are the primary risk factors for breast cancer. Staging systems have been developed to allow doctors to characterize the extent to which a particular cancer has spread and to make decisions concerning treatment options. Breast cancer treatment depends upon many factors, including thee type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. Treatment options for breast cancer may involve surgery (removal of the cancer alone or, in some cases, mastectomy), radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
With advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the death rate for breast cancer has declined by about 20% over the past decade, and research is ongoing to develop even more effective screening and treatment programs.
How is the breast designed?
The breasts sit on the chest muscles that cover the ribs. Each breast is made
of 15 to 20 lobes. Lobes contain many smaller lobules. Lobules contain groups of
tiny glands that can produce milk. Milk flows from the lobules through thin
tubes called ducts to the nipple. The nipple is in the center of a dark area of
skin called the areola. Fat fills the spaces between the lobules and ducts.
The breasts also contain lymph vessels. These vessels lead to small, round
organs called lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes are near the breast in the
axilla (underarm), above the collarbone, in the chest behind the breastbone, and
in many other parts of the body. The lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or
other harmful substances.
Picture of the anatomy of the breast
Next: What is the cancer process? »
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