Breast cancer begins in the breast and spreads to other parts of the body. When cells multiply uncontrollably, cancer develops.
It’s critical to remember that the majority of breast lumps are benign and not cancerous (malignant). Breast tumors that aren’t cancerous are abnormal growths that don’t spread outside of the breast. Although benign breast lumps are not life threatening, they can raise a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Any lump or change in your breast should be evaluated by a health care specialist to see if it’s benign or malignant (cancer) and if it’ll alter your cancer risk in the future.
Where does breast cancer begin?
- The ducts that deliver milk to the nipple are where most breast tumors start (ductal cancers)
- Some of them begin in the glands that produce breast milk (lobular cancers)
- Other kinds of breast cancer, such as phyllodes tumor and angiosarcoma, are less common.
- A small percentage of breast tumors begin in other tissues. Sarcomas and lymphomas are malignancies that aren’t typically thought of as breast cancers.
Types of breast cancer
Breast cancer comes in numerous forms, the most frequent of which are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma. Others, such as phyllodes tumors and angiosarcoma, are rare.
Breast cancer cells are examined for proteins termed estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 after a biopsy. In the lab, the tumor cells are also examined closely to determine the grade. Treatment options can be influenced by the specific proteins discovered and the tumor grade.
Learn more about breast cancer in the next blog.
Note: * The information on this website is not meant to be used to diagnose health conditions or to replace legitimate medical advice.
Dr. Toufic Ata
Consultant Laparoscopic Bariatric and General Surgery