A Brief Guide to Breast Cancer

The myths about breast cancer which are being disseminated by the media's mis-reporting (I am thinking of Kylie Minogue and the Herceptin drug recently), who are intent on either scare-mongering or lulling people into a false sense of security, have prompted me to add this section to my site. It is a quick, no-nonsense guide to what breast cancer is, and the ways in which it affects you.

MYTH No 1: All breast cancers are the same, aren't they?

1.Breast Conditions     2.Grading & Stages     3.Hormonal Therapy
Non-Invasive Breast Cancer &
Benign Conditions		 Invasive Breast Cancer

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
(Franklin Delano Roosevelt)

DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ). The cancer cells are confined to the milk ducts and have not spread throughout the breast. It is sometimes described as "pre-cancerous". It is not harmful at this stage but if left untreated, it can develop into invasive cancer.

"Dream as if you'll live forever,
live as if you'll die tomorrow"
(James Dean)

Primary Breast Cancer means that the cancer cells have spread beyond the lobules or milk ducts, into the surrounding breast tissue, but are still contained within the breast area. Although a primary cancer may never return, or not do so for many years, no treatment can guarantee this. It MAY come back within the breast area or migrate further into a secondary cancer (see below) at ANY point in the future.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer. In this rare form of breast cancer, the cancer cells do not grow in a lump but along the tiny lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. The breast may therefore look inflamed or swollen. This type of cancer can spread more quickly than other types of breast cancers.

Paget's Disease. This is an eczema-like change in the skin of the nipple, and 9 out of 10 women who have this have an underlying breast cancer. The underlying breast cancer may be an invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma in Situ). This is NOT a true cancer, but there is a small increased risk of developing breast cancer. LCIS is a change in the cells lining the lobules or lobes of the breast. Lobules are where milk is produced before and after childbirth. A local recurrence is when cancer cells reappear within the breast area, namely the breast tissue, skin, fatty tissue or chest muscle.
Below are common conditions which are NOT cancers but need to be checked out to rule it out.

A Fibroadenoma, also known as "breast mouse" is a benign solid lump tissue which moves under the skin. These are very common.
Breast cysts are benign fluid-filled sacs within the breast tissue, normally affecting women over 35 who have not reached the menopause.
Duct Ecstasia affects women reaching the menopause and presents symptoms which resemble some of those associated with breast cancer, such as pain, lumps and inverted nipples or discharge. This condition is an inflammation of the lining of the milk ducts, which can sometimes become blocked with fluid.
Intraductal Papilloma is a wart-like lump which forms behind the areola of the nipple and may produce a discharge.
Hyperplasia is when the cells in the ducts or the lobes increase in size and number.
Phyllodes Tumour is a lump which although benign at first, may return and become malignant.
Sclerosing Adenosis is extra tissue growth in the lobules, which can produce a small lump.
Fat Necrosis is a firm lump developing in an area of fatty breast tissue that has been damaged.
Breast Calcifications are harmless spots of calcium salts in the breast, but they may occasionally be a sign of cancer.

"What you cannot avoid, welcome"
(Chinese Proverb)

Secondary Breast Cancer, means that the cancer cells which originated from the breast area, have now migrated (metastasised) to another organ, mainly the lungs, liver, brain or bones through the lymphatic system or blood stream. There is no current cure for secondary breast cancer, and the cancer cells will continue to grow and spread. However, there are several different kinds of treatment which help to slow it down. It is not generally possible to say how long a person with secondary cancer will live or even be symptom-free. The cells may lie dormant for years before they begin to grow again.