Breast Cancer Causes, Stages and Symptoms

Breast Cancer - Overview

Did You Know? Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It is also the second most fatal cancer in women, after lung cancer. However, if diagnosed in time, it is easily treatable. It is a tumour that is malignant in nature and forms in the cells of the breast. While breast cancer is mostly found in women, a very small percentage of men may also be affected. While cancer originates in the breast, it may spread to other parts of the body as well.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer may have a number of symptoms and one of the first symptoms include an area of thickened tissue in the breast or a lump in the breast/armpit. Besides this, some of the other symptoms include:

1. Pain in the armpits or breast that doesn't change with the monthly cycle.
2. Changing the colour of the breasts- Pitting or redness of the skin, like that of an orange.
3. Rash around/on the nipples.
4. A discharge (can include blood) from the nipple.
5. An inverted nipple or one that is sunken.
6. Change in the shape or size of the breast.
7. Flaking, peeling or scaling of the breast/ nipple skin.
8. Swollen lymph nodes around the collarbone or under the arm.

While most lumps aren't cancerous, it is best to have them tested by a doctor. It is important to look for these signs of breast cancer because an early diagnosis increases the chances of healing.

Causes

Breast cancer occurs due to a genetic mutation in the DNAs of the breast cancer cells. The reason behind this damage isn't really known. While some mutation develops randomly over the course of time, others are inherited or are the result of environmental exposures/ lifestyle factors. After the attainment of puberty, a woman's breast consists of thousands of lobules, fat and connective tissues. It also has small ducts or tubes that carry milk towards the nipple. When the body's cells multiply uncontrollably, there is abnormal cell growth. This abnormal growth accounts for cancer. A clear reason as to why it happens is not yet known.

Types

Breast cancer can start in the inner lining of the milk ducts, that supply the breasts with milk invasive ductal carcinoma. When it starts in the glandular tissue lobules, it is called invasive lobular carcinoma. It can also originate in other cells or tissue within the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are two types of pre-cancers. There are also some very rare breast cancers, listed below:

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
• Paget disease of the breast (or the nipple)
• Metaplastic breast cancer
• Angiosarcoma of the breast

Risk Factors

Given below are certain factors that pose a risk of cancer.

1. Age

As a person grows old, the chances of developing breast cancer over the years are also on the rise.

2. Genetics

If the immediate relatives of a person have had breast cancer at a young age, it poses a threat to the person. Also, women carrying BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 genes are exposed to a greater risk of developing ovarian cancer, breast cancer or both.

3. A Strong History

Women having a history of breast cancer are most likely to have it again as compared to those who have no history at all. Moreover, if a person has any benign or non-cancerous breast lumps, it also increases the chances of developing cancer later. However, a majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.

4. Dense breast tissue

A higher density breast tissue is more likely to cause breast cancer in a person.

5. Estrogen exposure and breastfeeding

Exposure to estrogen for a longer period of time increases the risk of breast cancer. There may be many reasons behind this like an early menstrual cycle or late menopause. During this time, the estrogen levels are way higher. Breastfeeding for a period of more than a year reduces the chances of developing breast cancer. This is because pregnancy followed by breastfeeding lessens exposure to estrogen.

6. Body weight

Being overweight or obesity after menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer as the estrogen levels are higher in overweight people. High sugar intake also increases the chances.

7. Alcohol consumption

High alcohol consumption in woman poses a higher risk of breast cancer.

8. Radiation exposure

Women undergoing radiation treatment for other cancers increases the risk of breast cancer in life.

9. Hormone treatments

Hormone replacement therapy and oral birth control pills are known to increase estrogen levels which increases the risk of cancer.

10. Occupational hazards

Exposure to endocrine disruptors and carcinogens also pose an increased risk of cancer for women.

11. Pregnancy History

Women who have had no pregnancy up to the age of 30 or none at all are at an increased risk of having breast cancer.

Stages of Breast Cancer

Based on the biopsy results, all cancers are assigned a stage which helps the medical team in making decisions.

• Stage 0 Breast Cancer- This is the earliest stage of breast cancer and is also known as pre-cancer. It is non-invasive, like the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
• Stage 1 Breast Cancer- In this stage, cancer hasn't spread outside of the breast but is hampering the healthy breast tissue. This stage has two categories, i.e., 1A and 1B based on how far have the lymph nodes spread. Stage 1A is invasive breast cancer where the tumour measures up to 2 cm and no lymph nodes are involved. On the other hand, Stage 1B is invasive breast cancer in which there are small groups of cancer cells found in the lymph nodes with or without the tumour.

• Stage 2 Breast Cancer- This is the growing stage of breast cancer with the tumour not spread much. Based on the largeness of tumour and whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is divided into two categories- 2A and 2B.
• Stage 3 Breast Cancer- It is an advanced stage of cancer but the cancer is still in the lymph nodes and has not spread to the organs. It is divided into three categories 3A, 3B and 3C based on the size of the tumour and involvement of lymph nodes.
• Stage 4 Breast Cancer- Also known as metastatic breast cancer, this stage is considered incurable as cancer has spread way too far.