Abnormal growth of cells in breast can cause cancer and the cells can spread to other parts of the body to form malignant tumor whereas, benign tumor is a condition in which, the abnormal growth of cells do not threaten life and it can be cured. The tumor cells can cause breast cancer and it has been found that five to ten percent of the cases of breast cancer are caused due to hereditary reasons because a particular gene can cause mutation and cause tumor.
Structure of female breast and cause of cancer: Female busts are made up of lobules, ducts and stroma. Lobules are the milk producing glands, ducts are tiny tubes that carry milk through the lobules to the nipples and stroma refers to the tissues (connective tissues and the fatty tissues), which encircles the ducts and milk producing glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels.
Cancer starts in the cells that are close to the ducts and it is called ductal cancer. Cancer effecting the lobules is called lobular cancer and there are many other forms of cancer which are either restricted to the tissues or it spreads to other parts.
Carcinoma and adrenocarcinoma: Carcinoma refers to the cancer, which starts in the inner lining of epithelial cells and most of the breast cancer are carcinomas. Whereas, adenocarcinoma is a condition in which the carcinoma starts from the glandular tissues (the tissues which secretes substances such as ducts or lobules).
Invasive carcinoma: It is also called infiltrating carcinoma and it is caused when the cancer spreads from the ducts and lobules to nearby tissues. It is a dangerous condition and it can be detected through mammogram screening as the doctor tries to diagnose if the tumor cells have spread to the lymph nodes or not.
Role of the Lymph system: Lymph nodes are small collections of cells, which provide immunity to the human body. The cells of lymph system fight infections and it is connected through the lymphatic vessels which are small veins that carry fluid called lymph. The cancer cells from the busts can spreads to the lymph nodes found under the arms called the auxiliary nodes or the lymph nodes found inside the chest called the internal mammary glands or to the collarbone (called the infraclavicular or supraclavicular nodes).
If the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, then there is a high chance of the abnormal cells infecting the blood stream and spreading to other parts of the body. And the patient may suffer from cancer of other parts of the body as well.
Early stage of breast cancer: There are many stages of cancer and depending on the size of the tumor; the medical practitioner can identify its stage. If women are diagnosed with a tumor, it can be treated by any of the methods: breast sparing therapy or mastectomy. The survival rate of women in both the methods of treatment is almost same. Sometimes, the lumps are non-cancerous and sometimes, the lumps are a just fibrous tissue, which goes away on its own.
