Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. It can occur in both men and women, although it is far more common in women. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules. Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized. Understanding the basics of breast cancer is crucial for early detection and effective treatment.
Types of Breast Cancer
Breast cancers that have spread into surrounding breast tissue are known as invasive breast cancers. Most breast cancers are invasive, but there are different types of invasive breast cancer. The two most common are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer. IDC starts in the cells that line a milk duct in the breast. From there, the cancer breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the nearby breast tissues.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma: ILC starts in the breast glands that make milk (lobules). Like IDC, it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Breast cancers can also be hormone-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancers.
- Hormone-positive: “ER-positive” cancers. This means the cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen. These cancers also tend to be “PR-positive”, meaning they grow in response to the hormone progesterone.
- Learn about a new drug addressing ER positive cancers on can-ser.org.
- HER2-positive: In this cancer, the cells make too much of a protein known as HER2. These cancers tend to be aggressive and fast-growing.
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): These cancers don’t have estrogen and progesterone receptors and don’t overexpress the HER2 protein. Therefore, they are very hard to treat. Many breast cancers associated with the gene BRCA1 are triple negative.
- Learn about Recent Advances in TNBC treatment on can-ser.org.
Risk factors and causes
While the exact cause of breast cancer remains unclear, certain risk factors increase the likelihood of its development. These factors include gender (women are at a higher risk), age (risk increases with age), family history of breast cancer, inherited gene mutations (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2), and hormonal influences.
Read more about screening for breast cancer and what symptoms to look for on can-ser.org.
Support and Survivorship
Survivorship is a critical aspect of the breast cancer journey. Many individuals, with advancements in early detection and treatment, go on to lead healthy lives after overcoming breast cancer. Support networks, both in the form of friends and family as well as organizations dedicated to breast cancer support, play a vital role in the emotional well-being of those affected.
CanSER is dedicated to ensuring our mission: to lighten the burden of the cancer journey, for Breast and Pediatric Cancer patients and families, in any way possible. We believe that nobody should go through this journey alone, learn more about how CanSER can support you and your family here.