Breast Cancer
Blog post description.
6/7/20261 min read
Breast Cancer is a disease where cells in the breast grow abnormally and uncontrollably, forming a tumor that can invade nearby tissue or spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
It most commonly starts in:
Milk ducts → called ductal carcinoma (most common)
Lobules (milk-producing glands) → called lobular carcinoma
📊 Types of Breast Cancer
1. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
~70–80% of cases
Starts in ducts, spreads into surrounding tissue
2. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
Starts in lobules
Often harder to detect on imaging
3. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
Early, non-invasive stage
Confined to ducts
Highly treatable
4. Triple-negative breast cancer
Lacks estrogen, progesterone, HER2 receptors
More aggressive, fewer targeted treatments
5. HER2-positive breast cancer
Overexpression of HER2 protein
Faster growth but responds to targeted therapy
⚠️ Risk Factors
Non-modifiable
Female sex (highest risk factor)
Age (risk increases after 40–50)
Genetic mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2)
Family history
Early menstruation / late menopause
Modifiable
Alcohol consumption
Obesity (especially after menopause)
Lack of physical activity
Hormone replacement therapy (long-term use)
🔍 Symptoms
Early breast cancer may have no symptoms, but possible signs include:
Lump in breast or underarm
Change in breast shape or size
Skin dimpling or puckering
Nipple inversion
Unusual nipple discharge (sometimes bloody)
Redness or thickening of breast skin
🧪 Diagnosis
1. Screening
Mammogram (X-ray of breast)
Ultrasound (especially in younger women)
MRI (high-risk patients)
2. Confirmation
Biopsy (gold standard)
Core needle biopsy
Tissue examination under microscope
Stage 0: DCIS (non-invasive)
Stage I–II: Early localized cancer
Stage III: Locally advanced (lymph nodes involved)
Stage IV: Metastatic (spread to organs like bone, liver, lung, brain)
💊 Treatment Options
Treatment depends on type and stage:
1. Surgery
Lumpectomy (remove tumor only)
Mastectomy (remove breast)
2. Radiotherapy
Destroys remaining cancer cells after surgery
3. Chemotherapy
Systemic treatment (kills fast-growing cells)
4. Hormone therapy
For estrogen/progesterone receptor-positive cancers
Drugs like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors
5. Targeted therapy
HER2-positive: trastuzumab (Herceptin)
6. Immunotherapy
Used in some advanced or triple-negative cases
📉 Prognosis
Survival depends heavily on stage:
Early stage: very high survival (90%+)
Regional spread: moderate-high survival
Metastatic stage: lower, but improving with modern therapy
🛡️ Prevention / Risk Reduction
Regular screening (mammogram)
Healthy body weight
Exercise
Limiting alcohol
Breastfeeding (protective factor)
Genetic testing for high-risk individuals
Breast cancer is not one disease — it is a group of different cancers with different biology, behavior, and treatment response.
The above content is generated using AI.