Breast Cancer

Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is most common type of cancer in women. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

The rate of breast cancer has been decreasing over the years as a result of increased awareness, screening, and advancing techniques and technologies used to treat breast cancer.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease that starts in the tissues of the breast. As with other cancers, abnormal cells spread uncontrolled into surrounding tissue or other parts of the body. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women.

Diagram showing the interior of a breast. Image courtesy of Cancer Research UK.

Breast Cancer in Women
There are two main types of breast cancer, ductal and lobular. Ductal cancer starts in the tubes that carry milk from the lobes to the nipple. Ductal cancer is the most common type of breast cancer. Lobular cancer starts in the glands that produce milk, also known as the lobes.

Sarcomas and lymphomas are other cancers that start in breast but are not usually considered as breast cancers. This is because breast cancer is defined by the cancers that start in the tissues which specifically make up the breast. Breast sarcomas and lymphomas are rare.

Breast cancer may form a lump, but it’s important to note that not all lumps in the breast are cancer. Benign breast tumors are not life threatening and do not spread. Even so, it’s important for all lumps to be checked by your healthcare provider. Benign tumors can increase the chance of developing breast cancer.

Breast Cancer in Men
Male breast tissue has ducts but few or no lobes. As a result, most male breast cancer starts in the ducts. Male breast cancer is not as common because men have a lower level of female hormones that affect the growth of breast cells.