Breast cancer is a form of cancer that originates in the tissues of the breast. There are two types of breast cancer, the first being ductal carcinoma, which originates in the ducts or small tunnels that carry the milk through the breast and into the nipple. Lobular carcinoma begins in the lobules of the breast, which produce the milk. Even if the cancer originates in one area of the breast, it could easily spread to other parts of the breast, which would then diagnose the form of cancer as invasive.
Some women that are diagnosed with breast cancer may have one of the two main types, but the form of cancer can vary in strength. Depending on the type of breast cancer, some hormonal cells could cause aggressive growth to the cancerous cell. One hormone that scientists believe cause rapid breast cancer growth is what is known as oestrogen. If a woman, diagnosed with breast cancer, tests positive for HER2, then the aggressiveness of the cancer will be much more severe than standard breast cancer. HER2 is a protein that enables cells grow, multiply, and repair damage. When this protein starts copying the cancerous cell, the cancer will spread rapidly through the body.
Breast cancer is caused by all sorts of different factors, some of the factors are things that can't be avoided, but not every cause is completely up to fate. The most common reason for developing breast cancer is old age. The older the body gets, the less likely that the cells are able to correct every abnormality that surfaces in the breast tissue. The instant that one change is left uncorrected, breast cancer could emerge. Other unavoidable possibilities are dependant on family history, the types of genes present in the body, and body going through puberty at a young age. Lastly, breast cancer is far more common in women, but it can occur in men in rare occasions.
One common issue that has been linked to cause breast cancer is the consumption of alcohol and being obese. These are the main two causes of breast cancer that can be avoided with proper care. Other causes that can be linked to breast cancer are never giving birth to a child or waiting until over the age of 30, replacing hormones, and being exposed to radiation. If you want to find out about how a doctor diagnoses breast cancer, the process is fairly simple. Usually, the doctor will perform a simple scan of the chest with the hands to see if there is any type of lump that may seem enlarged. it can be easy to misjudge a cancerous lump for lymph nodes, so if you are checking yourself - you'll want to get a second opinion from a qualified professional.
If the doctor finds a lump, then a mammography will take place in order look at the cell in more detail. If the cells is considered benign, then no further action needs to take place, as the cell would be considered non-cancerous. If the cell is malignant, then the doctor would have to perform a lumpectomy, which is a surgery of the breast in order to remove the tumor. Even after the surgery is successful, depending on the type of breast cancer, there is a fairly significant risk that recurrance could take place, so the battle will not be over after surgery.
Fighting breast cancer is a battle that many women all over the world have lost. That is why the importance of always making regular appointments with your doctor for breast scans cannot be overstated.