So, What is Breast Cancer Anyway?

Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Research found via American Cancer Society here: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/what-is-breast-cancer.html

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer, like all cancers, are a group of cells that grow and multiply beyond normal, and usually out of control. The growth, also known as a tumor, can either be felt or seen on an x-ray machine. Malignant tumors can spread and invade to all areas of the body. Breast cancer is specifically found and originated in breast tissue. 

Where Breast Cancer starts:

There are different types of breast cancers and are usually categorized by where they originate: ductal cancers that begin in milk ducts, lobular cancers that begin in the breast glands, and other, less common types as well.

Most breast lumps are benign and not malignant tumors. They may be abnormal growths, but they do not spread, which is a key factor in diagnosing breast cancer. Can some of these benign breast lumps mean a woman might develop cancer? It varies from case to case, but any lumps, benign or not, should be monitored and checked regularly by a medical professional.

How Breast Cancer spreads:

Cancer cells are carried from the breast through the blood or lymph system.

Most commonly, breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes that the lymph vessels of the breast drain into, including the axillary nodes under the arm, the supraclavicular nodes above the collar bone, the infraclavicular nodes below the collar bone, and the internal mammary nodes inside the chest near the sternum.

If cancer cells are found in these lymph nodes, is it more likely that other parts of the body have been invaded by the cancerous cells as well, including organs and soft tissue. This is not the case for everyone, as everyone’s body and cancer experience is different. It is of the utmost important to monitor and check in with your doctor regularly since catching early signs helps save lives.

Check out the American Cancer Society’s full explanation of Breast Cancer HERE