What exactly causes breast cancer?

When abnormal cells in your breast divide and multiply, breast cancer develops. However, experts are unsure what causes this process to begin in the first place.

However, studies show that several risk factors can increase your chances of developing breast cancer. These are some examples:

• Age. Being 55 or older increases your chances of developing breast cancer.

• Sex. Women are far more likely than men to develop breast cancer.

• Genetics and family history If you have parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives who have had breast cancer, you are more likely to get it at some point in your life. Single abnormal genes passed down from parents cause about 5% to 10% of breast cancers in children, which can be discovered by genetic testing.

• Smoking. Tobacco use has been linked to numerous cancers, including breast cancer.

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages. According to research, drinking alcohol may increase your risk of developing certain types of breast cancer.

• Obesity. Obesity can increase your risk of developing breast cancer and having it recur.

• Radiation exposure. You are more likely to develop breast cancer if you have previously received radiation therapy, particularly to your head, neck, or chest.

• Replacement hormone therapy. People who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are more likely to develop breast cancer.

• Numerous other factors can raise your risk of developing breast cancer. Consult your doctor to determine if you are at risk.

How is breast cancer identified?

Your healthcare provider will examine your breasts and inquire about your family history, medical history, and current symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend tests to check for breast abnormalities. Among these tests are:

1- Mammogram. Changes or abnormal growths in your breast can be detected using these specialized X-ray images. A mammogram is commonly used in the prevention of breast cancer.

2- Ultrasonography. This test employs sound waves to photograph the tissues within your breast. It is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast lumps or abnormalities.

3- Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning: A PET scan highlights suspicious areas with special dyes. During this test, your doctor will inject a special dye into your veins and use a scanner to take images.

4- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test produces clear, detailed images of the structures inside your breast using magnets and radio waves.

If your doctor notices anything suspicious on the imaging tests, he or she may perform a breast tissue biopsy. The sample will be sent to a pathology lab for analysis.

What are the stages of breast cancer?

Staging describes how much cancer is present in your body. Several factors influence it, including the size and location of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. The primary stages of breast cancer are as follows:

Stage 0. The disease is not contagious. This means it hasn't escaped from your breast ducts.

Cancer cells have spread to nearby breast tissue at this stage.

Stage 2. The tumor is either less than 2 centimeters in diameter and has spread to the underarm lymph nodes or more than 5 centimeters in diameter but has not spread to the underarm lymph nodes. Tumors at this stage can range in size from 2 to 5 centimeters across and may or may not cause symptoms.

Stage 3. At this point, cancer has spread beyond its original site. Although it has infiltrated nearby tissue and lymph nodes, it has not spread to distant organs. Stage III breast cancer is also known as locally advanced breast cancer.

Stage 4. Cancer has spread to other parts of your body, including your bones, liver, lungs, and brain. Breast cancer in stage IV is also known as metastatic breast cancer.

What is the treatment for breast cancer?

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy are all options for treating breast cancer. What is best for you is determined by various factors, including the location and size of the tumor, the results of your lab tests, and whether the cancer has spread to other areas of your body. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific needs by your healthcare provider. It's also not uncommon to receive a combination of treatments.

Surgery for breast cancer

The cancerous portion of your breast and an area of normal tissue surrounding the tumor are removed during breast cancer surgery. Depending on your situation, there are various types of surgery available, including:

Lumpectomy. A lumpectomy, a partial mastectomy, removes the tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue around it. Some lymph nodes in your breast or under your arm are typically removed for evaluation. In the weeks following a lumpectomy, patients frequently receive radiation therapy.

Mastectomy. Another option is to have your entire breast removed. Doctors can sometimes perform a nipple-sparing mastectomy to preserve your nipple and areola (the dark skin around your nipple). Many women elect to have immediate or delayed breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.

Biopsy of a sentinel node Because early detection of breast cancer results in the lymph nodes being negative (for cancer) in the majority of cases, the sentinel node biopsy was developed to avoid the unnecessary removal of large numbers of lymph nodes that aren't affected by cancer. Doctors inject a dye that tracks to the first lymph node where cancer would spread to identify the sentinel lymph node. If that lymph node is cancer-free, no additional lymph nodes need to be removed. If that lymph node has cancer, additional lymph nodes may need to be removed. More than one sentinel node is often identified, but the fewer lymph nodes removed, the less likely you are to develop swelling in your arm (lymphedema). 

Axillary lymph node dissection If cancer has spread to multiple lymph nodes, an axillary lymph node dissection may be performed to remove them. This entails removing many lymph nodes under your arm (your axilla).

Radical mastectomy with modifications. Your entire breast, as well as your nipple, is removed during this procedure. Your underarm lymph nodes are also removed, but your chest muscles remain intact. If desired, breast reconstruction is frequently an option.

Mastectomy with radical resection. This procedure is rarely used today unless your breast cancer has spread to your chest wall muscles. During a radical mastectomy, your surgeon will remove your entire breast, nipple, underarm lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles. 

Breast cancer chemotherapy

To shrink the tumor before a lumpectomy, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy for breast cancer. It is sometimes administered following surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence (coming back). If your breast cancer has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as a primary treatment.

Breast cancer radiation therapy

Radiation therapy for breast cancer is typically administered following a lumpectomy or mastectomy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. It can also be used to treat single metastatic tumors that are causing pain or other complications.

Some types of breast cancer grow by utilizing hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. In these cases, hormone therapy can either lower estrogen levels or prevent estrogen from attaching to breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy is commonly used after surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, they may also use it before surgery to shrink the tumor or treat cancer spreading to other parts of your body.

Breast cancer immunotherapy

Immunotherapy targets and attacks breast cancer cells using the power of your immune system. The medication is administered intravenously (through a vein in your arm or hand). Immunotherapy for breast cancer may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy by your doctor.

Breast cancer-targeted drug therapy

Some drugs can target specific cell characteristics that cause cancer. If your breast cancer has spread to other body parts, your doctor may recommend targeted drug therapy. Monoclonal antibodies (such as trastuzumab, and pertuzumab antibody-drug conjugates (such as ado-trastuzumab emtansine and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan), and kinase inhibitors are among the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of breast cancer (such as lapatinib, neratinib, and tucatinib).