Cells are the basic building blocks of the tissues and organs of our body. Usually these cells divide to make new cells in a controlled manner and beyond a point the cells are replaced with new cells. This is how our bodies grow, heal and repair. Sometimes, this orderly growth of cells can go wrong due to the mutation or sudden change in the genes which control how cells behave. This can make the cells to divide abnormally producing more and more abnormal cells which then form a lump called as a tumour. These cells lack the ability to stay together, can easily detach from each other and spread via direct contact, lymphatics and blood stream to other organs in the body.
The breast consists of multiple lobules producing milk which are connected to the nipple by multiple ducts. Breast cancer arises commonly from the cells lining the ducts of the breast and is known as Ductal carcinoma. If the abnormal cells have not breached the basement membrane, it is called as Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. If the abnormal cells lining the ducts have breached the membrane and is able to spread to other areas of the breast it is then called as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Similarly the cells lining the lobules of the breast can become abnormal producing cancer and this is called Lobular Carcinoma. Depending on whether the abnormal cells have breached the basement membrane or not, they are called as Invasive Lobular Carcinoma and Lobular carcinoma in situ. Sometimes the cells lining the connective tissue of the breast can become abnormal and producing a tumour called as phyllodes tumour.
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. Other symptoms and signs of breast cancer are changes in the size and shape of the breast, bloody nipple discharge, changes in the breast skin and nipple, lumps in the axilla and occasionally breast pain. Early breast cancers may not present with any symptoms and signs and maybe found by routine screening. To more about symptoms and signs of breast cancer please click here.
Breast cancer is diagnosed by Triple Assessment which means Assessment is done by the following components namely.
The Breast cancer spreads initially to the lymph nodes in the same side axilla by means of lymphatic system. Beyond that it can spread by bloodstream to the liver, lungs, brain and bones.
The grade of breast cancer describes how abnormal the tumour cells look under the microscope compared to normal tissue. It indicates how quick a tumour tissue is likely to grow and spread. In breast cancer the pathologist looks at the biopsy specimen and classifies the tissues as low grade or well differentiated tumour, intermediate grade or moderately differentiated tumour and high grade or poorly differentiated tumour. High grade tumours may spread fast and may need more aggressive treatment.
Staging of Breast Cancer helps us to know the severity of the breast cancer based on how far it has spread. Staging is done based on the size of tumour, presence of enlarged lymph nodes and spread beyond lymph nodes to other parts of the body. This helps us to decide the treatment to be offered to the patient. In addition, it also helps us to know about the prognosis of the patient. Breast cancer is divided into 4 stages with Stage 1 &2 known as Early Breast Cancer (To know more Early Breast Cancer click here), Stage 3 known as Locally Advanced Breast Cancer (To know more about Locally Advanced Breast Cancer click here) and Stage 4 is known as Metastatic Cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India and the incidence of breast cancer is increasing.
Breast cancer accounts for about one third of cancers among women. The incidence of breast cancer among young women seems to be on the rise compared to women 25 years back.
With modern methods of treatment the survival rate among women with breast cancers has increased to a 10 year survival rate of 83% . By regular screening methods we can detect breast cancers much earlier and improve the survival rate further.
Breast cancer is susceptible to various modalities of treatment. This is good because the various methods can be used together to give a good result.The main aim of surgery is to remove the cancer tissue in the breast as well as the lymph nodes in the axilla. After removal of the tumour tissue by surgery, there can be some tumour cells which might have spread beyond the lump. These cells which have spread beyond the tumour are taken care of and killed by radiotherapy for cancer cells present locally near the breast and by chemotherapy and endocrine therapy for cancer cells that have spread beyond the breast.
The various methods to treat breast cancer are
The surgical modalities for breast cancer can be divided into those procedures which remove the cancer tissue from the breast and those surgical modalities which remove the lymph nodes in the axilla. We would need to choose one procedure from each modality. The procedure that is chosen for each patient will depend on the size of the tumour, stage of the tumour, size of the breast, presence of multiple lesions and patient preference.The various surgical procedures to remove the cancer tissue from the breast are.
Here the whole breast is removed. Some women may not want any form of reconstruction of the breast and would like to remain flat chested. They can use prosthesis in their bras if necessary or they can get their breasts reconstructed after some time.
Surgical procedures to address the lymph nodes in the axilla
When patients present with Stage III Breast Cancer in an advanced stage, chemotherapy is given initially to downsize the tumour followed by surgery so that there is less chance of recurrence.
Using an intravenous line, chemotherapy drugs are injected. As the drugs go to all parts of the body it helps to kill the cancer cells which have spread to any other part of the body. In certain tumours as in Stage III tumours it is used as Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy to decrease the size of the tumour. It is also given after surgery or when it has spread to different parts of the body. The regimen and drugs given can vary between different individuals based on the cancer, the stage of presentation and the ability of the individual to tolerate the drugs.
Radiotherapy is given to prevent recurrence of the breast cancer in the local area. It is given if the tumour is big or if the lymph nodes in the breast are involved or when procedures like Breast Conservative Therapy and Therapeutic Mammaplasty are done.
Some cancer tissues have receptors for hormones. When hormones attach to such tissues, the cancer cells tend to grow. So some medicines can be given so that the hormones do not attach to the cancer tissue and prevents it from growing. This hormonal therapy is usually given after the other modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are given. Usually these medications are given for 5 to 10 years.
