What is Breast cancer?

-Inside a woman's breast are 15 to 20 sections - Lobes

-Each lobe is made of many smaller sections - Lobules

-Lobules have groups of tiny glands that can make milk

-After a baby is born, breast milk flows from the lobules through thin tubes (ducts) to the nipple

-Fibrous tissue and fat fill the spaces between the lobules and ducts.

Each breast also has blood vessels and lymph vessels

Lymph nodes:

-Small, bean-shaped collections of immune system cells

-Connected by lymphatic vessels

Immune system cells: Cells that are important in fighting infections

Lymphatic vessels:

are like small veins, except that they carry a clear fluid called lymph (instead of blood) away from the breast.

Lymph

contains tissue fluid and waste products, as well as immune system cells.

Breast cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels and begin to grow in lymph nodes.

Most lymphatic vessels in the breast connect to lymph nodes under the arm :Axillary nodesSome lymphatic vessels connect to lymph nodes inside the chest (internal mammary nodes) and those either above or below the collarbone (supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes).

-Breast cancer happens when normal cells in the breast change and grow out of control.

-Breast cancer is much more common in women than in men. But men can get the disease

Most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the ducts-
Ductal cancers
-About 7 of every 10 women with breast cancer have ductal carcinoma.

Some begin in the cells that line the lobules-
Lobular cancers
-About 1 of every 10 women with breast cancer has lobular carcinoma.

A small number start in other tissues.

Most breast lumps are not cancerous (benign).

Fibroadenomas or intraductal papillomas are abnormal growths, but they are not cancerous.

They are not life threatening.

Stage depends on the size of the breast tumor and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Doctors describe the stages of breast cancer using the Roman numerals 0, I, II, III, and IV and the letters A, B, and C.

Stage I to IIIA: Early-stage breast cancer
Stage IV : Advanced cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver.

Stage 0 - Carcinoma in situ.
Abnormal cells are in the lining of a breast duct, but the abnormal cells have not invaded nearby breast tissue or spread outside the duct.

Stage IA
The breast tumor is no more than 2 cm (no more than 3/4 of an inch) across. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage IB
The tumor is no more than 2 cm across. Cancer cells are found in lymph nodes.

Stage IIA
The tumor is no more than 2 cm across, and the cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes.
Or, the tumor is between 2 and 5 cm (between 3/4 of an inch and 2 inches) across, but the cancer hasn't spread to underarm lymph nodes.

Stage IIB
The tumor is between 2 and 5 cm across, and the cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes.
Or, the tumor is larger than 5 cm across, but the cancer hasn't spread to underarm lymph nodes.

Stage IIIA
The breast tumor is no more than 5 cm across, and the cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes that are attached to each other or nearby tissue. Or, the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone.
Or, the tumor is more than 5 cm across. The cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or nearby tissue. Or, the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone but not spread to underarm lymph nodes.

Stage IIIB
The breast tumor can be any size, and it has grown into the chest wall or the skin of the breast. The breast may be swollen or the breast skin may have lumps.
The cancer may have spread to underarm lymph nodes, and these lymph nodes may be attached to each other or nearby tissue. Or, the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone.

Stage IIIC
The breast cancer can be any size, and it has spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone and under the arm. Or, the cancer has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone.

Stage IV
The tumor can be any size, and cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain.

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