Breast Cancer
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Breast Cancer
NIH - Medical Encyclopedia Breast cancer "There are several different types of breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma begins in the cells lining the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. Lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-secreting glands of the breast but is otherwise fairly similar in its behavior to ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast cancer can arise from the skin, fat, connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast. … Some women have what is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, is a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds up. It’s believed that HER2 plays a key role in turning healthy cells into cancerous ones. Some women with breast cancer have too much HER2, and are therefore considered HER2-positive. … Some families appear to have a genetic tendency for breast cancer. Two variant genes have been found that appear to account for this: BRCA1 and BRCA2. … The body's reduced ability to get rid of abnormal cells leads to damage that gradually accumulates. Women carrying mutated BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes start with pre-existing dysfunction of this system and have a "head start" in this damaging process. Hormones are important because they encourage cell growth. High levels of hormones during a woman's reproductive years, especially when they are not interrupted by the hormonal changes of pregnancy, appear to increase the chances that genetically damaged cells will grow and cause cancer."
Types of breast cancer "Common types of breast cancer The most common types of breast cancer begin either in your breast's milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or in the milk-producing glands (lobular carcinoma). The point of origin is determined by the appearance of the cancer cells under a microscope. In situ breast cancer In situ (noninvasive) breast cancer refers to cancer in which the cells have remained within their place of origin — they haven't spread to breast tissue around the duct or lobule. The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is confined to the lining of the milk ducts. The abnormal cells haven't spread through the duct walls into surrounding breast tissue. With appropriate treatment, DCIS has an excellent prognosis. Invasive breast cancer Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancers spread outside the membrane that lines a duct or lobule, invading the surrounding tissues. The cancer cells can then travel to other parts of your body, such as the lymph nodes. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). IDC accounts for about 70 percent of all breast cancers. The cancer cells form in the lining of your milk duct, then break through the ductal wall and invade nearby breast tissue. The cancer cells may remain localized — staying near the site of origin — or spread (metastasize) throughout your body, carried by your bloodstream or lymphatic system. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Although less common than IDC, this type of breast cancer invades in a similar way, starting in the milk-producing lobules and then breaking into the surrounding breast tissue. ILC can also spread to more distant parts of your body. With this type of cancer, you typically won't feel a distinct, firm lump but rather a fullness or area of thickening."
Breast lumps: Types of lumps and what they mean "Causes Breast lump causes: Breast cancer Breast cyst Fibroadenoma Fibrocystic changes Hamartoma Injury or trauma to the breast Intraductal papilloma Lipoma Mastitis Milk cyst (galactocele) Phyllodes tumor. "
NIH – Breast Cancer “Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Risks that you cannot change include • Age - the chance of getting breast cancer rises as a woman gets older • Genes - there are two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that greatly increase the risk. Women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer may wish to be tested. • Personal factors - beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55 Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after age 35 or having dense breasts. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Breast self-exam and mammography can help find breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. “
NHS – Breast Cancer “Types of breast cancer: There are several different types of breast cancer, which can develop in different parts of the breast. The most common is known as ductal breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the breast ducts. Ductal breast cancer accounts for about 80% of all cases of breast cancer. Other, less common types of breast cancer include lobular breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the milk-producing lobules, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget's disease of the breast. It is possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bones, or lymph nodes (small glands that filter bacteria from the body). … Symptoms: The main symptom of breast cancer is usually a lump, or thickened area of tissue, in your breast. The majority of breast lumps are found by the women who have them, and it is very important that you are aware of any lumps, or changes in the appearance, feel, or shape of your breasts. This is important because the sooner a cancerous lump is detected, the better the chances are that it will be treated successfully. Changes to look out for You should see your GP if you notice any of the following: • a lump, or thickened area of tissue, in either breast, • discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood), • a lump or swelling in either of your armpits,a change in the size, or shape, of one, or both, of your breasts, • dimpling on the skin of your breasts, • a rash on, or around, your nipple,a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast, or • pain in either of your breasts or armpits which is not related to your period. If you have a lump in your breast, it is important to remember that it may not be the result of breast cancer. In fact, 90% of breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous). For example, a breast lump may be caused by a harmless cyst (a small fluid-filled lump), or fibroadenoma (benign growths that are very common). You may also find that your breasts feel lumpy just before your period. However, if you notice any changes to one, or both, of your breasts, as listed above, you should always get it checked by your GP. “
NHS – Breast Cancer Expert (Video)
NHS – Breast Cancer Screening (Video)
Highlighted Articles
Primary tumor location impacts breast cancer survival. (Am J Surg. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Upper-outer quadrant breast cancers have a more favorable survival advantage when compared with tumors in other locations. Factors that negatively impacted survival included high-grade tumors, advanced stage, and race.”
Adulthood Lifetime Physical Activity and Breast Cancer. (Epidemiology. 2008) “Women who increased their recreational activity in their 50s had significantly reduced risk, with those in the highest tertile of change being at a 27% lower risk. CONCLUSIONS:: Leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous activities reduce breast cancer risk irrespective of underlying host characteristics.”
Cruciferous vegetables, the GSTP1 Ile105Val genetic polymorphism, and breast cancer risk. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Cruciferous vegetable intake consistent with high isothiocyanate exposure may reduce breast cancer risk. Cruciferous vegetable intake also may ameliorate the effects of the GSTP1 genotype.”
Breast Cancer: Benign Breast Lumps (2007) “Eighty percent of all breast lumps are benign, which means they're not cancerous. Benign breast lumps usually have smooth edges and can be moved slightly when you push against them. They are often found in both breasts.
Mammographic Breast Density as a General Marker of Breast Cancer Risk (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2007) "Overall mammographic density seems to represent a general marker of breast cancer risk that is not specific to breast side or location of the eventual cancer."
Lifetime physical activity and the risk of breast cancer: A case-control study. (Cancer Detect Prev. 2007) "Conclusions: These data are in concordance with the hypothesis that lifetime total physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk. They also suggest that recreational physical activity at ages 14-20 years is the most beneficial. In addition, these findings confirm the majority of previous reports which implicated physical inactivity as important risk factor for breast cancer."
Highlighted Internet Sites
NCI – What You Need To Know About Breast Cancer
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Breast Cancer
Risk Factors
NEWS:
Acrylamide In Food May Increase The Risk Of Breast Cancer, New Findings Suggest “The findings show a positive association between an increased acrylamide-haemoglobin level and the development of breast cancer after adjustment for smoking behaviour. The risk of breast cancer doubles with a tenfold increase in the acrylamide-haemoglobin level. A tenfold increase in the acrylamide-haemoglobin level corresponds more or less to the difference measured between the women with the lowest and highest exposure. The study also shows a stronger association for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.”
Breast Cancer Risk Varies Among BRCA1/2 Carriers “The major finding of our study is that there is considerable variance in cancer risk, explained lead author Colin Begg, PhD, chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "For example, relatives of carriers diagnosed at young ages have higher risks than relatives of carriers diagnosed at older ages. Also, relatives of the women with contralateral breast cancer had higher risks than relatives of women with a single breast cancer." “
Caffeine and Nicotine May Influence Breast Cancer Risk “The consumption of caffeine is not linked to an overall increase in breast cancer, according to a report published in the October 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. However, the study does note that that a high consumption of caffeine might increase the risk for breast cancer in women with a history of benign breast disease. The researchers also found a significant positive association between a high intake of caffeine and risk for breast tumors that were estrogen-receptor negative and progesterone-receptor negative (ER-PR-) or that were larger than 2 cm. Separately, a new study published in the October 15 issue of Cancer Research suggests a possible role for nicotine in breast tumor development and metastases. Although the research is very preliminary, the study suggests that nicotine might be a component in the initiation of breast cancer induced by second-hand smoke.”
Family history raises breast cancer risk for life “Women who have a sister diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher than average risk of also developing the disease, and this increased risk will persist for the rest of their lives, epidemiologists in Sweden report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.”
Family History Raises Breast Cancer Risk “Women with a strong family history of breast cancer who do not have genes associated with increased risk of the disease have a fourfold greater chance of developing it than the average woman, new research indicates. The finding may help doctors detect breast cancer earlier in high-risk women and lead to more and earlier preventive treatments, says the University of Toronto's Steven Narod, MD, senior author of the study. Women with several blood relatives who have breast cancer have been known for years to be at higher risk themselves, Narod tells WebMD.“
Hyperinsulinemia May Be Risk Factor for Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
Lights at night tied to breast cancer “Scientists have known for years that rats raised in cages where lights are left on for much of the night have higher cancer rates than those allowed to sleep in darkness. And epidemiological studies of nurses, flight attendants and others who work at night have found breast-cancer rates 60 percent above normal, even when other factors such as differences in diet are accounted for.”
Low Levels of Vitamin D Spell Trouble for Breast Cancer Patients “Women with breast cancer who have a vitamin D deficiency at the time of diagnosis are more likely to have a recurrence or to die from their disease, a new study shows. Surprisingly, the researchers also found that only 24 percent of the patients had adequate levels of vitamin D when they were diagnosed. “
Mutation Spells Bad News for Breast Cancer Patients “Breast cancer patients with a mutation in both copies of the NQO1 gene have a 20% lower survival rate 5 years after treatment than do patients without the mutation, according to a new study of more than 2000 Finnish women. Those with the mutation were also four times less likely to respond to a common type of chemotherapy. NQO1 encodes an enzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress, damage to the cell and its DNA caused by reactive byproducts of metabolism. The NQO1 enzyme also helps to stabilize p53, sometimes called the "guardian angel" protein for its crucial role in preventing tumors. Because NQO1 protects a cell's DNA and its anticancer proteins, mutations that compromise the NQO1 enzyme are pernicious. One mutation, called NQO1*2, increases the risk of cancer or cancer relapse, especially for leukemia.“
Stress may raise breast cancer risk in young women “Young women who experience more than one stressful life event are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, but a general feeling of happiness and optimism may help guard against the disease, Israeli researchers report.”
Women Born As Big Babies More Susceptible To Breast Cancer
ARTICLES:
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Body Size and Risk of Luminal, HER2-Overexpressing, and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008)
Common gene boosts breast cancer risk in smokers “Researchers have confirmed yet another ill effect of smoking cigarettes: it increases the risk of breast cancer in women with a common genetic variation. The gene involved, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), is believed to help clear the body of aromatic amines, a major carcinogen in tobacco smoke. The researchers found that women with the slower-acting form of this gene -- who represent 50 percent to 60 percent of the white population and 35 percent to 40 percent of African-Americans -- are more likely to get breast cancer if they smoke. “
Does breast cancer start in the womb? (Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008)
Effects of Birth Order and Maternal Age on Breast Cancer Risk: Modification by Whether Women had been Breast-fed. (Epidemiology. 2008)
Factors affecting the palpability of breast lesion by self-examination. (Singapore Med J. 2008)
Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer: clinicopathological characteristics and survival of BRCA2 positive and negative cases. (J Exp Ther Oncol. 2008)
Mammographic density, breast cancer risk and risk prediction (Breast Cancer Research 2007)
Patterns of Alcohol (Especially Wine) Consumption and Breast Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study among a Population in Southern France. (Ann Epidemiol. 2008)
Red Meat Consumption during Adolescence among Premenopausal Women and Risk of Breast Cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008) “CONCLUSION: Higher red meat intake in adolescence may increase the risk of premenopausal breast cancer.”
Relationship between Low Ultraviolet B Irradiance and Higher Breast Cancer Risk in 107 Countries. (Breast J. 2008) “There was a protective effect of UVB irradiance on risk of breast cancer that was independent of fertility rate, proportion of the population overweight, alcohol intake, animal energy intake, and other covariates.”
Risk Factors for the Incidence of Breast Cancer: Do They Affect Survival From the Disease? (Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008) “Conclusion: The apparent benefit of alcohol intake has not been described before, and our data need to be interpreted with some caution. However, our finding that an increase in BMI is associated with a poorer prognosis supports previously published data and suggests that advice on weight loss should be given to all obese patients with breast cancer. “
Risk of breast cancer associated with papilloma. (Eur J Surg Oncol. 2008)
The epidemiology of inflammatory breast cancer. (Semin Oncol. 2008)
Timing of Familial Breast Cancer in Sisters. (J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008)
Variation of breast cancer risk among BRCA1/2 carriers. (JAMA. 2008) “CONCLUSION: There exists broad variation in breast cancer risk among carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.”
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