Breast CancerBreast cancer is the second most common cancer among woman in the United States (skin cancer is first). Each year nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Of these, 40,000 will die making breast cancer second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in woman. While primarily a disease of woman, men can also get breast cancer with 2000 cases diagnosed in men each year. Of these 450 will be fatal. The breast is a complex structure made of 15 to 20 lobes. Lobes contain many smaller lobules. Lobules contain groups of tiny glands that can produce milk. Milk flows from the lobules through thin tubes called ducts to the nipple. The nipple is in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola. Fat fills the spaces between the lobules and ducts. The breasts also contain lymph vessels. These vessels lead to small, round organs called lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes are near the breast in the axilla (underarm), above the collarbone, in the chest behind the breastbone, and in many other parts of the body. The lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances. Cancer cells begin as normal tissue cells but continue to grow and do not die when they should creating masses of cells called tumors. These tumors can be non cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Benign tumors are rarely dangerous and if they are removed and do not usually grow back. Malignant tumors are more serious and may be life-threatening. They are often more aggressive and can invade and damage nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body forming more tumors. Cancer that spreads to another part of the body is said to have metastasized. Breast cancer is often found in the lymph nodes near the breast and can spread to the bones, liver, lungs and brain. When breast cancer metastasizes to another organ or area of the body, the cancer cells are still breast tissue even if it is in the lungs or bones. |