What Is Cancer?
Cancer affects one out of every
three people in the United States. Cancer has most likely affected you or
someone you know. Here is some information to help you understand cancer
better.
You are made up of trillions of cells that grow and divide as needed throughout your life. Cells normally perish when they become aberrant or aged.
Cancer develops when something
goes wrong in this process and your cells continue to produce new cells but the
old or abnormal ones do not die as they should. Cancer cells can crowd out
normal cells as they grow out of control. This makes it difficult for your body
to function normally.
Cancer can be successfully
treated in many cases. In fact, more people than ever before are living full
lives following cancer treatment.
Cancer is a multifaceted disease
Cancer comes in numerous forms.
Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and is named after the location where
it first appears. Breast cancer, for example, is still considered breast cancer
even if it spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body.
Cancer is classified into two types:
Hematologic (blood) cancers,
which include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, are cancers of the
blood cells.
Solid tumor malignancies are tumors of any other organ or tissue in
the body. Breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers are the most frequent
solid tumors.
These cancers are similar in some
ways, but they can differ in terms of how they grow, spread, and respond to
treatment. Some tumors spread quickly. Others develop more slowly. Some are
more likely to spread to other areas of the body than others. Others tend to
remain where they began.
Cancer of larynx responds
well to surgery, while others respond better to medications such as
chemotherapy. To achieve the best results, two or more treatments are
frequently used.
What is a tumor?
- Tumors are lumps or growths. Some lumps are cancerous, but the majority are not.
- Benign lumps are those that are not cancerous.
- Malignant lumps are cancerous lumps.
Cancer differs from benign
tumors in that it can spread to other parts of the body, whereas benign
tumors do not. Malignancy cells can spread from the spot where cancer
began. These cells can spread throughout the body and end up in lymph nodes or
other organs, creating issues with regular processes.
What causes cancer?
Cancer cells evolve as a result
of several mutations in their DNA. There are numerous potential causes for
these alterations. Lifestyle choices, genes inherited from parents, and
exposure to cancer-causing agents in the environment can all play a role.
Often, there is no clear cause.
What is the stage of cancer?
When a cancer is discovered, tests
are performed to determine the size of cancer and whether it has spread
from its original location. This is referred to as cancer 4 stages.
A lower stage (such as stage 1 or
2) indicates that cancer has not progressed widely. A higher number (such
as stage 3 or 4) indicates that it has spread further. The fourth stage is the
most advanced.
The stage of cancer is critical
in determining the appropriate treatment for a person. Inquire with your doctor
about the stage of your cancer and what it means for you.
What causes cancer to spread?
Cancer can spread to different
places of the body from where it began (the original site).
Cancer cells that break free from
a tumor can travel to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or the lymph
system. Cancer cells that spread through the bloodstream have the potential to
reach distant organs. Cancer cells may end up in lymph nodes if they migrate
through the lymph system.
In either case, the majority of
the escaped cancer cells die or are killed before they can begin to grow
elsewhere. However, one or two may settle in a new location, begin to grow, and
form new tumors. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to a new part of the
body.
A metastasis is made up of the
same type of cells as primary cancer. They are not new cancer kind.
Breast cancer cells that move to the lungs, for example, are still breast
cancer and NOT lung cancer. And colon cancer cells that have spread to the
liver are still considered colon cancer.
Cancer cells must go through
various alterations in order to move to new regions of the body. They must
first be able to separate from the primary tumor and connect to the exterior
wall of a lymph vessel or blood vessel. They must then pass through the vessel
wall with the blood or lymph to reach a new organ or lymph node.
What Factors Contribute to Breast Cancer?
We have no idea what causes each
individual occurrence of breast cancer. However, we do know a lot about the
risk factors for these cancers. For example, lifestyle-related risk factors
such as what you eat and how much you exercise can raise your risk of
developing breast cancer, but it's unclear how some of these risk factors
induce normal cells to become cancerous. Hormones appear to play a role in many
occurrences of breast cancer, although the exact mechanism is unknown.
Normal breast cells can become
cancerous due to changes or mutations in genes. However, only around 1 in 10
breast tumors (10%) are connected to known faulty genes passed down from
parents (inherited).
Because many genes have yet to be
discovered, women with a family history of breast cancer may have inherited a
faulty gene that is not detected by a genetic test. The majority of breast
cancers (about 90%) are caused by acquired (rather than inherited) gene changes
that have yet to be identified.
How genetic alterations can cause breast cancer
Genes govern how our cells work.
They are composed of a chemical known as DNA, which is inherited from both of
our parents. DNA influences more than just our appearance; it can also
influence our risk of getting certain diseases, including some types of cancer.
Proto-oncogenes are genes found
in normal cells that help control when the cells grow, divide to generate new
cells or stay alive. When a proto-oncogene is mutated (changed), it becomes an
oncogene. These mutant oncogenes can cause cancer in cells.
Tumor suppressor genes are found
in normal cells and assist govern how frequently normal cells split in two,
repair DNA mistakes, or force cells to die at the appropriate moment. If a
cell's tumor suppressor gene is mutated, the cell can develop cancer.
Gene alterations that turn on
oncogenes or turn down tumor suppressor genes can cause cancer. Breast cancer
is frequently caused by changes in many distinct genes.
Gene changes that are inherited
Some gene variations (mutations)
are passed down from your parents. This indicates that the mutations are
present in all of your cells at birth.
Certain inherited gene changes
have been linked to many cancers that run in families. The BRCA genes (BRCA1
and BRCA2), for example, are tumor suppressor genes. When one of these genes
changes, it no longer controls aberrant cell proliferation, increasing the
likelihood of cancer. A mutation in one of these genes can be passed down from
parent to child.
Advances in understanding the
genetic underpinnings of breast cancer have already begun to assist women. Some
women can be identified by genetic testing if they have inherited mutations in
the BRCA1 or BRCA2 tumor suppressor genes, as well as other less prevalent
genes including PALB2, ATM, or CHEK2.
These women can then take steps
to reduce their risk of breast cancer by increasing breast awareness and adhering
to appropriate screening recommendations to detect cancer at an earlier, more
treatable stage. Because these mutations are frequently related with
malignancies other than breast cancer, women with these mutations should
consider early screening and preventive measures for other cancers.
Mutations in tumor suppressor
genes, such as the BRCA genes, are referred to be "high penetrance"
because they frequently result in cancer. Although many women with high
penetrance mutations develop cancer, this type of mutation is not responsible
for the majority of cases of cancer (including breast cancer).
Low-penetrance mutations or gene
variants are more frequently implicated in cancer formation. Each of them may
have a minor impact on cancer in a single person, but the cumulative impact on
the population can be significant because the mutations are prevalent and
people frequently have more than one at the same time.
The genes involved can influence
hormone levels, metabolism, and other risk factors for breast cancer. These
genes may also be responsible for a significant portion of the familial risk of
breast cancer.
Gene mutations acquired
The majority of breast
cancer-related gene mutations are acquired. This suggests that the alteration
occurs in breast cells over time rather than being inherited or born with them.
Acquired DNA mutations occur over time and are only found in breast cancer
cells.
Other factors, such as radiation
or cancer-causing chemicals, may cause these acquired mutations of oncogenes
and/or tumor suppressor genes. However, certain gene modifications may be
random events that occur within a cell without an outside influence. So yet,
the reasons of the majority of acquired mutations that may lead to breast
cancer remain unknown. The majority of breast cancers have multiple acquired
gene mutations.
Breast Cancer Symptoms and Signs
Knowing how your breasts appear
and feel is a crucial aspect of maintaining your breast health. Although
regular breast cancer screening tests are important, mammograms do not detect
all breast cancers. This means that you should be aware of any changes in your
breasts by knowing what they regularly appear and feel like.
A new lump or tumor is the most prevalent symptom of breast cancer (although most breast lumps are not cancer). Breast cancer is more likely to be a painless, hard mass with irregular edges, but it can also be soft, round, tender, or even painful.
Other possible breast cancer symptoms include:
- Breast swelling that affects all or a portion of the breast (even if no lump is felt)
- Dimpling of the skin
- Breast or nipple discomfort
- Retraction of the nipple (turning inward)
- Red, dry, flaking, or thickened nipple or breast skin
- The discharge of the nipple (other than breast milk)
Lymph nodes are swollen under the arm
or towards the collarbone (Sometimes this can be a sign of breast cancer spreading
even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.)
Many of these symptoms can be
attributed to benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions. Still, any new breast
mass, lump, or other change should be evaluated by an experienced healthcare
provider so that the reason can be identified and treated, if necessary.
Remember that knowing what to
look for does not replace regular breast cancer screening. Mammography screening
can often detect breast cancer early before symptoms appear. Early detection
of breast cancer increases your chances of successful treatment.
Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage
The stage of your breast cancer
is an important consideration when deciding on treatment options. In general,
the more advanced the breast cancer, the more treatment you will most likely
require. Other elements, however, can be significant, such as:
- If cancer cells contain hormone receptors
- If the cancer cells contain a high concentration of the HER2 protein (that is if the cancer is HER2-positive)
- If the cancer cells contain a certain gene mutation (change)
- Your overall health as well as your personal preferences
- Whether or not you have gone through menopause
How quickly the cancer is
progressing (as determined by grade or other criteria) and whether it is
impacting important organs such as the lungs or liver
Discuss with your doctor how
these factors may impact your treatment options.
Stage 0
Stage 0 tumors are non-invasive and restricted to the interior of
the milk duct (do not invade nearby tissues).
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a stage 0 breast tumor.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
was previously classified as stage 0, but this has been revised due to the fact
that it is not cancer. Nonetheless, it indicates an increased risk of breast
cancer. For more information, see Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS).
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Treatment Stages I-III Surgery and radiation therapy are typically used to
treat stage I to III breast cancer, with chemo or other drug therapies used
either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery.
Stage I
Stage I: These breast cancers are
still small and have either not spread to the lymph nodes or have only a small
area of cancer spread in the sentinel lymph node.
Breast cancers in stage II are
larger than those in stage I and/or have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III
Stage III: These tumors have
grown into nearby tissues (the skin over the breast or the muscle beneath), or
they have spread to a large number of nearby lymph nodes.
Breast Cancer Treatment Stages I-III Stage IV
Stage IV cancers have spread to
other parts of the body from the breast and nearby lymph nodes.
Breast Cancer Treatment in Stage IV (Metastatic)
Breast cancer recurrence
When cancer returns after primary
treatment, it is referred to as recurrent cancer. Local recurrence (in the same
breast or in the surgery scar), regional recurrence (in nearby lymph nodes), or
distant recurrence Treatment for recurrent breast cancer is determined by where
the cancer returns and previous treatments.
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