BREAST CANCER - Risk factors, symptoms and types.

Breasts are a pair of glands present in mammals to feed the newborns and also serve as secondary sexual organs. Breast cancer occurs when some breast cells start growing abnormally. Cancer of breast is the most common non-skin malignancy in women. It is second to lung cancer as a cause of death. It can occur in males as well but the incidence is very less. Breast cancer  is rare in women younger than age 25, but the incidence increases rapidly after age 30.

 RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER :

-  Gender :  99% of those affected are females due to lifetime exposure of oestrogen.

- Age : with increasing age the risk of breast cancer also increases.

-  Radiation exposure : risk increases by 20% to 30% in a woman who has been exposed to radiations on chest at young age. 

- Estrogen exposure : risk increases in women receiving hormone therapy after their menopause due to increased exposure to oestrogen. 

- Diet : moderate to heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk. 

- A family history : if your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer,  particularly at young age, your risk of breast cancer is also increased. 

- Obesity : Being obese increases the risk. 

- Late pregnancy : Age of 35 or more at the time of first full term pregnancy increases the risk. 

- Early menarche : Starting of menstrual cycle before the age of 12 also increases the risk of developing breast cancer in future. 

PROTECTIVE FACTORS : 

- Full term pregnancy before 20 : Pregnancy at young age halves the risk of breast cancer. 

- Breast feeding women : Risk of pregnancy decreases during lactation becuase estrogen level decreases. 

- Exercise : Physically active women have lesser chances of developing the cancer. 

SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER : 

- Lump formed in breast.

- Red, pitted skin over the breast.

- Breast pain. 

- Nipple discharge other than breast milk.

- Retracted or inverted nipple. 

- Hardness, sudden change in shape and size of breasts.

- Swelling in the area of breast. 

- Lump in armpit or upper chest. 

TYPES OF BREAST CANCER : 

Breast cancer can be invasive and non invasive as well. Invasive cancer spreads to surrounding lymph nodes and other body parts while non invasive cancer remains confined to the breast cells. Various types of breast cancers are as follows :

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) : DCIS is a non-invasive breast cancer. It is an early stage condition and can be detected on mammogram as calcifications. 

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) : LCIS is also a type of non-invasive breast cancer. It occurs due to abnormal growth of cells in milk producing glands. LCIS cannot be detected on mammogram. Female with LCIS has high risk of developing invasive cancer.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) : It is the most common type of breast cancer. It occurs due to abnormal division of cells in ducts of milk poducing glands. 

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) : ILC begins due to uncontrolled growth of cells in milk producing glands. These rapidly dividing cells spread to adjacent lymph nodes and other body parts. 

Paget's disease of nipple : 

Paget's disease of nipple is a  condition which causes eczema like condition on the skin of nipple and areola. It appears as  red, scaly rash on the nipple and areola causing itching and burning sensation.  

Mammogram

Grading of Invasive carcinomas : 

Invasive carcinoma of breasts are graded using Nottingham score into grade I, II and III. 

Grade I : Cells look much similar to the normal cells and have a low proliferative rate. 

Grade II : Cells start growing at some speed and some changes in the cells can be noticed. 

Grade III : Cells look very different from normal and start growing at a faster rate.