What is Breast Cancer?

A Breast Anatomy Lesson

Before you can answer the question, "What is breast cancer?" you must first learn the basics of breast anatomy.

As you can see, a Breast is a fairly simplistic organ. A breast is made up of approximately 15-20 sections, called Lobes. Inside each of the lobes is lobules. It is within these lobules where milk is produced. These 'milk machines' are connected to a drainage system viaducts. All ducts travel to the nipple, where milk is then excreted. This entire unit containing the duct and lobule is called the terminal duct lobular unit or the TDLU.

Other structures that make up the breast are blood vessels, ligaments, and connective tissue. Behind the breast lies the pectoralis muscle and the ribs.

Lymph nodes are also contained in the breast. Their purpose is to act as the drainage system by draining a fluid, called Lymph, outside of the breast into the body's primary lymph system. Lymph nodes resemble the shape and size of a bean. Breast cancer may spread to the lymph system via the Sentinal node in the breast. Testing for the Sentinal node during surgery answers the question, "Has my cancer spread?".

A breast's function and development are dependent on the hormones Estrogen and Progesterone. Estrogen serves as the 'duct hormone' as it aids to the actual development of the ducts and their branches. Progesterone is the 'lobule hormone' as it increases the size and number of the lobules.

So what goes wrong?

So what is breast cancer? Just like any other type of cancer, breast cancer is initiated by an abnormal changing of the DNA. DNA is found in all living organisms and serves as the carrier of genetic information. When abnormal changes occur in the DNA, normal breast cells can mutate into cancerous cells. As changes occur cells begin to grow more rapidly than normal cells, creating a tumor or mass. This mass can then metastasize and spread to the local lymph nodes and eventually to other organs throughout the body. 

What is Breast Cancer? An often Silent Disease

Often times, women feel that if they have breast cancer they would have some sort of symptoms such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge. However, this theory is very incorrect! Breast cancer can mark within the breast for many weeks, months or years without causing any symptoms. By having a yearly screening mammogram, breast cancer can be caught at its earliest possible stage.

So now that you know "What breast cancer is?".....

Now that you know "What breast cancer is" there are still so many questions you are probably asking yourself. Questions like:

• Who gets it?


• How is breast cancer detected?
Click here to learn more about diagnosing breast cancer.

• Is breast cancer prevention possible?
Click here to learn more about prevention options

• Am I at high risk for breast cancer?
Click here to learn more about risk factors

• What are the latest treatment options for breast cancer?
Click here to learn about treating breast cancer

My.Breast.Cancer.Guide.com is here to help you answer all of these questions plus MUCH MORE! Keep on reading to learn more.