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Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast tissue grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. Your breast is made up of 3 main parts, lobules, ducts and connective tissue. The lobules are the glands that produce milk. Ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipples. Connecitive tissue (fibrous and fatty tissue) forms the breast, surounding and holding everything together. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or lobules.Breast cancer cells can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. When breast cancer moves to other parts of the body, it is called metastatized.Normal cells vs. Cancer cellsIn general, regardless of where cancerous cells attack the body, they present a disruption to the lifecycle of cells. Normal human cells grow and divide as the body needs them. When they become old, or damaged the body will either repair them or they die and the body discards them.When cancer arises this orderly process fails. As cells become more and more abnormal, these old or damaged cells stop following the pattern of healthy instructions. Cells fail to die when they should and new cells form when they are not needed causing overgrowth. The extra cells may form growths called tumors.Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are usually not life threatening depending on where they are located in body. They tend not to spread into nearby tissue. Unlike malignant tumors which can spread, invading close by tissue and break off traveling to other areas of the body forming new tumors.Cancer cells are different from normal cell in several ways. In addition to ignoring signals to die, cancer cells can influence normal cells, molecules and blood vessels to feed tumors. Cancer cells are also able to avoid or hide from the immune system, your body's protective network of organs and specialized cells whose sole purpose is fighting infection and foreign conditions in the body. Tumors can also use the immune system to stay alive grow enlisting the help of immune cells that usually prevent an abnormal immune response.
Studies show a combination of factors influence breast cancer risk. The main risk factors are being a woman and getting older. When you think about it, two things you'd never change:-) Most breast cancers are found in women 50 years old and older.Some women will get breast cancer without any other known risk factors. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and risk factors effects vary. Although, most women have some risk factors, it's also true most women will not get breast cancer. If you have breast cancer risk factors talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk and get screened.Risks You Can't Control, But You Can MonitorGetting Older - your risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most breast cancer is diagnosed after the age of 50.Genetic Mutations - inheirited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA 2. Women who have these inheirited changes have a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. If you've already been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's important to talk with your doctor about genetic testing as a part of your treatment plan.Reproductive History - starting menstral periods before the age of 12 and beginning menopause after the age of 55 raise your risk of breast cancer because of longer exposure to hormones.Dense Breasts - women with dense breast are more likely to get breast cancer because they have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, making it harder to see tumors on mammogram.Personal History of Cancer or Non-Cancerous Breast Diseases - women who have had breast cancer before are more likely to get it again. Non-cancerous breast disease such as atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ are at higher risk of getting breast cancer.Family History of Breast Cancer - there is a higher risk of breast cancer if a woman's first degree family member (mother, sister or daughter) or multiple relatives on either her mother's or father's side of the family have previously had breast cancer.Young Black Women - tend to be diagnosed with breat cancer ___% more than other ethnic groups of women. Having breast cancer early in life also raises the risk of recurrence. Also, triple negative breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in women under 50 years of age.Triple Negative Breast Cancer - Only about 10-20% of all women will be diagnosed with this type of breast cancer. But researchers have found Black and Latino women are more likely to be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (estrogen receptor negative, progesterone negative and HER2 protein negative). About 70% of breast cancer with the BRCA 1 gene mutation are triple negative.Previous Radiation Therapy Treatment - women that have had radiation treatment to the chest or breasts (like for Hodgkins Lymphoma) before the age of 30 have an increased risk of breast cancer later in life.Risks You Can ControlBeing Physically Active - A physically active lifestyle, inclusive of regular exercise lowers your risk of breast cancer.Managing Your Weight After Menopause - taking steps to maintain a healthy weight reduces your risk of breast cancer.Taking Hormones - Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (those that include estrogen and progesterone) taken during menopause can increase your risk of breast cancer when taken for more than 5 years. Additionally, birth control pills have been known to raise your risk of breast cancer.Reproductive History - Having your first pregnancy after the age of 30, not breastfeeding, and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise your risk of breast cancer.Drinking Alcohol - Studies show an increased risk of breast cancer the more a woman drinks.Research also shows an increased risk of breast cancer with smoking, exposure to cancer-causing agents, and certain changes in hormones due to night shift working.Many Shades of Pink can help you understand your risk and connect you with free screening resources if needed, contact us!
Symptoms of breast cancer are not the same for everyone. Quite a few people do not have any symptoms at all.Some signs of breast cancer are:New lump in your breast or underarm (lump will have more obvious edges)Thickening or swelling in part of your breastAny change in size or shape of your breastIrritation or dimpling of your breast skinUnusual redness or flaky skin in your nipple area or breast skinNipple discharge other than breast milk; including bloodNipple turned inwardPain in any area of the breastThese symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. Remember, some breast cancer symptoms are invisible or go unnoticed without medical screening. To be proactive and give yourself the best chance of catching it early, check your breasts monthly for signs and symptoms with self-breast exams.If you are worried about any signs or symptoms, please see your doctor right away.Keep in mind that breast changes throughout your lifetime are normal. All breasts are unique. So, what is normal for you may not be normal for others. Most women will say their breasts are lumpy or uneven. Breast tend to change as you age. Also, the way your breast look and feel can be affected by the following:Your menstrual cyclePregnancy and having childrenLosing or gaining weightCertain medications
Breast cancer screening is a way of checking your breasts for cancer before there are any signs or symptoms of disease. Screening helps find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and lowers your risk of dying from breast cancer.Getting screened for breast cancer will take place at a clinic, hospital or doctor's office. You should talk with your doctor about the best screening options for you.Breast Cancer Screening Tests:Mammogram - an X-ray of the breasts is the best and most used way to find cancer early before it is large enough to cause symptoms and is easier to treat successfully. Regular mammograms lowers the risk of dying from breast cancer and is the best way to find breast cancer for most women.Most health insurance plans are required to cover the costs of mammograms for women over 40 every one to two years with no out-of-pocket fees, such as co-pay, deductible or co-insurance.Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the breasts. MRI is used along with a mammogram for screening women at high risk of breast cancer. MRI is not used for women of average risk because the MRI may show abnormal results even when there is no cancer. MRI reveals more detail and is considered to be more accurate.Clinical Breast Exams - are given by a doctor or nurse who uses their hands to feel for lumps and changes in your breasts and underarm area.Breast Self Exams - monthly checking of your own breasts for lumps and changes to the look or feel of your breasts. Knowing your breasts well and keeping track of how they change over the course of your life, makes it easier to notice any signs and symptoms to report to your doctor.The American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommend breast cancer screening with mammography and clinical breast exams yearly beginning at age 40.To learn more about breast cancer screening recommendations, see CDC references. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us!
Mammography (ma-MAH-gruh-fee) is a screening tool that uses X-rays to create images of the breast. These images, called mammograms (MAM-o-grams), are used to find early signs of breast cancer such as a dense mass or clusters of calcium (microcalcifications). Overall, mammography is the most effective breast cancer screening tool used today. Mammography can also be used as a follow-up test when something abnormal is found on a screening mammogram or a clinical breast exam. When used as follow-up test (instead of screening), a mammogram may be called a “diagnostic mammogram.”When should you get a mammogram?Women at average risk should get a mammogram once a year starting at age 40.Women at higher risk may need to get screened earlier and more frequently than recommended here. If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, talk with your health care provider about which screening options are right for you. The following items will put you at higher risk for breast cancer:A mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (or a first-degree relative with a mutation)Strong family history of breast cancer, such as mother and/or sister diagnosed at age 45 or youngerPersonal history of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasiaRadiation treatment to the chest area during childhood or young adulthoodA mutation in the p53 or PTEN genes (or a first-degree relative with a mutation). These gene mutations can lead to Li-Fraumeni syndromeMobile Mammography Sometimes, the reason a woman doesn’t get a mammogram is that she doesn’t have time or can’t get to a clinic because of transportation issues. Many Shades of Pink Foundation works with mobile mammography coaches to provide mammography where women work, live, pray or shop.Diagnostic Mammograms and Other Diagnostic ServicesWhen a breast screening tests reveals something abnormal, a follow-up test, known as a “diagnostic service,” Every Woman Counts covers the cost of diagnostic mammograms, surgical consultations, MRIs, breast biopsies, ultrasounds and ancillary services for San Diegans.Can Breast Cancer Be Found Early?Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. Therefore, regular breast cancer screening is so important. Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early.DEBUNKING MYTHS THAT KEEP WOMEN FROM GETTING SCREENEDMYTH: Hair relaxers/perms cause breast cancer in African American women.FACT: A large study funded by the National Cancer Institute found no increase in breast cancer risk due to the use of hair relaxers or perms. Study participants included African American women who had used hair relaxers/perms seven or more times a year for 20 years or longer.MYTH: If I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, I won’t get it.FACT: About 90% of the women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease.MYTH: Your father’s family history of breast cancer doesn’t affect your risk as much as your mother’sFACT: Your father's family history of breast cancer is just as important as your mother's in understanding your risk.MYTH: Using underarm antiperspirant can cause breast cancer.FACT: There is no evidence of a connection between underarm antiperspirant and breast cancer.MYTH: Overweight women have the same breast cancer risk as other women.FACT: Being overweight or obese increases your breast cancer risk, especially if you're past menopause and/or you gained weight later in life.MYTH: Men cannot get breast cancer, only women.FACT: About 2,500 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the United States.MYTH: Breast cancer always comes in the form of a lump.FACT: Breast cancer might not cause a lump, especially when it first develops. By the time it does, the cancer might have already moved beyond the breast into the lymph nodes. Although performing breast self-exams, it isn’t a substitute for regular screening with mammography.MYTH: Wearing an underwire bra causes breast cancerFACT: Scientific evidence does not support link between wearing an underwire bra (or any type of bra) and breast cancer riskMYTH: Breast implants can cause breast cancer.FACT: Women with breast implants are at no greater risk of getting breast cancer, according to research. Standard mammograms don't always work as well on these women, however, additional X-rays are sometimes needed to more fully examine breast tissue.MYTH: You can’t get breast cancer after a mastectomy.FACT: Breast cancer can recur at any time or not at all, but most recurrences happen in the first 5 years after breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer can come back as a local recurrence (meaning in the treated breast or near the mastectomy scar) or somewhere else in the body.MYTH: Consuming too much sugar causes breast cancer.FACT: There is no evidence that sugar in the diet causes breast cancer.MYTH: Carrying a cell phone in your bra can cause breast cancer.FACT: There is no evidence of a connection between cell phones and breast cancer.
The path to a breast cancer diagnosis is as unique as you are. You may have found a breast lump or a change in breast appearance led you to the doctor. Still others discover breast cancer more routinely from their yearly mammogram screening.What's important about your breast cancer diagnosis is learning to understand your pathology report.Your doctor will order various lab tests, beginning with the initial biopsy report (small breast tissue sample used to diagnose cancer) which collectively will become your pathology report.The results from these tests give you and your doctor specific features of your breast cancer diagnosis. This personalized information about the type of breast cancer you have will be used to choose important treatment options. To make these decisions you'll need to know:size and appearancehow fast it growssigns of spread to close by healthy tissuewhether hormones or genetic mutations are impacting the cancer's growth and developmentThese characteristics are used to determine and predict many factors, such as:Types - the most common type of breast cancer will be described as IDC invasive ductal carcinoma, cancer that has broken out of the milk duct starting to "invade" breast tissue beyond the milk duct. DCIS non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (cancer has not spread outside the milk duct). DCIS accounts for about 1 out of every 5 new cases in the US. Triple Negative breast cancer is distinguished by its hormone and protein expression. It is estrogen negative, progesterone negative and HER2 negative (cancer cells with low amounts of the HER2 protein that help control cell growth).Stage - is typically expressed as a number on a scale from 0 to 4.The stage is determined by the size of impacted (T)issue; positive or negative lymph(N)ode involvement and (M)etastasis, the spread of breast cancer within the breast and to other areas of the body. New staging guidelines also include hormone receptor status and HER2 protein status. For more information see Understanding Breast Cancer Staging.Phase - measures how much cells look like normal cells. The tumor grading scale is from 1 to 3, the lower your rating the more normal your cells appear.This list of characteristics is an overview and doesn't necessarily include all factors you and your doctor will consider in your treatment plan. However, knowing all the attributes of your "breast cancer profile" from your pathology reports will help you research your personal health and empower you to ask questions when making decisions that are right for you.
When you need treatment for cancer you have a lot to learn and think about. It is normal if you feel somewhat overwhelmed. Learning about the different treatment options and talking with your physician will help you feel more in control. Also, Many Shades of Pink is here to assist you in this process.More than ever, there are many different breast cancer treatment options and life saving advances. The types of treatment that will be recommended will depend on the type of breast cancer you have and how advanced it is. Most breast cancer patients will have a combination of treatment options, such as surgery, targeted therapy and hormone therapy.
When you first learn you have cancer, everything seems to change in an instant. You may feel like your life has been turned upside down. Once the shock wears off, the process of making changes begins. You may have to rearrange tasks and routines in your life as you start treatment. The symptoms and side effects may take a toll on both your body and your emotions. You may have to learn new ways of talking to your loved ones and to your health care team. And you probably have a lot of questions to ask about adjusting to all the new issues that cancer brings.It can seem overwhelming at first, but knowing what to expect may help you feel more at ease. Many Shades of Pink is a great resource and can assist you with information and connections to other survivors in your cultural community with similar experiences you can learn from. Contact us!
There are millions of women and men in the United States living as breast cancer survivors. Many say that they felt they had lots of support during their treatment, but once it ended it was hard to make a transition to a new way of life. It was like entering a whole new world where they had to adjust to new feelings, new problems, and different ways of looking at the world. Knowing what to expect and the kinds of support you should ask for will give you a sense of stability to create an empowering reality moving forward.A New NormalAdjusting to physical and emotional changes after cancer treatment and tips on coping with fear of recurrence.Follow-Up Medical CareInformation about follow-up medical care for patients who have completed cancer treatment. Discusses your follow-up care plan, getting a wellness plan, and guidelines for a healthy lifestyle.Late Side Effects of Cancer TreatmentBreast cancer treatment can cause late side effects that may not show up for months or years after treatment. These late effects may include heart and lung problems, bone loss, eye and hearing changes, lymphedema, and other problems.Family Issues after TreatmentDiscusses common family problems and issues that often occur after treatment and ways to cope.Care for Childhood Cancer SurvivorsSurvivorship care for children who have been treated for cancer is important. Get your child's treatment summary, survivorship plan, and recommendations on follow-up care clinics. Learn about long-term and late effects.Questions to Ask Your Doctor When You Have Finished TreatmentSuggested questions for cancer patients to ask their doctors after treatment is finished and they are planning for follow-up care and next steps.As hard as treatment is, many cancer survivors say that the experience led them to make important changes in their lives. It helped them learn the value of being grateful for each day and for the people in their lives.
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