Breast cancer is when cells in your breast grow and divide uncontrollably, creating a mass tissue called a tumor, it can start in one breast or both. Breast cancer can start in different parts of the breast, the breast is divided into four (4) parts; the lobes, which are responsible for producing milk, and the lobules which are small glands within each lobe of the breast. The milk ducts are thin tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipples. The Areola is the dark-colored area surrounding the nipple. Lastly, the nipple is the protruding structure at the center of the areola, through which milk is expelled during breastfeeding.
Breast cancer can start from various parts of the breast tissue, but it usually starts from the milk-producing glands (lobular carcinoma) or the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal carcinoma), It is an early stage that has not invaded nearby tissues. These cancer cells can spread through a process in which primary tumors in the breast break away and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, forming new tumors in other parts of the body.
It starts by invading nearby healthy breast tissues, gradually growing and spreading within the breast. Breast cancer cells then spread through the lymphatic vessels, they travel to nearby lymph nodes, such as those in the underarm (axillary nodes), after which they can enter the bloodstream, which allows them to spread to distant organs and tissues, forming metastatic tumors.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, second to skin cancer, it is most likely to affect women over the age of 30. Though rare, men can also develop breast cancer. Next, we will be discussing early detection and acceptance, stay tuned.