If we considered human body, then we can divide them their anatomy as Male Anatomy and Female Anatomy. Major difference in skeleton of male and female is in ribs, shoulders, pelvic cavity. But the major difference lies in reproductive organs and mammary glands. Major mammary gland in female is Breast. This organ is not an exception for diseases. But the question is, What is Breast cancer? lets understand Breast before that.
What is breast?
Breast is mammary gland in female body, located on the anterior wall of the chest. Breast is made up of tissues. It has specialized tissue called Glandular Tissue. This tissue produces milk. Remaining part is made up of fatty tissue. Breast tissues starts enlarging while time of puberty. Breast generally enlarges at time of milk production. Breast do not contain muscles.
Mainly breast has 15-20 section of lobes, which are further divided into smaller structure called lobules. lobules produce milk when women are lactating. These lobules have again smaller divisions called Alveoli. There are ducts for transportation of milk. All small duct joins to form a larger duct which joins to nipple from where milk exists. Sensations in the breast occurs via nerves. Oxygen and nutrients are transported to breast through blood.
The lymphatic system of the body is also present in the breast. The lymphatic system is organ system in vertebrates, which is part of immune system. These vessels in lymphatic system carries clear fluid called lymph. Lymph is very similar to blood plasma it contains cellular waste, bacteria and proteins and waste. 75% Lymph from breast is collected in pectoral lymph nodes, and then into axillary lymph nodes. That’s why axillary lymph nodes are removed first surgically during detection of breast cancer.
Breast diseases
There are mainly 9 diseases that can occur to breast of any female.
- Breast cancer
- Benign (noncancerous) breast disease.
- Breast cysts.
- Breast lumps.
- Breast pain (mastalgia).
- Breast rash.
- Fibrocystic breast changes (noncancerous lumps and tenderness).
- Mammary duct ectasia (swollen milk ducts).
- Mastitis (breast infection).
Approximately 1 out of 8 women diagnose with breast cancer in their lifetime. More than 65% of women who has breast cancer were found to be older than 55 years of age. And most of the remaining ones were between 35-55 ages group. There is very interesting History of Breast Cancer.
What is Breast Cancer?
Most of the kind of Cancer occurs when there is mutation in the cell of that body part and that mutated cells grows at very high rate to form an unnecessary mass of tissue known as tumor. Same goes with the breast cancer. When breast cells mutate and has unnecessary growth of tissue or a tumor in breast, we call it as a Breast Cancer.
Before looking into breast cancer, we must understand that there is non-cancerous breast tumor also. They are not life threatening, but some of these can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Now looking into breast cancer, in simple words it’s a cancerous tumor in breast, then tumor can start growing at any part of breast. Tumors which cause cancer and develops in lobules are called Lobular Cancer, one which starts at ducts in breast is Ductal Cancer.
There are various symptoms of breast cancer.
Less common types of breast cancer
Some very less found types of cancer which found in breast are Paget Disease Cancer which starts at nipples of breast. Phyllodes Tumor starts at fatty tissues (stroma) present in breast. There are blood and lymph vessels in breast, cancer which starts at lining of these vessels is called as Angiosarcoma.
Some cancer starts at other tissues in breast are called as Sarcomas and Lymphomas.
Can breast cancer spread to other part of our body?
Yes, it can. But on certain conditions only. If the cancer cell in breast gets into blood or lymph vessels or mix within it, then they can travel through body and cancer can spread to others part of body. There are many myths about breast cancer.
READ MORE BREAST CANCER ARTICLES
Breast Cancer Surgeon & Gynaec Onco Surgeon in Mumbai, India
As described by his patients, Dr. Vishnu Agarwal always keeps patients’ interest at the core, throughout the treatment.
He has a vibrant personality that relieves patients and their family members from the anxiety. This plays an important role in patients healing much faster.