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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It’s a time annually devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.  We are partnering with our friends at Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh to bring you important information that could help save your life or the life of someone you love.

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast divide and grow without their normal control.  Tumors in the breast tend to grow slowly. By the time a lump is large enough to feel, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years. Some tumors are aggressive and grow much faster.  About 80 percent of breast cancers begin in the milk ducts, about 10 percent begin in the lobules and a few begin in other breast tissues.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer.  With DCIS, the abnormal cells are contained in the milk ducts (canals that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple openings during breastfeeding). It’s called “in situ” (which means “in place”) because the abnormal cells have not left the milk ducts to invade nearby breast tissue.  You may hear the terms “pre-invasive” or “pre-cancerous” to describe DCIS.  Although DCIS is non-invasive, without treatment, it can develop into invasive breast cancer.

Invasive breast cancer

Invasive breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells from inside the milk ducts or lobules break out into nearby breast tissue.  Cancer cells can travel from the breast to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. They may travel early in the process when a tumor is small or later when a tumor is large.  If breast cancer spreads, the lymph nodes in the underarm area (axillary lymph nodes) are the first place it’s likely to go.

Metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer) is invasive breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body (most often the bones, lungs, liver or brain).  Metastatic breast cancer is not a specific type of breast cancer. It’s the most advanced stage of breast cancer.

Other types of cancer that occur in the breast

Most cancers that occur in the breast are breast cancers (breast carcinomas).  In rare cases:

Other types of cancer, such as lymphomas (cancer of the lymph system) and sarcomas (cancer of the soft tissues), can occur in the breast.

Cancers from other sites can metastasize (spread) to the breast and mimic breast cancers.

Some of these cancers are not carcinomas.

Others are carcinomas, but they don’t start in the breast. So, they are treated differently and have different risk factors than breast cancer.

WARNING SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER IN WOMEN

The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women.  The most common warning signs are:

• A change in the look or feel of the breast
• A change in the look or feel of the nipple
• Nipple discharge

For more facts and information, go to https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/signs-symptoms/warning-signs/

BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION

Breast cancer screening and early detection play an important role in your health. Screening tests can help detect breast cancer at an early stage when the chances of survival are highest.

Whether you’re ready to get your first screening mammogram or want to know more about follow-up tests after an abnormal finding, learning about breast cancer screening tests and the importance of early breast cancer detection can help you take charge of your health.

For more information on mammograms and other screening text information, go to https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/screening/. 

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, PLEASE GO TO https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month/. 

Together, we can end breast cancer by supporting those in need today, while searching for tomorrow’s cure.

Presented on WISH 99.7 by Pella Windows and Doors of Pittsburgh.