Concept and Etiology- Breast cancer is defined and as an overgrowth
of cells in the breast tissue that lead to a malignant tumor. Breast
cancer can be found in both men and women and affects the
reproductive system because it can spread to other parts of the body
and cause other problems. As well as it can affect breastfeeding in
women who are still of childbearing age. Breast cancer would cause a
person to deviate from health, because the body is no longer
functioning properly, which is why there was an overgrowth of cells
in the breast tissue.
Classification- “Types of cancer are usually classified based on the
location and aggressiveness of the disease. The most common type is
ductal carcinoma, which means the original site of the disease is
within the ducts (tubes) that transport milk to the nipple. The cancer
can be classified as in situ (DCIS) which means it is not invasive and is
contained inside the duct, or as an invasive breast cancer if it has
spread outside the duct. Additional breast cancer types include triple
negative breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, metastatic
breast cancer, and other rare forms of breast cancer. Pathologists
also classify the disease by grade. The grade is defined according to
the appearance of the tissue on the biopsy. Breast cancer can be
defined by stages, starting from stage 0 which is noninvasive all the
way up to stage 5 which indicates the cancer has spread to other
parts of the body. Additionally, according to the American Cancer
Society, gene expression is an additional, and fairly new way, to
classify breast cancer. Based on molecular features determined by a
PAM50 test, gene expression divides breast cancers into four groups.
Luminal A and luminal B breast cancer types have gene expression
patterns similar to healthy cells. Luminal A cancers are low-grade that
grows slowly. Luminal B cancers are faster-growing and more
aggressive. HER2 breast cancer type is diagnosed in the presence of
additional copies of the HER2 gene. The basal type, among the triple
negative types, is diagnosed in the presence of a lack of estrogen or
progesterone receptors but normal levels of HER2. It is more
common among women with the BRCA1 mutation. For reasons
unknown, basal cancer is more common among African American and
younger women” (Martins, 2021).
Clinical Manifestations- signs and symptoms of breast cancer
include:
“New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast” (CDC,2021).
Diagnostic Tests- Tests and procedures used to diagnose breast
cancer include Breast exam, Mammogram, Breast ultrasound, breast
biopsy or a breast MRI. Once you have confirmed breast cancer
additional testing such as Blood tests, such as a complete blood
count a Mammogram of the other breast to look for signs of cancer,
a Breast MRI a Bone scan, a Computerized tomography (CT) scan, or
a Positron emission tomography (PET) scan may be done to stage the
breast cancer (Mayo Clinic, 2021).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 20).
What are the symptoms of breast cancer? Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 25, 2021,
from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/symptoms.htm.
Martins, I. (2021, October 15). Breast cancer classification. Breast
Cancer News. Retrieved November 25, 2021,
from https://breastcancer-news.com/breast-cancer-classification/.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021,
October 16). Breast cancer. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 25,
2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-
cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352475.
