Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer leading to deaths among women in the country. This article covers some important points to help you understand the basics of breast cancer.

What is breast cancer?
Abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cancer in the breast cells is called breast cancer. It is a malignant tumor that first develops in the lobules, ducts, or stromal tissues in the breasts and may metastasize to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes. It affects more women than men.

What are the different types of breast cancer?
While there are several types of breast cancer depending on which part of the breast is affected, the most common ones are as follows:

Non-invasive breast cancer
Some cancers are localized to specific areas of the breasts and are called non-invasive breast cancer. Being diagnosed with these types can increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

• Ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS : This cancer occurs in the ducts of the breasts that carry milk to the nipples.
• Lobular carcinoma in situ or LCIS : This cancer develops in the lobules, the milk-producing glands of the breasts.

Invasive breast cancer
When the cancer cells spread to the surrounding tissues within the breast or to the lymph nodes in the armpits, it is called invasive breast cancer. Here are some common types:

• Invasive ductal carcinoma or IDC : Invasive ductal carcinoma accounts for nearly 80% of all breast cancers. Also, this affects older women more commonly.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma or ILC : When lobular cancer invades the surrounding breast tissues, it is known as invasive lobular carcinoma.

Other types of breast cancers that are less common are angiosarcoma, inflammatory, Paget’s disease of the nipple, and phyllodes tumor.

What are the risk factors of breast cancer?
There are many factors that increase one’s chances of developing breast cancer. Some of them cannot be controlled, while others can be managed to reduce the risk:

• Inherited DNA passed on from parents
• Acquired DNA mutations
• A family history of the disease
• Excessive smoking of tobacco
• Regular consumption of alcohol
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity
• Consuming a high-fat diet consisting of processed foods
• Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

What are the symptoms?

• Swelling of any parts of the breasts or lymph nodes
• Painless or painful lumps in and around the breasts
• Retraction of the nipples in an inward direction
• Unusual discharge from the nipples
• Redness, itchiness, shrinking, or thickening of the skin on the breasts or nipples

One should observe how the breasts look and feel every day as this would immediately make minor changes visible. Remember that the symptoms might not appear in the early stages in most cases. Mammograms and other such screening tests, consultations, and physical examinations by doctors are the best ways to diagnose the disease, and timely diagnosis and treatment is very important to avoid further complications.