BREAST CANCER

Prepared by Mrs. Carmela C Asuro, RN,MAN

Breast Cancer Facts

 Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women

 It is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women next to lung cancer
 A girl born today has a cumulative 1.8 risk of developing breast cancer during the course
of her life.
 Every 3 minutes a woman is detected to have breast cancer
World Health Organization

 Breast cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality world wide.
 Approximately 1.4 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths per annum.
 The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades.
 Annual deaths from breast cancer> half a million
Breast Cancer

 Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. The term “breast cancer”
refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast
cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the
ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast
cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective
tissues of the breast.
 Symptoms of Breast Cancer
 According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast
can be a symptom of breast cancer:
 swelling of all or part of the breast
 skin irritation or dimpling
 breast pain
 nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
 redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
 a nipple discharge other than breast milk
 a lump in the underarm area
 Breastcancer.org 120 East Lancaster Avenue, Suite 201 Ardmore, PA 19003
© 2018 Breastcancer.org
Etiology and Risk Factors:
Risk factor:
 Gender : women are more likely than men to develop breast cancer
 Age : incidence increases with age; 40 year and above
 Personal history of Cancer
 Family history of Cancer and Genetics
 Hormonal factors : early menarche, late menopause, nulliparity
 Obesity and Dietary Fat
 Radiation Exposure
 Alcohol consumption
 Other Factors: Higher economic status,
Ethnicity
Prevention, Screening and Detection
 Breast Cancer is a heterogeneous disease; it has many characteristics, varying from
women to women in its potential for development, growth and metastasis.
 Exposure to elevated levels of circulating estrogens – primary factors in the promotion of
cancer cell which can be reversible
 Breast cancer can be prevented if this exposure be reduced
Early detection is the most important means for
control of Breast Cancer
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SCREENING GUIDELINES:
1. Mammography ( routine screening mammography)every beginning at age 40
2. Clinical Breast Examination by a health professional every 3 years for women ages 20 to
39 years and annually beginning at age 40
3. Breast Self Examination monthly by all women beginning age 20
 Classification of Breast Cancer
 PRIMARY CANCER:
 Non Invasive : malignancy confined to DUCTS and LOBULES (Carcinoma in situ or CIS)
Ductal carcinoma in situ
Lobular carcinoma in situ
 Invasive : malignant cell penetrate the tissue outside the ducts and lobules
infiltrating ductal carcinoma – 80%of all breast carcinoma
infiltrating lobule carcinoma – 10%
inflammatory carcinoma – less common characterized by swelling, erythema, and
invasion of the dermal lymphatics (peua d’orange or orange peel)
Medullary carcinoma
Papillary carcinoma
Tubular carcinoma
Paget’s disease of the nipple – 2% of all cases
Clinical Features of Breast Cancer:
 Mass
 Spontaneous, persistent, unilateral nipple discharge that is serosanguineous, bloody, or
watery
 Nipple retraction or inversion
 Change in size, shape, or texture of breast (asymmetry)
 Dimpling or puckering of skin
 Scaly skin around nipple
 Redness , ulceration, edema, or dilated veins
 Peua d’orange skin changes
 Enlargement of lymph nodes in axilla