Breast Cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow out of control within breast tissue. Although all of the causes of breast cancer are not known, it is known that cancerous cells within breasts begin with changes in the DNA of breast cells (Mayo Clinic, 2025). These cells may join together to form a tumor which can not only grow in size, but also travel to and invade other tissues in the body (metastisize) (Mayo Clinic, 2025). Eighty percent of breast cancer cases metastisize to other parts of the body (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). Cancers metastisize through blood and lymphatic systems. As part of the immune system, the lymphatic system is compromised of lymph nodes, ducts, vessels and organs. Together, the parts of the lymphatic system remove lymph from throughout the body and drain it into the blood system. The lymphatic system drains lymph from breast tissue through:
- Auxillary Lymph Nodes - Lymph nodes under the arm.
- Internal Mammary Lymph Nodes - Lymph nodes in the chest under the breastbone.
- Supraclavicular Lymph Nodes - Lymph nodes above the collar bone.
- Infraclavicular Lymph Nodes - Lymph nodes below the collar bone (ACA, 2021).
- Lobules - these are the glands where breast milk is produced.
- Ducts - these are the canals that connect lobules to the nipple and carry breast milk as it is produced.
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDL)
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
- Nipples - location where ducts coalesce into larger ducts in a way that breast milk can leave the breast.
- Areola - the daarker thicker skin that surrounds the nipple.
- Stroma - fat and connective tissue that surround the ducts and lobules in order for them to stay in place.
- Blood Vessels and Lymph Vessels - carry blood and lymph to and from breast tissues.
- Angiosarcoma (ACA, 2021)(Cleveland Clinic, 2025)
Behind Skin Cancer, Breast Cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in women. Breast Cancer, however, can also occur in men as well due to all people, including men, having breast tissue (Mayo Clinic, 2025).
Breast Cancer can also be impacted by hormones.Types of Breast Cancer can be further typed into hormonal receptor subtypes. Cells have receptors attached which can react with specific hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones impact cancerous cell growth. Subtypes include:
- ER positive (ER+): have estrogen receptors.
- PR positive (PR+): have progesterone receptors.
- HR positive (HR+): have estrogen and progesterone receptors.
- HR negative (HR-): have no estrogen or progesterone receptors (Cleveland Clinc, 2025).
Women have an one in eight chance of developing Breast Cancer. Women who are HR- and do not have irregular levels of the HER2 protein are said to have Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Black women are at higher fisk of developing this aggressive cancer. Black women are also more likely to die from Breast Cancer (ACA, 2025)
There are many symptoms of Breast Cancer, including:
- New lump near or in breast or armpit.
- Changes in breast size and shape.
- Puckering or dimples in skin.
- Nipple turning inward.
- Nipple discharge.
- Skin of nipple becoming scaly, red or swolen.
- Breast pain.
- Color changes of breast skin (Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2025)(Medline Plus, 2025).
There are also many risk factors for Breast Cancer incluidng:
- Older age
- Gender
- History of Breast Cancer
- BRCA gene and other genetic mutations
- Dense breast tissue
- Menarche at an early age
- Older age at first childbirth
- Having never giving birth
- Menopause at older age
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Radiation Therapy to breast or chest area
- Obesity
- Alcohol
- Smoking (Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2025)(Medline Plus, 2025)
Prevention options are available. Making life changes can lower risk of Breast Cancer. These changes include:
- Speak with health clinician about screening
- Do breast exams
- Moderation of drinking alcohol
- Regular exercise
- Limit menopausal hormone therapy
- Maintain healthy weight
- Eat healthy diet
- Genetic screening
- Preventative medicines
- Preventative surgery (ACA, 2021)(Medline Plus, 2025)(Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2025)
Many things can be done in order to diagnose Breast Cancer, including:
- Medical history
- Breast exam
- Mammogram - x-ray of breast tissue
- Breast ultrasound - pictures are created using sound waves
- Breast MRI - pictures created using magnetic field and radio waves
- Biopsy - tissue sample removed for testing to see if cells are cancerous
- Staging of the Breast Cancer through:
- Blood tests
- Bone scan
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET scan
- Immunohistochemistry - looks for hormone receptors
- Genetic testing
- HER2 test - tests for the HER2 protein which is involved in cell growth
There are several types of treatments. They include several types of options including:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone Therapy - blocks hormones from attaching to cancer cells
- Immunotherapy
- Surgery
- Mastectomy
- Lumpectomy
- Breast reconstruction (Cleveland Clinic, 2025)(Medline Plus, 2025).
If you or someone you know have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, there are resources available.
ACS. (2021) Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html
ACS. (2025) Key Statistics for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2025) Breast Cancer. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3986-breast-cancer
Mayo Clinic. (2025) Breast Cancer. Mayo Clinic Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470
Medline Plus. (2025) Breast Cancer. Medline Plus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/breastcancer.html
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