Where are breast cancer lumps most commonly found?

Breast cancer lumps

Breast cancer has received a great deal of publicity in recent years, and most women are familiar with the importance of regular breast self examination as a routine good health habit. Because early detection of a developing cancer is an important factor in its treatment and cure, any suspicions of a change in the breasts should be followed up with a visit to the doctor. Eight out often lumps prove to be noncancerous. But for those who have a lump which is cancerous, early treatment is important and essential. New techniques developed in recent years have made breast reconstruction possible, and breast reconstruction has become an important part of treatment and rehabilitation.

What kind of doctor should I see if I have symptoms of breast cancer?

If you have a lump or other symptom of breast cancer, you should first see the doctor who normally takes care of you your internist, family practitioner, gynecologist, or general practitioner. He will order whatever tests are necessary to determine whether or not your symptom is actually cancer. The doctors who specialize in treating breast cancer are usually surgical oncologists. Reconstructive breast surgery is the specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Is the National Cancer Institute supporting any studies on breast cancer? 

Yes, the National Cancer Institute's clinical cooperative groups are presently supporting many studies on breast cancer.

What is the function of the breast? 

The breast is a very complicated organ. It has tens of thousands of tiny cells able to secrete milk on order, preparing itself throughout pregnancy to supply the infant's nutrition, receding when no longer necessary, prepared to start all over again when called upon by another pregnancy. Each month, during menstruation, changes occur in the breasts. The growth, maturation, and function of the breast are the result of a sequential stimulation by several separate hormones secreted from the ovary, anterior pituitary gland, adrenal cortex, and thyroid.

How are most breast cancers found? 

Most breast cancers over 70 percent are found by the women themselves, either during monthly self examinations or by accident when showering or looking in the mirror.

Are most breast lumps cancerous? 

No, they are not. With all the information on breast cancer that has been written in the past few years, it is important for you to know that chances that a lump in your breast is not cancer are really excellent. In fact, eight out of ten lumps are found to be benign. However, it is important for you to know that lumps found in post menopausal women are more apt to be cancerous than those found in women who are still menstruating. Ninety three percent of women never develop cancer of the breast. Those are really very good odds. Further, the cure rate is 85 percent if the cancer is detected early.

Do men ever have breast cancer? 

Yes. However, less than 1 percent of all breast cancers occur in males. When they do occur, it is usually at middle age or older. Almost all breast cancers in men are carcinomas, with the most common kind being infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Men can also develop Paget's disease and inflammatory carcinoma.

What are the symptoms of male breast cancer?

 A painless lump, usually discovered by the man himself, is by far the most common first symptom. Nipple discharge, nipple retraction, and a lump under the arm are also symptoms commonly seen in male breast cancer. Diagnosis is the same as for women, using mammography, physical exam, medical history, and biopsy.

What are the treatments for male breast cancer? 

The treatments are similar to those used for women: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, depending upon the stage of disease. Hormonal therapy, used for advanced disease, is even more effective in men than in women.

What is meant by fibrocystic changes? 

At one time, doctors believed that fibrocystic disease also referred to as lumpy breasts, cystic disease or chronic cysticmastitis meant that these women were at a higher risk for developing cancer. Doctors now find that 70 percent of the women with fibrocystic changes who have a biopsy have no increased risk of developing cancer. Of the remaining, only those with a specific kind of cell, called ductal or lobular atypical hyperplasia, are in a moderately increased risk group about 4 percent of those biopsied. The term fibrocystic disease is no longer being used. Rather, the condition is called fibrocystic changes or fibrocystic condition.

Can doctors tell the difference between cystic lumps and cancerous lumps? 

It depends upon many factors. Cysts are usually movable, spherical in shape, and relatively soft, unlike many malignant tumors. They are caused by a buildup of fibrous tissues which is related to the changes that normally take place in the breast during each menstrual cycle. These changes may be exaggerated if the menstrual cycle becomes irregular, particularly if there is a long time between periods. The lumpiness may disappear slowly after menopause. Fibrocystic lumps seem to appear and disappear with the menstrual cycle, while most cancerous lumps are stable. Many women have breasts with cysts of many sizes, giving the breast a "cobblestone'' feel. Women with cystic breasts should be examined frequently, and doctors often recommend that cysts that do not change in size be biopsied and/ or surgically removed. If the cyst disappears after aspiration with a syringe and needle, this is a good sign it is benign.

What are micro calcifications? 

Micro calcifications are minute flecks of calcium which can be seen on the mammogram. The diagnostic radiologist looks for clustering of these micro calcifications which might signal the presence of cancer. Larger calcifications, in contrast, are most often associated with benign conditions.

Is breast cancer inherited? 

It seems that heredity may account for some familial patterns of breast cancer, although shared dietary, social, and other environmental factors probably play a role. Women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer before menopause are more likely to develop the disease than women with no family history of the disease. Those whose aunts or grandmothers had breast cancer before menopause are also at a higher risk. Women who fall into any of these higher-risk categories should be followed closely by a physician who specializes in breast disease.

What to do if you find a lump in your breast?

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Do women with inverted nipples have a greater chance of developing breast cancer? 

No, not if this is your normal condition. Inverted nipples are subject to infection if not kept clean and dry, but there does not seem to be a relationship between inverted nipples and breast cancer. However, if your nipple is normally erect and retracts or if you see dimpling or puckering in your breast you should see the doctor so he can check this symptom.

Is discharge from the nipples of the breast a cause for alarm? 

It is wise to call any discharge from the nipples to the attention of your doctor. If the discharge is bloody or has a green or brown color, this probably means that a small quantity of blood or other substance is being discharged and is reason for the doctor to look at it to determine the cause. Some young women may have a slight clear or yellowish nipple discharge at the time of menstruation; this is not unusual and should not cause alarm but should be mentioned to the doctor. Most discharges occur prior to menopause when other changes are taking place in the body and should be seen by the doctor to determine if there is a problem. Some of the fluid can be put on a slide and analyzed to see what is causing the discharge.

Why does the doctor try to see if the tumor will "move"? 

Most cancerous tumors tend to invade breast tissue and cause the breast to form scar tissue in and around the cancer. This causes the lump to become "fixed." Benign tumors such as fluid cysts or solid fibrous growths tend to be more movable because they neither invade the surrounding breast tissue nor cause the breast to deposit scar tissue around them. However, in some cases, movable tumors have been found to be cancerous, and this is the reason why a surgical biopsy is necessary to determine the nature of most lumps.

Are All The Lumps In The Breast Cancerous?

Can blows or injuries to the breasts cause breast cancer? 

No. But such injuries often draw attention to a lump in the breast even though the lump is not a result of the injury.

Does diet play a role in breast cancer? 

Research findings, especially of large population groups, indicate that diet may be a possible factor in breast cancer. In areas of the world where breast cancer is common, diets are high in fat and animal protein. Americans, for instance, consume three times as much fat and more animal protein than the Japanese, and have proportionately more breast cancer. When Japanese women move to the United States, their rate of breast cancer begins to rise and continues in each generation until the rate approaches that of American women. In addition, post menopausal women who are overweight have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. There are presently underway research projects which are studying whether reducing the amount of fat eaten by women at high risk for breast cancer will affect the number of breast cancer cases.