Breast Cancer Facts

Breast cancer is a cancerous (malignant) tumor that originates from the cells in the breast. A woman’s breast is made up of several parts including: glands that make milk (lobules), fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, ducts (small tubes that carry the milk from the lobule to the nipple), and lymph vessels. Most breast cancers develop in the cells that line the ducts (ductal cancer), others begin in lobules (lobular cancer), and the rest in other tissues. Lymph vessels are similar to veins, except they carry lymph fluid instead of blood. This is a clear fluid that consists of immune system cells and waste products. The majority of lymph vessels lead to small collections of tissue called lymph nodes. In the breast, most lymph vessels lead to the lymph nodes under the arm. These nodes are referred to as axillary nodes.

For the most part, most breast lumps are benign which means they are non-cancerous. These tumors are just abnormal growths that do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life threatening, although they can increase the risk of a woman getting breast cancer. 

There are several myths regarding breast cancer, however most are not true. Finding a lump in the breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Eight out of ten lumps are not cancerous (benign). If you discover any changes in breast tissue or a persistent lump, you need to consult a doctor. Another common myth is that men don’t get breast cancer. This is not true, although the percentage of men who get breast cancer is small; they should also give themselves monthly exams and consult a doctor if they find changes. Breast cancer is not a communicable disease; it can not be transferred to one person by another. Having a history of breast cancer in your family does not necessarily mean you will get breast cancer; you are just in a higher risk group. In fact, most people who get breast cancer have no family history of it at all. And finally, do not let anyone convince you that mammograms can cause the spread of breast cancer, they can’t in anyway.