Download Lesson 1: What is Breast Cancer

Lesson 1:
WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?
Manitoba Breast & Women’s Cancer Network, Adolescent Breast Health Resource Package, September 2007
WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?
CANCER: a disease that is characterized by
uncontrolled cell growth in an organ, ie. the
site the cells originate from.
BREAST CANCER: begins in the breast
tissue and may start in the duct or lobe of
the breast. When the “controls” in breast
cells are not working properly, they divide
continually and a lump or tumor is formed.
Most women will have
some lumpiness in their breasts.
Most breast lumps are benign,
meaning not cancer.
WHO GETS BREAST CANCER?
◦ in 2006, 22,300 women were diagnosed with
breast cancer in Canada
◦ 810 of these women were from Manitoba
◦ the majority of these women will be older
than 50 years of age
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation National
Statistics (2006) estimates incidence by age
group:
◦ 20% will occur in women under age 50
◦ 51% will occur in women ages 50 – 69
◦ 29% will occur in women age 70 and over
Breast cancer is
most common in women over 50
years of age.
Breast cancer is not
common in young
women.
Canadian Cancer
Statistics (2006)
indicates 75 new cases
of breast cancer will be
found in women 20-29
years of age across
Canada.
In Manitoba, between
1956 and 2004 (48 years)…
only one case of breast cancer was documented in
young women between 15 and 19 years of age.
This means that
less than one in
more than 2,000,000
young women will
develop breast
cancer while they are
teenagers.
BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS
Risk Factor: something that may raise your
chances of getting a disease. It does not mean you
will get the disease.
“Modifiable” risk factors:
risk factors you can change
(things like lifestyle choices)
Other risk factors you cannot change
The two highest risk factors are things you
cannot change:
◦ gender
◦ age
Other factors you cannot change
are things like:
◦ a family history of
breast cancer
◦ high doses of
radiation as a child
◦ previous abnormal
breast biopsy
◦ ethnic origin
◦ where you live
◦ reproductive factors
(early onset of
menstrual cycle, having
your first baby after age
30, never having a child,
late menopause)
BREAST CANCER
be “P.I.N.K.” to reduce your risk
P
ractice what you know
•
•
•
•
I
nvestigate the information
•
N
know fact from fiction
know what’s normal
•
K
eat healthy
be active
don’t smoke
one drink per day or less
for your body and breasts
nowledge is power
BREAST CHANGES TO
CHECK OUT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
◦ a new lump
◦ a change in size, shape or color of
your breast
◦ a change in appearance of your nipple
◦ spontaneous, new or bloody nipple
discharge
◦ an eczema type rash on the nipple
◦ puckering or dimpling of the skin
◦ skin that looks like “orange peel” or
feels very thick
BREAST CANCER TREATMENT
Treatment for breast cancer is often a
combination of the following treatments:
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Hormone Treatment
Surgery
◦ removing the area of concern and some normal
tissue surrounding it is called a lumpectomy
◦ removing the breast is called a mastectomy
(most women with breast cancer will not need the
breast removed)
◦ lymph nodes from under the arm may be
removed with either surgery
Chemotherapy
◦ the use of a
combination of
intravenous drugs which
affect breast cancer cells
◦ is called systemic
treatment because it
affects the whole body
Radiation
◦ standard treatment
after a lumpectomy
to reduce the chance
of the breast cancer
coming back in the
same breast
◦ is also called local
treatment because
it affects only the
area being treated
with radiation
Hormone Treatment
◦ growth of many breast cancers can be
blocked by taking hormone therapy
◦ treatment is in the form of a pill which is
taken for 5 years
◦ may be recommended for women who
have a breast cancer that is sensitive to
hormones
Hereditary Breast Cancer
Hereditary Breast Cancer is suspected when:
◦ several close family members have been diagnosed with
breast or ovarian cancer
◦ a number of generations are involved
◦ family members have been diagnosed
at a young age
◦ both breasts have been involved
◦ a male relative has been diagnosed
◦ only 5 – 10% of breast cancers are hereditary
Know your family medical history
Talk to your doctor
about your family medical history
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s
Hereditary Breast Cancer Clinic
works with individuals and families with the
suspicion of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer.