When cells in the breast grow out of control & Risk factors and warning signs

When cells in the breast grow out of control

Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form a tumor that can often be felt as a lump or seen on an x-ray. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts that carry milk or in the lobules that produce it. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissue and spread, or metastasize, to lymph nodes and distant organs. Although it is far more common in women, men can also develop breast cancer.

Risk factors and warning signs

Risk increases with age, certain inherited gene changes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, a personal or family history of breast cancer, dense breast tissue, and long exposure to estrogen. Warning signs include a new lump in the breast or armpit, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, skin dimpling, nipple discharge other than milk, and any change in the size or shape of the breast. Many lumps are not cancer, but any new change deserves medical evaluation.

Key concepts

When cells in the breast grow out of control

Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form a tumor that can often be felt as a lump or seen on an x-ray.

Risk factors and warning signs

Risk increases with age, certain inherited gene changes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, a personal or family history of breast cancer, dense breast tissue, and long exposure to estrogen.

Early detection saves lives

Mammography, an x-ray of the breast, can find tumors too small to feel and is the main screening tool.

Treatment is individualized

Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer and often combines several approaches.

References

• MedlinePlus en español — Breast Cancer