If you’ve seen a lot of pink ribbons on billboards, social media posts, and products lately, you probably know it’s because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And if you or someone you love has faced breast cancer, you already understand how meaningful this annual campaign is. But if you don’t, here’s what we all should know about this important month of awareness, education, and hope.*
What Exactly IS Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the breast, leading to the formation of tumors that can be invasive, and spread to other parts of the body. It occurs mostly in women, but many people are surprised to learn that men could get breast cancer too. While it’s quite uncommon (less than 1% of men get breast cancer), men have breast tissue also, which means they can develop the same types of breast cancer that women develop.
Some Surprising Statistics
Breast Cancer Awareness Month started back in 1985, and since then, U.S. death rates from breast cancer have dropped by 44%. That’s because for nearly 40 years the campaign has helped raise awareness and encouraged millions of people to learn and share knowledge about the disease. This heightened awareness, and the courage to talk openly about the disease, has encouraged early testing for breast cancer, which in turn has helped to save more than half a million lives.
But the work is not yet done, and that’s why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is still so important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is still the second most common cancer—and the second leading cause of death—among women in the United States. Despite the great strides we’ve made in recent years, more then 40,000 Americans are expected to die of breast cancer each year. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of loved ones who are touched by this heartbreaking disease.**
What are the Stages of Breast Cancer?
- Early Stage: Often referred to as stage 0 or noninvasive breast cancer, this means the disease has not spread and is only located in the breast.
- Stage 1: In stage 1 cancer, the cancer is 2 centimeters or less in size, and like stage 0, it has not spread to other parts of the body.
- Stage IIA: In this case, the cancer has progressed to either remain at 2 centimeters or less but has spread to the underarm lymph nodes, or the tumors are larger than 2 centimeters but less than 5 centimeters, without any lymph node involvement.
- Stage IIB: This is how breast cancer is described if the tumors are larger than 5 centimeters across with no underarm lymph node involvement, or larger than 2 but less than 5 centimeters across, with lymph node involvement.
- Stage IIIA: At this point in the disease, the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or near the breastbone. It can also refer to any size tumor with cancerous lymph nodes that stick to one another or to nearby tissue.
- Stage IIIB: At this stage, the tumor can be of any size but has spread to the skin or the chest wall.
- Stage IIIC: With stage IIIC, the cancer is classified as having a tumor of any size that has spread farther than the lymph nodes.
- Stage IV (metastatic): At this stage in the disease, the cancer has spread far beyond the breast to areas such as the bones, lungs, liver, grain or distant lymph nodes.
Are There Different Kinds of Breast Cancer?
Yes, there is more to consider than just the stage of the disease. Doctors will also look at how the cells appear under a microscope. These are the four most common types of breast cancer:***
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (CDIS)
This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer (in situ means that abnormal cells have been identified under a microscope, but they remain local and have not spread to other parts of the body). This type of breast cancer is found in the milk ducts of the breast. CDIS is also called intraductal carcinoma, or stage 0 breast cancer.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
When ductal carcinoma in situ becomes invasive, it turns into IDC. This means the cancer has spread from a milk duct to nearby tissue and lymph nodes. It may also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. These cancerous cells travel and spread through the lymph system or through the bloodstream. About 8 in 10 invasive breast cancers are IDC.
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)
Technically speaking, LCIS is not cancer but it’s something doctors want to watch. Inside the breast, we have thousands of tiny clusters of lobules that produce milk, and LCIS means there is a change in this breast tissue that warrants attention. While LCIS tends to remain local and not spread to other tissues, there is a chance that LCIS will become invasive breast cancer.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
Ten to 15 percent of all invasive breast cancers are ILC. Starting in the milk glands as opposed to the milk ducts like other cancers, ILC tends to grow in straight lines rather than forming a distinct lump like other breast cancers. This makes it more challenging to detect in standard mammograms, and often a breast MRI will be used for diagnosis.
What is HER2 and Why is it Important?
There are many abnormalities doctors look for when treating breast cancer, and another variation they note is what kind of protein is in or on the cancer cell. In healthy cells, HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) helps to control how breast cells grow, divide and repair themselves. It’s a long and fancy name, but the appearance of HER2 tells physicians a lot.
In HER2-positive breast cancer, the cancer cells make too much of the HER2 protein. These cancers tend to grow quite fast and spread quickly. It’s not all bad news though. There are many targeted therapies these days that specifically block that HER2 protein, and as a result, can help stop the cancer’s growth.
In HER2-negative breast cancer, the cancer doesn’t make too much HER2 protein. This cancer tends to be less aggressive and slower growing than HER2-positive cancer. Most people who develop breast cancer are HER2-negative, and treatment will not include a medication that blocks the protein.****
Knowledge is Power
Early detection of breast cancer is critical because the beginning stages of the disease can be much more manageable than cancer which has spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer Awareness Month celebrates education and awareness, and the importance of self-exams, clinical exams and regular mammograms. So, this month, take the opportunity to discuss early detection with your doctor, share information with friends and family, and spread strength, support, and solidarity in the fight against breast cancer.
For more information, contact Premier Medical Group at https://www.premiermedicalhv.com/ or call us today at 888-632-6099.
*https://www.breastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month
**https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/statistics/index.html
***https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/breast-cancer/types/common-breast-cancer-types
****https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-her2-negative