Everything About Breast Cancer

The breast is made up of fatty tissues that contain milk-producing glands, which are groups of lobules. A lobule is made up of clusters of acini or alveoli which are sacs where milk is made and stored. The lobules are connected to ducts that reaches the nipples where milk is expressed.

The lymphatic system in the breast extends to the armpits and neck. This is where cancer cells find their way out of the breast and into other parts of the body. This is different from the milk producing glands. The lypmphatic system contains white blood cells which fights diseases.

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A recent study showed that green tea has phytonutrients that help inhibit the growth of breast cancer tumors. Since cancer cells in a malignant (cancerous) tumor can travel and reach other parts of the body (metastasize) and develop into new tumors.

The study also showed that green tea can induce the death of cancer cells. The aim is to develop a preventive treatment to avoid the cancer cells from spreading, and to stop the tumor from growing in size.

Asian countries that are known to consume significant amounts of green tea have been shown to have lower risks of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer affects not only the physical health of a woman, but it also affects her psychological well being. All types of cancers have pain, panic and worry associated with it. But with breast cancer and the possibility of a mastectomy, or removal of the entire breast, it affects how a woman sees her “worth”. Questions such as how will the operation affect her relationship with her husband or partner, will her figure change – her overall self esteem reaches a low point.

Another concern is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Losing one’s breast and hair is no joke. Patients need more emotional support as much as they need treatment.

Breast cancer is in Stage III C if the cancer cells have already spread to the lymph nodes in the collarbone and neck area, under the arms and inside the breast. Stage III C mat be operable or inoperable. It is operable when the cancer is present in 10 or more lymph nodes in the arm area, or if the cancer has spread in the beneath neck and collarbone area, it is within the same side as the breast (left or right side), or the cancer is found within the breast and under the arm only. But if the cancer has spread above the neck and collarbone area on the same side as the breast with cancer, it is already inoperable.

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Breast cancer is categorized as Stage III A when any of the following occurs: there is no tumor in the breast but cancer cells exist in the axillary lymph nodes; there is a 5-centimeter or smaller tumor and cancer cells has spread to the lymph nodes that are attached to other structures; or the tumor is more than 5 centimeters and cancer cells has spread in the lymph nodes.

Stage III B has a tumor and the cancer cells have spread to the tissues of the skin, ribs or chest wall, and in the lymph nodes in the breast or under the arms.

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In 2001, the process in which breast cancer spreads to other organs, or metastasizes, has been identified by researchers in the Massachusetts General Hospital. Although there may be other means by which breast cancer cells reach other parts of the body, the discovery led to studies on how to prevent the cancer cells from spreading.

For years, the medical community believed that tumors do not have lymph nodes inside them. But with the development of devices to visualize lymphatic vessels, they saw that tumors in mice have lymphatic vessels and are carrying cancer cells, which is transported outside of the tumor, to the lymph nodes of the lungs. The lymphatic vessels served as passage ways for cancer cells to spread.

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Stages 1 and 2

If the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller, it is a Stage I breast cancer. At this stage, the tumor has not yet spread outside the breast.

For stage II, there are two sub-stages: Stage IIA and Stage IIB. Under stage IIA, there are three cases: either no tumor is found but cancer is present in the lymph nodes under the arm (also called axillary lymph nodes); or the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller in size, but has already spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or the tumor is between 2 to 5 centimeters but has not yet spread.

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