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Breast Cancer Profiler Main
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Structures on the cancer cell's surface allow them to latch on to healthy cells and form new tumors, but the mechanisms that direct the individual cancer cells to loosen their grip on their sister cells in the tumor and move on to invade healthy tissue is not known. Nevertheless, it is the invasive or infiltrating capability of these abnormal cells that characterizes them as malignant. When malignant breast cells appear in a new location, they will begin to divide and grow out of control again as they create another tumor. Even though the new tumor is growing in another part of the body, it is still called breast cancer. The speed with which the cancer cells divide, extend, and spread is unpredictable. To some degree, though not always, the extent of the cancer usually relates to the size of the tumor (See the section on Staging of Breast Cancer.) Researchers are attempting to identify certain genetic messages, mutations, and structures on the cells that indicate how aggressive or fast-growing a particular breast cancer is. By the time the tumor is large enough to be felt - which may take as little as a year or as long as ten years or more, depending on how quickly the cancer cells divide - it is possible that the cancer cells have entered the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, or both; these carry and filter fluid in breast tissue. The lymph vessels' filtering entity is the node, and there are clusters of nodes in the armpit, above and beneath the collarbone (also called the "clavicle"), and along both sides of the breastbone, or sternum. If breast cancer cells spread beyond the lymph nodes or skin (local spread) to other organs in the body, this is called metastasis. Breast cancer cells most commonly spread (metastasize) to the bone, lung, lining of the lung, liver, and brain, but metastasis can occur anywhere in the body. Doctors sometimes call this "distant" disease.  Types and Location of Breast Cancer Once cancer cells are discovered, the next important questions to be answered are what type of breast cancer is present and whether it has invaded the surrounding breast tissue. Some types are aggressive: the cancer cells are fast-growing, more virulent in behavior than normal cells, highly abnormal compared to normal cells, and more likely to spread. The type of cancer and its invasive potential are important considerations in treatment decisions. Most cancers fall into one of two major categories: ductal or lobular carcinoma. Carcinoma is the medical term for cancer that arises in organ tissue, such as lung, breast, colon, and so on. Ductal carcinoma, of which there are multiple subtypes, develops in the milk ducts of breast tissue. Lobular carcinoma, which occurs far less frequently than ductal, originates in glandular tissue or breast lobules. Cancer that affects the nipple is called Paget's disease. Usually one tumor forms in the breast, but since whatever causes breast cancer affects all breast cells, it is not surprising that occasionally multiple tumors form. When tumors are found in both breasts, it is unlikely to be a metastasis; but, instead a separate, unrelated tumor in each breast treated individually. The treatment can be but does not need to be the same for both breasts. The precise treatment will be tailored to the individual situation and personal preferences. Multiple tumors may form in one or both breasts, a phenomenon that is more common in lobular carcinoma. Having more than one tumor does not necessarily increase a woman's chance of dying of breast cancer, but it may effect treatment options. The tumor's location also may have an impact on treatment. To describe the location precisely, healthcare professionals use a descriptive terminology that divides the breast into four separate quadrants. Visualize one vertical line through the center of the breast that passes through the nipple, and a horizontal line that also passes through the nipple. It is easier for some people to imagine the breast like the face of a clock: 12:00 to 3:00 is one quadrant; 3:00 to 6:00 is another, and so on. Tumors may arise in different areas or quadrants of the breast. When this happens, or in cases where microcalcifications (see the Ductal Carcinoma section for more information) have spread throughout the breasts, breast-conserving surgery may not be possible.
 This content is reviewed regularly. Last Updated 8/6/2009
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