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)

be “P.I.N.K.” to reduce your risk

P ractice what you know• eat healthy• be active• don’t smoke• one drink per day or less

I nvestigate the information• know fact from fiction

N know what’s normal• for your body and breasts

K nowledge is power

BREAST CANCER

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:

SurgeryChemotherapyRadiationHormone 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.