Breast cancer is rated second next to skin cancer affecting millions of women in many countries of the world. Breast cancer begins in the tissues of the breast, commonly on the milk ducts or on the glands. Due to advanced medical technology, death due to breast cancer has declined considerably and early detection has paved way for improved quality of life.
There has been better understanding about breast cancer which has created awareness among many women to go for regular screening. The breast includes milk glands that are well connected to the skin at the area of nipple by short ducts. The milk glands as well as the ducts are made up of connective tissues of fat and fiber like materials. Breast tissue also includes plenty of lymph nodes, blood vessels and nerves. The entire breast portion sits firmly on the top of chest.
It is normal for the older cells to die after some time giving way for newer cells. But some of the cells do not die eventually rather multiply in uncontrolled fashion thereby accumulating volumes of cells at one place forming a tumor. These cells will gradually travel to other parts of the body causing new cancerous cells and this process is known as metastasizing. Initially a small tumor is formed on the breast tissue in the form of calcium deposits which would spread through the medium of blood vessels and lymph nodes to many other organs.
This tumor will eventually grow and multiply destroying several tissues in and around the breast and even on the chest wall. The intensity of growth of cancerous cells varies with the type of cancer. Some may take years together for growing and spreading whereas some types of cells would spread quickly. Not all the lumps or lesions on your breast are cancerous. Some are benign and harmless but it can be an indication that you are at risk of developing breast cancer in future.