Cancer Treatment

what is breast cancer?

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way. Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, the division and growth of cells is orderly and controlled but if this process gets out of control for some reason, the cells will continue to divide and develop into a lump which is called a tumour. Tumours can either be benign or malignant. Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour.

In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow at the original site, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.

The breasts are made up of specialised glands, which are lined by a single layer of cells. Breast cancer occurs when some of these cells start to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. They may form a lump.

The problem with cancer cells is that they can become invasive or can metastasise.

Invasion
All living cells, like breast cells, are contained by a structure called the basement membrane. Cancer cells can develop the ability to break through this barrier, and can invade into the surrounding tissues.

Metastasis
Once cells have become invasive, individual cells or groups of cells can break away from the main tumour. They can be carried by the blood stream or by lymph fluid to other parts of the body. Once there, they can sometimes start to grow in this other area. This is called a secondary tumour or a metastasis.