Ductal Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer that occurs in women, behind lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. In 2004, approximately 186,772 new cases of breast cancer have been reported by the American Cancer Society, and this number seems to be getting on an annual basis.

It should also be noted that breast cancer is not limited only to women and some 1,815 men were also diagnosed with the disease in 2004 and that 362 men died from breast cancer this year.

women's breasts are complex structures consisting of glands, fat and fibrous connective tissue. They have several lobes which are divided into lobules terminating in the milk glands and there is also a large number of small milk ducts of the glands that connect and at the end of the nipple.

Eight of ten cases of breast cancer start in the ducts and this condition is called ductal invasive cancer. It is also relatively common for the cancer cause in the lobules where it is known as lobular carcinoma. Other types of cancer are known as inflammatory breast cancer.

pre-cancerous changes (called "in situ") are also common among women and the changes that have not yet spread to the chest area, where they began. If these changes occur in the ducts, then the condition is known as ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS and where they occur in the lobules are called lobular carcinoma in situ or LCIS.

The most serious form of breast cancer is metastatic cancer that involves the spread of cancer from its original site of growth. It metastasizes commonly to the lymph nodes under the arm or above the collarbone on the same side of the body as the cancer that leads to pain and swelling in the lymphatic drainage system is compromised. Other quite common sites for metastatic breast cancer liver, brain and bones.

Excluding the obvious factor of gender, age is a critical factor for breast cancer. Despite the fact that breast cancer can occur at any age may find it certainly increases with age. A normal woman of 30, usually have one chance in 280 of developing breast cancer when she reaches 40. However, this then increases to a 1 in 70 chance that even when women in their forties.

Family history is also an important risk factor for breast cancer, the risk is especially high when you have a close relative (a mother or aunt) who developed breast cancer at a young age.

It was recently discovered what appears to be a cancer gene that can be transmitted from mother to daughter.