Who Gets Breast Cancer?

Although it's normal for cells in the body to divide at a steady pace, sometimes cells divide and multiply out of control. These abnormal cells can invade and destroy nearby normal tissue and spread throughout the body. If the physician determines that the lump is made up of abnormal-looking cells, it is malignant, or cancerous.

If a breast lump is made of normal-look cells, it is said to be benign, or non-cancerous.

When a woman discovers a lump in her breast, she likely fears the worst: cancer. Fortunately, only one in eight lumps is cancerous. However, a diagnosis of cancer is not the worst that could happen. The worst is delaying a visit to the doctor out of fear. The delay could allow for spread of the cancer, which can kill you.

The only sure way to know if a lump is cancerous is to have some tissue removed and examined under the microscope. Although four out of five breast abnormalities are proven benign, every breast lump must be evaluated for the possibility of cancer.

Breast cancer is most frequently found in the ducts (ductal), but it also can begin in the lobes or lobules. When confined to the ducts or lobules (lobular), the tumor is noninvasive; if it has spread to surrounding tissue or other parts of the body, the cancer is called invasive. If detected early, breast cancer often can be treated effectively.

One in Eight

It is said that one in eight women will develop breast cancer -- a figure that sounds alarms within the hearts and souls of women and their families everywhere. But in fact, a woman's risk varies significantly depending on age, rising sharply for women over 40.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States today, other than skin cancer. Each year, almost 214,640 American women are told they have breast cancer. Even though breast cancer is more common in older women, it also occurs in younger women and even in a small number of men.

Risk Factors

Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. Although some women are identified as having an increased risk of contracting breast cancer, more than 70 percent of cases occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has issued a breast cancer risk tool to help women assess their individual risk. Some experts caution the program omits some essential questions that may underestimate a woman's risk, but researchers say the tool can provide a reasonable estimate of a woman's chances of contracting breast cancer. It can be obtained by calling (800) 4-CANCER or by requesting it from the NCI Web site. NCI recommends women go over their results with a doctor.

Gene Testing

Medical technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past 10 years, resulting in what some call a genetic revolution. Scientists have identified specific genes linked to breast cancer: BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Genetic testing examines these genes for faults, or mutations, which can cause breast or ovarian cancer. However, that does not mean that every woman who tests positive will get cancer. Testing positive simply puts a woman at higher risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer. Genetic testing is recommended only in select cases since there are associated risks, limitations and far-reaching consequences. A doctor and genetics counselor can help women determine whether gene testing is appropriate. (Gene testing is not done without genetic counseling.)

Related Articles Detecting Breast Lumps Is That Lump Breast Cancer? Understanding Breast Cancer Staging Treatment Options The Road to Wholeness If You're Concerned About Breast Cancer What Every Woman Needs to Know Should You Have a Mastectomy to Prevent Breast Cancer?

External Sources American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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