Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, worldwide (men can also get the disease). Western Europe has the highest incident rate of breast cancer and the incident of the disease has risen steadily over the past 20 – 30 years. The highest incident of breast cancer is found in women 50 – 70 years old. However, due to better and more efficient screening programs as well as improvements in breasts cancer treatment, the survival rate keeps increasing.

Breast cancer starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:

• „„Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
• „„Lobular carcinoma starts in the parts of the breast, called lobules, which produce milk.

In rare cases, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast. It can be invasive or noninvasive. Invasive means it has spread from the milk duct or lobule to other tissues in the breast. Noninvasive means it has not yet invaded other breast tissue. Noninvasive breast cancer is also called “in situ”.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or intra-ductal carcinoma, is breast cancer in the lining of the milk ducts that has not yet invaded nearby tissues. It may progress to invasive cancer if untreated.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a marker for an increased risk of invasive cancer in the same or both breasts.

Once a woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer, a series of tests will be done to ensure that the stage and classification of the cancer is accurate. Today, breast cancer can be treated in several ways, which will depend on the type and how far it has spread.