According to the majority of available resources breast cancer is defined as “cancer of the breast tissue”. This doesn’t give someone diagnosed with the disease much to go on. But after conducting additional research the answer becomes much more understandable. Cancer is a malignant growth. It is caused by abnormal and completely uncontrollable division of cells. Normal cells begin to be misshapen and start to grow at an extremely fast pace. What occurs is a mass or either a lump that continues to grow and can actually spread all over the body.

Not every breast lump is cancerous, in fact the majority of them are benign. They will reach a specific size and level off. They might be soft and filled with fluid- similar to cysts. These lumps could also be fibroadenomas that do not spread or grow. They could also be scar tissue or just hardened fat.

Having true cancer in the breast tissues is both serious and malignant. Nearly 90% of malignant breast cancer tumors are called ductal carinomas. Around 10% of the other instances are lobular carcinomas. In either case the lumps might appear as thickening in some portions of the breast or even in the armpit. Lymph nodes are located under the arm pits and can sometimes play a role in the diseases development.

The American College of Physicians recommends self-examination beginning around age 20 and regular mammograms after age 40.

You shouldn’t be alarmed at every single breast change, however a significant alteration in the size or shape of the breast after maturity is a sign to look for. Fluid might also seep from the nipple that doesn’t resemble milk. If you have cancer the fluid will show itself as a form of pus, which indicates infection.

An individual’s nipple or areola might also alter in shape and size.

Breast cancer develops in stages that mark the disease progression.

Stage 0 is the initial showing of the condition. Breast cancer is labeled Stage I when the tumor is fewer than 2cm thick and has not started to spread. At Stage II tumors are usually between 2-5cm thick and there could be other areas of the body that are also effected. If the disease reaches Stage III it has penetrated the chest wall. By this time the treatment is very difficult and the survival rate isn’t as great.

Stage IV is the most serious. At this point the cancer has, as it’s called, metastasized. That means the cancer has spread and that it has formed secondary tumors which resemble the initial growth. Such cancers are very often fatal.

Because of the stages of cancer, and health consequences that are present at each level, looking for treatment and diagnosis early is important. A simple lumpectomy is capable of curing the condition completely. If it progresses to the point that chemotherapy or radiation is necessary the odds of recovery are lower and the cure is usually as bad as the disease.

There have been great amounts of progress made over the past 40 years. The equipment that is available today allows for easier diagnosis. Treatments have also evolved to make the cure not as painful and more reliable.

Though any stage is a concern, there is an over 95% five-year survival rate for those that are identified and treated by Stage I. Improve your odds by careful monitoring and seeking early diagnosis.