On a daily basis,  women produce new tissue cells in their breast ducts.  The cells main job is divide and re-multiply.  When something goes wrong with the cell regeneration, abnormal cells are produced. The abnormal cells are usually found in the ducts and the milk glands (lobules). If the abnormal cells clump together and centered inside the ducts and lobules, this is called “non-invasive breast cancer.” If the abnormal cells invade through the ducts and lobules, this is called “invasive breast cancer.”

When the diagnosis is non-invasive breast cancer,  there are two types of identifying the features of the cancer.  One feature is “ductal carcinoma in situ”(DCIS).  Another feature is “lobular carcinoma in situ”.

When the diagnosis is invasive breast cancer, there are two types of identifying the features of the cancer.  One feature is “infiltrating ductal breast cancer”.  Another feature is “invasive lobular breast cancer”.

After the suspicion of cancer has been raised, doctors will recommend a breast biopsy. The biopsy is done to detect changes in the breast tissue.  The biopsy is defined in 5 categories: normal tissues in ducts and lobules, benign notations like fibroadenomas or fibercystic breast disease, cases of atypical hyperplasia(duct has too many abnormally shaped cells) and lobular neoplasia(abnormal cells inside the lobules), non-invasive breast cancer and invasive breast cancer. Normal hyperplasia does not cause breast cancer but atypical hyperplasia can increase the risks of getting breast cancer. The biopsy will detect if there is or not estrogen and progesterone receptors. If the progesterone and estrogen receptors have been triggered, abnormal cells will grow.  The other breast cancer marker that doctors look for is “HER-2-Neu” receptor. This is a protein receptor which goes after tissue cells and manipulates them. If the HER-2-U receptor has been triggered, abnormal breast cells grow. HER-2-Neu is a very aggressive cancer.  The biopsy has a margin which the doctors use as a way to measure the size of the tumor.

Breast Cancer Tumors are staged by the TNM system.  The TNM system is the gold standard for staging tumors.  The TNM is described as T(tumor), N(if there is lymph node involvement) and M(metastasis).

The tumor size is measured by centimeters and is graded T1-T4. T1 is when the tumor size is 2 centimeters or smaller. T2 is when the tumor size is 2 to 5 centimeters.

T3 is when the tumor size is bigger than 5 centimeters and moving. T4 is when the tumor encompasses skin and chest area.

When breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes,  the cancer is staged from N0-N3.  N0 indicates no association with the lymph nodes.  N1 indicates 1 to 3 lymph nodes are associated.  N2 indicates 4 to 9 lymph nodes are associated.  N3 indicates ten or more lymph nodes have been found and usually above the collarbone.

M is staged as metastatic breast cancer.  There are two grades: M0 and M1.  M0 shows no evidence of metastasis.  M1 has evidence of metastasis.  Metastatic breast cancer is staged in 4 areas: Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4.

Stage 1 is when the cancer has been diagnosed as invasive.  The tumor is no bigger than 2 centimeters and no lymph node involvement.

Stage 2 is described at different levels: if the tumor is more than 2 centimeters and involved lymph nodes in the arms,  if the tumor is between 2 to 3 centimeters and involves 1 to 3 lymph nodes in the armpit and if the tumor is bigger than 5 centimeters and involves no involvement of the lymph nodes in the armpit.,

Stage 3 is referred to as “locally advanced cancer”.  This diagnosis is broken into 3 categories.  First, 3 or 4 lymph nodes are clumped together to other organs.  Second, the tumor has invaded the chest wall with lymph node involvement.  Third, the cancer has invaded the lymph nodes of the collarbone.

Stage 4  is referred to as “distant metastatic cancer”.  This cancer has invaded to the lungs and bones.

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