What is breast cancer?
Many of us have heard of breast cancer, but how much do you really know about the condition? Learning more about breast cancer can help to reduce the stigma around the condition, as well as helping people to understand the warning signs to look out for and the treatment options available, such as mastectomies.
How many types of breast cancer are there?
One thing many people don’t realise is that breast cancer is an umbrella term for a number of subtypes that can affect the body in slightly different ways. There are over a dozen of these subtypes, the most common being invasive ductal carcinoma which begins in the milk ducts of the breast and accounts for 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
What unites the various subtypes of breast cancer is that they all begin within the breast tissue, and they tend to follow the same basic path of progression. Different subtypes of breast cancer can require different treatment methods, and some forms of the condition may be more aggressive than others.
Some people, when they talk of the different types of breast cancer, might mean the different stages. As mentioned, this kind of cancer begins in the breast tissue. After this, it grows and spreads to other areas, such as the lymph node found under the armpit. This is known as metastasis, where the cancer can begin to attack other organs of the body, causing other symptoms.
Fortunately, although there are lots of different subtypes of breast cancer, medical advice remains the same: to check your breasts regularly and seek medical attention if anything seems amiss.
How many women get breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect women in the UK. Globally, 2.3 million women received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. It affects women of any age after puberty and is prevalent in every country in the world, but there are factors that can make you more or less likely to develop breast cancer.
It’s also important to be aware that being male doesn’t protect you from breast cancer. Although the condition is far less common in men than in women, men can still get breast cancer and need treatment. Up to 1% of breast cancer cases occur in men, while 99% happen in women.
Is breast cancer curable?
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, but it’s also one that has been studied extensively. Because of that, there are lots of treatment options available depending on your circumstances, and advancements are being made in this area all the time. In fact, over the last 50 years, breast cancer survival in the UK has doubled. This could result from life-changing treatments, such as having surgery or a mastectomy to remove affected breast tissue.
As we’ve explored, there are different subtypes of breast cancer, and this can have an impact on how treatable the condition is. Other factors to take into account include your general health and how early the cancer was spotted. In many cases, breast cancer can be cured, but things become more complicated if you have secondary breast cancer or your cancer is at a more advanced stage.
Even in these circumstances, though, treatment can be given to help alleviate symptoms and enable you to live longer and more comfortably. This can make a big difference. Overall, it’s estimated that for women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK between 2013 and 2017, 76% would survive for 10 years or longer. That’s three in every four UK women diagnosed in that period.
A breast cancer diagnosis can be a scary thing, but it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Your healthcare team is there to support you with making the right decisions for your health, and support groups can help you to cope with the emotional impacts of the condition. The important thing to know is that you are not alone - help is available if you need it.
Organisations offering advice and support for those affected by breast cancer in the UK
https://breastcancernow.org/
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/