Characteristics of Breast Cancers

Breast cancers in women that occur in the age of 40 and above are not as aggressive as those that occur under that age. Generally the characteristics of breast cancer in women under the age of 40 tends to be very aggressive, but even if age have some influence in the occurrence of breast cancer in women, it is not considered to be the major predictor of the seriousness of a breast cancer of an individual.

When it comes to breast cancer, most experts say that size always matter. But then again the size of the tumor is only one of the many characteristics that are featured on a breast cancer list. Nevertheless the activity of the tumor will not depend on its size, you can have a large malignant breast tumor that is very well-behaved or you can have a small tumor that can be brutally intimidating. There are several ways to measure a size of a breast cancer. The size can be measured under a pathologist’s microscope, by feeling it during a routine physical examination and through the appearance of the cancer on a scan or an X-ray.

One of the important factors that is needed to be determined from the characteristic of a breast cancer is whether it is non-invasive or invasive. Non-invasive in other terms, “in situ” means that the tumor is confined in the same place and it is not likely to spread in the other tissues surrounding the breast or to other parts of the body as well; although non-invasive breast cancer may somehow develop more seriously and become an invasive breast cancer.

Invasive in other terms, “infiltrating”, in this condition the malignant tumor have finally started to break out through the normal barriers of the breast tissue and is now invading and spreading into the surrounding areas. Invasive breast cancer can spread the disease to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and through the bloodstream. This condition is much more serious compared to the non-invasive condition of a breast cancer.

The spread of a breast cancer is usually referred to by doctors in the following manners: local, regional, and distant. “Local” when the cancer is confined within the breast alone. “Regional” when the spread has already involve the lymph nodes which are found primarily in the armpits and “distant” when the cancer has spread through the other parts of the body. There are also situations when doctor uses the term ‘locally advanced”. This term refers to a large tumor that can be visible during a physical examination, which involves changes in the characteristics of the breast cancer such as lymph node enlargement, changes in the breast skin, breast’s shape and underlying chest structures

Once you are diagnosed with symptoms of a breast cancer or you are already diagnosed in the higher stage of it. You will be recommended to undergo a variety of tests to pinpoint the cancer’s activity, determine the nature and the extent of your condition. These test procedures will decide the best ways to address your breast cancer condition and the appropriate treatments that you should have.