Lesson 1:

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

Manitoba Breast & Womens Cancer Network, Adolescent Breast Health Resource Package, September 2007

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

CANCER: a disease that is characterized by
uncontrolled cell growth in an organ, ie. the
site the cells originate from.
BREAST CANCER: begins in the breast
tissue and may start in the duct or lobe of
the breast. When the controls in breast
cells are not working properly, they divide
continually and a lump or tumor is formed.

Most women will have

some lumpiness in their breasts.
Most breast lumps are benign,
meaning not cancer.

WHO GETS BREAST CANCER?

in 2006, 22,300 women were diagnosed with
breast cancer in Canada
810 of these women were from Manitoba
the majority of these women will be older
than 50 years of age

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation National

Statistics (2006) estimates incidence by age
group:
20% will occur in women under age 50
51% will occur in women ages 50 69
29% will occur in women age 70 and over

Breast cancer is
most common in women over 50
years of age.

Breast cancer is not

common in young
women.
Canadian Cancer
Statistics (2006)
indicates 75 new cases
of breast cancer will be
found in women 20-29
years of age across
Canada.

In Manitoba, between
1956 and 2004 (48 years)
only one case of breast cancer was documented in
young women between 15 and 19 years of age.

This means that

less than one in
more than 2,000,000
young women will
develop breast
cancer while they are
teenagers.

BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS

Risk Factor: something that may raise your

chances of getting a disease. It does not mean you
will get the disease.

Modifiable risk factors:

risk factors you can change
(things like lifestyle choices)

Other risk factors you cannot change

The two highest risk factors are things you
cannot change:
gender
age

Other factors you cannot change

a family
history
of
are
things
like:
ethnic origin
breast cancer

high doses of
radiation as a child
previous abnormal
breast biopsy

where you live

reproductive factors
(early onset of
menstrual cycle, having
your first baby after age
30, never having a child,
late menopause)

BREAST CANCER
be P.I.N.K. to reduce your risk

ractice what you know

nvestigate the information

know fact from fiction

know whats normal

eat healthy
be active
dont smoke
one drink per day or less

for your body and breasts

nowledge is power

BREAST CHANGES TO
CHECK OUT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
a new lump
a change in size, shape or color of
your breast
a change in appearance of your nipple
spontaneous, new or bloody nipple
discharge
an eczema type rash on the nipple
puckering or dimpling of the skin
skin that looks like orange peel or
feels very thick

BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

Treatment for breast cancer is often a
combination of the following treatments:
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Hormone Treatment

Surgery

removing the area of concern and some normal

tissue surrounding it is called a lumpectomy
removing the breast is called a mastectomy
(most women with breast cancer will not need the
breast removed)
lymph nodes from under the arm may be
removed with either surgery

Chemotherapy

the use of a
combination of
intravenous drugs which
affect breast cancer cells
is called systemic
treatment because it
affects the whole body

Radiation
standard treatment
after a lumpectomy
to reduce the chance
of the breast cancer
coming back in the
same breast
is also called local
treatment because
it affects only the
area being treated
with radiation

Hormone
growth ofTreatment
many breast cancers can be
blocked by taking hormone therapy

treatment is in the form of a pill which is

taken for 5 years
may be recommended for women who
have a breast cancer that is sensitive to
hormones

Hereditary Breast Cancer

Hereditary Breast Cancer is suspected when:
several close family members have been diagnosed with
breast or ovarian cancer

a number of generations are involved

family members have been diagnosed
at a young age

both breasts have been involved

a male relative has been diagnosed
only 5 10% of breast cancers are hereditary

Know your family medical history

Talk to your doctor
about your family medical history
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authoritys
Hereditary Breast Cancer Clinic
works with individuals and families with the
suspicion of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer.