Here are some things that you should know regarding breast cancer diagnosis.

Invasive or non-invasive

Non-invasive breast cancer is the type where the cancer cells remain in the part of the body where it originated, whether in the duct or lobule. Invasive breast cancer is that which has passed through the walls of the place of origin and has spread and infected the adjacent tissues and at times, may travel to other parts of the body through the vessels.

Lymph node involvement

Lymph is a fluid that moves through the arteries and travels through the tissues in order to cleanse them. Lymph nodes act as filters that trap all unwanted substances, including cancer cells, and they try to eliminate them from the body. The problem is that most of the time cancer cells are not eliminated but actually settle in the lymph nodes and that is how the nodes become infected with the tumor. If more lymph nodes are involved, this means that the cancer is more threatening and has a higher risk of spreading.

Stages

There are four breast cancer stages. Stage I means that cancer is of the invasive type, but the tumor is 2 centimeters long. Stage II involves a tumor which is 2-5 centimeters which may or may not have infected or travelled to the axillary lymph nodes. Stage III means that it is now locally advanced, meaning, it has spread to more nodes and breast skin, and its size is more than 5 centimeters. With Stage IV, or more advanced breast cancer, the tumor has moved farther from the breast and has infected other parts of the body as well.

Treatment

Mastectomy is the complete removal of the breast. Lumpectomy involves removal of only a part of it. After surgery, radiation may be administered, depending on the personality of the cancer. Other treatments are hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which are classified as systemic therapy because they are applied to the entire body. Hormone therapy is the blocking or reducing of estrogen in the body. This treatment is available if the cancer is hormone-receptive-responsive. In chemotherapy, medicine is applied to hinder cells from multiplying.

Once the diagnosis is clear, choosing the treatment options will follow. If cancer is non-invasive, lumpectomy may be performed. But if the cancer is invasive, other forms of treatment shall be applied. Treatment for Stage I cancer is usually lumpectomy or modified radical mastectomy. Radiation may or may not follow the surgery. Treatment for Stage II cancer is usually the same as that for Stage I cancer, followed by radiation. Stage III and IV cancer may be treated by mastectomy, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy after surgery.

Cancer Personality

Doctors also tell you of the “personality” of your cancer, whether it is aggressive or not. If it is of the meaner or aggressive type, there is a higher risk for it to spread. There is therefore the need to use systemic treatment such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy. If it is of the milder type, localized treatment may be administered.

Doctors sometimes describe the spread of cancer as local, regional and distant. Local means that the cancer remains within the breast. Regional means that lymph nodes are involved, especially those under the armpit. Distant means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer is of the local or regional type, treatment may be lumpectomy or mastectomy. If cancer is distant, systemic therapy is necessary.