Malignant Breast Disease

What is Malignant Breast Disease?

Malignant breast disease, or breast cancer, is a type of cancer that begins in the breast. While breast cancer most commonly occurs in women, it can affect men as well.

Breasts are made up of glands, ducts, and fatty tissue. In females, the breast creates and delivers milk to feed newborns. Overall, the breast includes various parts:

Lobules: These glands create breast milk. Cancers that begin here are known as lobular cancers.

Ducts: Ducts are small canals extending from the lobules that carry milk to the nipple. Cancers that begin here are called ductal cancers.

The Nipple: The nipple is where the ducts converge so that milk can exit the breast. The nipple is surrounded by a slightly thicker and darker area of skin called the areola. A rarer type of breast cancer known as Paget disease of the breast can begin in the nipple.

The Stroma: The stroma is the fat and connective tissue that surrounds the lobules and ducts. Phyllodes tumor, a less common form of cancer, can begin here.

Blood Vessels and Lymph Vessels: Both blood vessels and lymph vessels are located in each breast. Angiosarcoma is a form of cancer that can begin in the lining of these vessels. A small number of cancers can start in other tissues of the breast such as sarcomas and lymphomas.

How Does Malignant Breast Disease Spread?

Breast cancer spreads when the cancer cells get into the blood or lymph system and are then carried to other areas of the body. The lymphatic system is an important part of your immune system. It works by passing lymph fluid through the body to the blood, which contains waste material, tissue by-products, and immune system cells.

Lymph vessels carry lymph fluid away from the breast, and when breast cancer is present, cancer cells can enter those lymph vessels to infiltrate the lymph nodes. If cancer cells have spread into your lymph nodes, there is a higher chance that the cells have spread, or metastasized, to other areas of your body.

Types of Malignant Breast Disease

There are many different types of breast cancer. Ultimately, a breast cancer type is decided by the specific cells in the breast that become cancer.

Tumors can be classified as non-invasive or invasive. When a breast cancer is non-invasive, it is contained inside of the milk ducts of lobules. Invasive breast cancer has spread beyond the ducts and lobules into the surrounding tissues.

Forms of Non-Invasive Breast Cancer

Carcinomas in situ are abnormal cells in the breast and are considered non-invasive. Over time, carcinomas in situ may become invasive breast cancer. Some common forms of non-invasive breast cancers include:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

DCIS occurs when there are abnormal cells within the duct but have not spread to other outside tissues. However, because DCIS may become invasive cancer over time, treatment is generally recommended.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

LCIS occurs when there are abnormal cells within the lobules, but they do not grow through the lobule walls. LCIS does increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Forms of Invasive Breast Cancer

The term “invasive breast cancer” is used to describe any form of breast cancer that has spread into surrounding breast tissues.

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)

IDC is the most common form of invasive breast cancer. It begins in the ducts and spreads into nearby breast tissues. If left untreated, IDC can spread to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body.

Invasive lobule carcinoma (ILC)

ILC is the second most common form of breast cancer. It begins in the lobules and spreads to nearby tissues. If left untreated. ILC can also spread to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body.

Malignant Breast Disease Treatment Options

If you have been diagnosed with malignant breast disease, or breast cancer, your cancer team and Dr. Ley will discuss your treatment options with you. Depending on your specific type of cancer, medical history, and more, treatment options may include the following.

Local Breast Cancer Treatments

Local breast cancer treatments treat the tumor without affecting other areas of the body. Common examples of local treatments include surgery and radiation. Most patients with breast cancer will undergo a form of surgery to remove the tumor. You may also require other forms of treatment, either before or after surgery.

Systemic Breast Cancer Treatments

Medications that are used to treat breast cancer are called systemic therapies. This is because they can affect the cancer cells almost anywhere inside the body. Depending on the type of breast cancer, different types of drug therapy may be used including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drug therapy, or immunotherapy.

Contact Us Today

If you are experiencing the symptoms of breast cancer, or are seeking professional screening, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer, please contact Tucson Breast Health Specialists in Tucson, AZ today. Dr. Ley is dedicated to providing compassionate, kind, and professional care to each of her patients.

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Dr. Ley is an excellent doctor who cares about her patients. She takes the time to explain everything and provides all options. The level of care is excellent.

Dr. Ley helped me through the first round of BC in 2017 with kindness, compassion and expertise! I had absolutely no reservations when trusting her for a 2021 and now for the 3rd time I can’t imagine going through this without her. She is a lion when it comes to fighting for you, calls you personally even though she has to be the busiest Dr. and mother I know. She’s considerate of your needs, fears and concerns and never lets you go it alone. Can’t say enough good!

When diagnosed with Breast Cancer my daughter, which is a surgical nurse, started searching for a breast surgeon for me. Within a short period of time, she called stating “Mom, Dr Ley is the surgeon for you”! I have not been disappointed & have had nothing but positive experiences with Dr. Ley & her staff. They truly care.

I have no words to express my gratitude for Dr. Ley! I was diagnosed Feb. 2020 and Dr. Ley besides being the best in her field and doing an amazing job on my double mastectomy she was even able to save my nipples. She is also a remarkable human being, patient, kind very clear in explaining everything and making you feel heard and safe in her hands. I 100% recommend her and her very helpful, kind and amazing team! If you have recently been diagnosed this is the team you want to have your back!

Dr. Ley is extremely good at explaining your breast cancer, treatment options, and everything she is going to do. She is a masterful surgeon and uses plastic techniques to close incisions, leaving minimal scarring. In addition, she is warm, pleasant, and a lovely person. I am so happy that I found her based on a friend’s recommendation. I can’t say enough about her and the practice’s excellent care.