It is an abnormal growth of breast cells as a result of a genetic mutation that occurs in the genes responsible for regulating cell growth. Breast tumors can be benign in both cells or lobules (milk glands) or milk ducts. It can also begin in the (lipidic tissue – phoroplast) of the breast.

It is divided into four stages:

Stage {IA}: Tumor’s size is about (2 cm). It does not extend beyond the breast or neighboring lymph nodes.

Stage {IB}: Tumor’s size is about (2 cm) and there is a group of cancer cells no larger than 2 cm in the lymph nodes.

Stage {IIA}: Tumor’s size is (2 cm) and it extends to the lymph nodes under the armpit.

Stage {IIB}: Tumor’s size is greater than (2 cm) and not greater than (5 cm) but it extends to the lymph nodes under the armpit

Stage {IIIA}: Tumor can be any size and it extends to the lymph nodes under the armpit, where they are adherent to each other. And the cancerous cells can be found in the lymph nodes near the bone.

Stage {IIIB}: Tumor can be any size and it extends to the chest and perhaps to the skin of the breast and lymph nodes under the armpit.

Note: Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least in stage {TB}

Stage {IIIC}: Tumor can be any size and it extends to the lymph nodes under the armpit and breast skin and lymph nodes above or below the collarbone.

Stage {IV}: Cancer has been invaded other neighboring or distant organs in the body, most important are: Backbone – Kidney – Lungs.

Risk factors:

• Excess weight increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Food: Studies have shown that a high-fat food increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Exercises: reduce the risk of breast cancer.
• Exposure to Estrogen for a long period of time: such as the use of oral contraceptive for a long time.

Risk Factors that cannot be controlled:

- Sex: Women> Men.

- Age: Aging increases the chance of cancer.

- Family history of breast cancer or personal history increases the chance of cancer.

- Race: white> black

- Exposure to radiation

- Breastfeeding and pregnancy

   Pregnancy and breastfeeding reduce risk.

Breast Cancer Treatment

- Surgical treatment

-chemotherapy

- Radiation therapy

- Hormonal therapy

- Directed treatment

- Breast cancer vaccine (under the tests)