Breast cancer: What does breast cancer staging mean?

Breast cancer: What does breast cancer staging mean? How does breast cancer develop? Most people want to understand what is going on.  Breast cancer is the phenomenon of uncontrolled proliferation of breast cells. Only by understanding how cancer develops can we better understand breast cancer.

Cancer occurs due to mutations or abnormal changes in genes responsible for regulating cell growth and maintaining cell health. Genes are located in the nucleus of each cell and act as the “control room” for each cell. Usually, the cells in our body replace themselves through the orderly process of cell growth. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” other genes in the cell. This allows cells to divide continuously without control, producing more cells like it and forming tumors.

Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are benign because their cell appearance is close to normal, and their growth rate is slow, and they will not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors: If not controlled, malignant cells can eventually spread to other parts of the original tumor.

“Breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that develops from the cells in the breast. It usually starts from the cells of the breast lobules, which are mammary glands or ducts, from which milk will be discharged to the nipple. Rarely, breast cancer can start in stromal tissue, which includes fat and fibrous connective tissue of the breast.

Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and enter the lymph nodes under the armpit. If cancer cells enter the lymph nodes, they will enter other parts of the body. The staging of breast cancer refers to the extent to which cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor.

Breast cancer is always caused by genetic abnormalities (“errors” in genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are caused by abnormalities inherited from the mother or father. However, 85-90% of breast cancers are caused by abnormal regulatory genes, and genetic abnormalities are caused by “wear and tear” during the aging process and life.

Everyone can take measures to maintain good health, such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and exercising regularly. These measures may reduce the risk of breast cancer, but they cannot completely avoid the risk.

Stages of breast cancer

The stage of breast cancer depends on the characteristics of the cancer, such as its size and whether it has hormone receptors. The stage of cancer helps you and your doctor understand:

• Prognosis
• treatment plan
• Clinical Trials

Breast cancer stage is usually expressed as a number from 0 to IV, stage 0 describes non-invasive cancer that remains in its original location, and stage IV describes invasive cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.

(source:internet, reference only)

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