BREAST CANCER: GENERAL INFORMATION

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer, also known as carcinoma of the breast, is generally defined as a malignant tumour of the breast. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer experienced by women in Switzerland, where one in every four female cancer patients has breast cancer. According to the Swiss Society for Senelogy, around 4,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. From their fortieth year onwards, the risk of contracting the disease gradually increases. The frequency of this form of cancer in Europe as a whole has also risen in the past 20 years. In very rare cases, breast cancer may even be contracted by men.

How does breast cancer start?

Breast cancer begins when previously normal cells of the mammary glands, (made up of so-called mammary gland lobules or milk ducts), become malignant. This is followed by uncontrolled and more rapid growth. Over time, solid masses or lumps characterised by surface irregularities will form, which are palpable and usually detectable on a > mammogram.

What are the causes and risk factors?

In most cases it is not possible to say what causes normal breast tissue to behave in this abnormal way. It is presumed that a number of different factors such as biological-genetic predisposition and environmental parameters (such as lifestyle and environmental influences) combine to cause the development of the disease. These include:

- Early onset of menstruation as a young woman or relatively late onset of menopause
- Early onset of menstruation as a young woman or relatively late onset of menopause
- Late pregnancies/births (> 30 years old)
- Childlessness
- Little to no breastfeeding (< six months per child)
- Unhealthy nutrition and excess body weight
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Advanced mastopathy (lumps or cysts forming in the breast caused by so-called atypical cells)
- Hormone replacement therapy in women of menopausal age
- Inherited changes (mutations) in certain genes (breast cancer genes BRCA1/BRCA2)

We know that the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases can be traced to spontaneous mutations, i.e. suddenly occurring changes in genetic information. The latest research findings suggest that breast cancer is less likely to be caused by hereditary (family predisposition) than has previously been assumed.

What symptoms are typical of breast cancer?

Breast cancer usually causes no pain or other typical complaints. In most cases a woman will feel a lump in the breast during a routine self-examination. The following additional symptoms may be a sign of breast cancer and must be checked by a doctor:

- Recently appearing hard lumps in the breast
- Dimples or indentations on the skin of the breast
- Inversion of the nipple
- Recent change in the size of the breasts
- Initial signs of nipple inversion
- Inflammation or reddening of the nipple on women not currently breastfeeding
- Discharge of liquid from the nipple (particularly if the secretion is bloody and only apparent on one breast)
- Enlarged lymph glands in the armpits

Do not be alarmed if you notice one of more of these symptoms. There is no reason to presume that you have breast cancer as a result! However, it is still advisable to see a doctor without delay, as early recognition of breast cancer greatly increases the chances of successful treatment.