The Mechanisms and Management of DCIS

Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma starts in one of the milk ducts in the breast, spreads through the wall of the duct and into the fatty tissue of the breast. Once it has spread outside the duct it is possible to spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and blood stream. Some signs and symptoms of invasive ductal carcinoma can include: a lump in the breast tissue or armpit area, redness, thickening, irritation or dimpling, breast pain and or swelling, and nipple changes and or discharge. (American Cancer Society, 2014., National Cancer

Over the past decade breast cancer has become one of the most predominant diseases in the United States. Breast cancer starts out as a malignant tumor in the tissues of the breast which is formed from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. (Stephan, 2010)

Over the past two decades, mammography has become the central tool used to detect cancerous regions within the breast. This evolution has been enabled by advancements in the technology itself and its implementation into healthcare regulations of numerous countries around the world (Pisano et al., 2004). In its beginning stages, breast cancer is a relatively treatable disease, and increased awareness for both mammograms and self-breast examinations have led to earlier diagnoses. Studies suggest that increases in mammography screenings have been one of the main reasons that breast

This paper aims to provide the gaps in our understanding of breast cancer by examining the functions and to enhance our ability to distinguish the anatomy of female human breast. The author also attempts a better understanding of some of the different types of human breast cancer namely: ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. It is hoped that this paper will inform those who do not have the understanding and knowledge about the risk factors, diagnosis, treatments and preventions of the breast cancer.

Papillary ductal carcinoma is rarely treated as an invasive carcinoma, because it doesn 't become invasive. This type of cancer is more like ductal carcinoma in situ. Tubular ductal carcinoma makes up 2% all of diagnoses of breast cancer. It consists of estrogen receptor positive cancers that respond to hormones (Johns Hopkins, 2016). All of these different types of invasive ductal carcinoma begin with a mutated cell that leads to the signs and symptoms of developing breast cancer.

Mammography is a series of X-rays that shows images of the soft tissues of the breast. Mammography is a quick, generally painless test that usually takes less than 20 minutes. “The value of mammography is early detection,” states “Harvard Medical School Health Topics A-z.” The also express, “early detection saves lives and, in many cases, also saves the woman’s breast by identifying the cancer at a very early stage when it is most easily treated and is not life threatening.” Some cancers mammography is able to detect are benign, which means, not cancerous, or malignant, cancerous. In 2006 my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the very young age of 34, younger than the suggested age to start

Breast Cancer can be found in many forms but the most noninvasive type is called Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Being that Ductal Carcinoma is noninvasive means that it has not spread farther than the milk ducts, therefore not invading other tissue within the breasts. Intraductal carcinoma is another name for this type of cancer. This type of cancer is considered to be the earliest form of breast cancer, therefore it tends to not be staged. Being that this form is not staged makes doctors consider this to be a precancerous form. In order to detect DCIS a simple mammogram is all that is needed to detect the cancer spot.

This is despite the increasing clinical relevance of early stage tumors including DCIS, whose incidence has increased from 2% to 25-30% in the past several decades due to widespread use of screening mammography6,7. Although 10-year survival is greater than 98% in the general population6, 11-19% of women with DCIS experience recurrent breast tumors within 10 years of diagnosis6,8. It is unknown whether differences in mortality exist between socioeconomic classes and rural-urban location in women with DCIS. However, recurrent tumors can present as either DCIS or invasive cancer and lead to patient morbidity as well as to more biopsies, re-exploration, increased surveillance, and healthcare utilization in

Early detection of breast cancer requires early diagnosis of women with breast cancer symptoms, and in addition can include more intensive breast cancer screening in women without recognized cancer symptoms. When properly collected and documented in hospital-based, regional or national cancer registries,

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor in the glandular tissues of the breast. Such tumors, also called carcinomas, form when the chemical processes that control normal cell growth break down, enabling a single abnormal cell to multiply at a rapid rate (Hickman). Carcinomas,

My mom makes herself go for a mammogram every year. The same as many other women, she doesn’t like it because the pain from the compression technique of the machine and the schedule is not very nice sometimes. Despite the inconvenience, she trusts that the screening mammogram could save her life from breast cancer. However, is the mammogram that valuable as a screening test? This question has been a controversial issue since an annual screening mammography was recommended to women above the age of 40. Recently, a vast study from Canada has casted doubts on the value of this screening test again. Since it made headlines on newspapers and TV news on February, many researchers have investigated and given opposing opinions on this Canadian study. Experts, including the American Cancer Society and the American Radiology College, debunk this Canadian study and strongly encourage women to continue their annual screening mammograms. Today, a development version of mammography – digital breast tomosynthesis – is a promising technology that would improve the quality of mammography. For a better healthy life, women should continue their annual breast mammograms and request that the hospital use tomosynthesis technology to ensure the accuracy of this crucial screening test.

Detection of breast cancer can be made at an early stage through screening. Screening refers to the various tests and examinations that are carried out on the breasts of a person to detect the disease at the earliest, even before the actual symptoms of the disease starts to show. Usually breast cancers that can be felt and detected are cancers that have grown larger in size and that which in usual cases has spread to regions outside the breast. The treatment in such cases is very complex. Breast cancers can be treated successfully if it is detected very early, and before the actual cancer symptoms starts to show.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, sometimes known as Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma is a type of breast cancer. I picked this cancer because my aunt was diagnosed with it a couple years back. Any type of breast cancer normally starts in the inner lining of the milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. A breast cancer that started off in the lobules is known as Lobular Carcinoma. Whereas, breast cancer that starts off in the ducts are known as Ductal Carcinoma.

Over 240,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and it is estimated that 40,000 will not survive this terrible disease. Although these numbers seem daunting, believe it or not, breast cancer survival rates are actually on the incline. Many researchers and doctors believe this is due to the advances in treatment of cancers and in earlier detection which is the key in fighting almost any cancer; early detection. Women are taught to do monthly self-examinations to detect anything ‘out of the

With the majority of tumours being slow growing it has been established from various studies that biennial screening is the most effective time frame. This is due to the identification of slow growing tumours at an early enough stage for recovery and at the same time ensures a reduced rate of false-positives compared to annual mammograms.5 “In addition, since the proportion of DCIS is highest in younger women, screen detection of DCIS that may not be clinically significant could be considered a further harm.”5 Therefore it is the woman’s prerogative whether the risk of cancer outweighs the possibility of coming into contact with the aforementioned harms.