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Breast Cancer - What Happens
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Breast cancer
occurs when cells in the breast grow abnormally. As the breast cancer grows, it
can spread to nearby tissues and
lymph nodes
. Advanced breast cancer can affect the bones, liver, and brain.
Fortunately, when found at an early stage, breast cancer is highly curable.
Your doctor will learn more about how your breast cancer may behave when the cancer cells are examined under the microscope. This is called classification. It tells your doctor how rapidly the cancer cells are growing and dividing and where they may have started in the breast tissue. Tests for hormone receptors and other tumor markers are usually done after surgery with tissue from a lumpectomy or mastectomy. All of this information will help you and your doctor make decisions about treatment.
The stage indicates how far the cancer has spread within the breast, to nearby tissues, and to other organs. Your doctor will determine the stage of your breast cancer by gathering information from other tests, such as axillary lymph node surgery, blood tests, bone scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays. The stage of your cancer is one of the most important pieces of information that will help guide your treatment options.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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