Anatomy of the breast

A woman's breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue, and thousands of tiny glands (known as lobules) which produce milk. If a woman has a baby, the milk is delivered to the nipple through tiny tubes called ducts, which allow her to breastfeed. Breast cancer usually shows as a lump or thickening in the breast tissue, although most breast lumps are not cancerous.

Who is affected by breast cancer?

In the UK, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Approximately 45,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year, usually in women who are over 50 years of age and who have reached menopause. However, it is possible for women of any age to be affected by breast cancer and, in rare cases, the condition can also affect men.

Types of breast cancer

There are several different types of breast cancer, which can develop in different parts of the breast. The most common is known as ductal breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the breast ducts. Ductal breast cancer accounts for about 80% of all cases of breast cancer.

Other, less common types of breast cancer include lobular breast cancer, which develops in the cells that line the milk-producing lobules, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget's disease of the breast. It is possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bones, or lymph nodes (small glands that filter bacteria from the body).

Breast screening

The exact cause of breast cancer is not fully understood, although there are many factors which make developing the condition more likely, such as age and family history.

Women who have a higher than average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition. As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women between 50-70 years of age of should be screened once every three years as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

Breast cancer can be treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Some cases of breast cancer may also be treated using biological or hormone treatments.

One in nine women are affected by breast cancer during their lifetime. There is a good chance of recovery if the condition is detected in its early stages. For these reasons, it is vital that women check their breasts regularly for anything unusual, and always get any changes examined by their GP.

Online Personal Education and Risk Assessment (OPERA)

If you are concerned about your risk of developing inherited breast cancer, an online interactive assessment tool called OPERA is currently available.

The tool is based on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline for the classification and care of women at risk of familial breast cancer. It is designed for use by patients and health professionals in order to assess a patient's risk of developing the condition based on their family history of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. This is because the genes that are mainly responsible for breast cancer are also linked to ovarian cancer.