About Breast Cancer
Types of Breast Cancer
Breast Pre-invasive Breast Cancer
When abnormal cells or cancer cells stay inside the milk ducts or milk sacs (lobules) of the breast.
Types of pre-invasive breast cancer are Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
Early Breast Cancer
Is cancer that is contained in the breast and may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes in the breast and armpit.
Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
When the cancer has spread to one or more of, the lymph nodes or other areas near the breast, or to tissues around the breast such as the skin, muscles or ribs, but there is no sign that it has spread to other parts of the body.
Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA) has produced the “My Journey Kit” - a comprehensive resource kit for women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The Kit consists of three main elements. The My Journey Information Guide, the My Journey Personal Record for recording contact details, personal information, notes and important dates, a place to store test results and a range of brochures including The Beacon, a free quarterly publication of BCNA. For more information, visit www.bcna.org.au.
Secondary or Metastatic Breast Cancer
The terms metastatic, secondary and advanced are often used interchangeably. Secondary breast cancer is the term used to describe cancer that has spread from the original site in the breast to other organs or tissues in the body. The cancer may have spread to lymph nodes (not near the breast), the brain, liver, lungs or bones. For some women secondary breast cancer may be their first diagnosis of breast cancer. Although currently treatment for metastatic breast cancer is unable to get rid of the cancer completely, treatment can improve quality of life by reducing symptoms and controlling the spread of the cancer.
Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA) has produced an excellent resource for women with secondary breast cancer called "The Hope & Hurdles Pack". The Pack contains a number of individual items; booklets, brochures, magazines and CDs that offer information, support and hope for women and their families.
BCNA also distribute The Inside Story as a supplement to The Beacon, targeted specifically for people experiencing secondary cancer. It includes personal stories, support, information and resources. For more information, visit www.bcna.org.au.
The Advanced Breast Cancer Group have produced a free DVD called 'You Are Not Alone; a film about living with secondary breast cancer.'
It is a story about the experience of three women living with secondary breast cancer. They talk about what it was like when they were first diagnosed with this life threatening illness, and their journey into unchartered territory as they learned to cope, with the support of their family, friends and other women in a professionally led support group.
Click here to find out how to request your free copy.
Secondary Breast Cancer Support Group
The Breast Cancer Foundation of WA sponsors a support group specifically for women affected by Secondary (also referred to as Advanced) Breast Cancer. For information about the meeting place and times, please contact Nerida on 9324 3703 or at nerida@breastcancer.org.au.
Paget’s Disease
A rare form of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and areola (the area around the nipple). This type of breast cancer is one reason why we emphasize the importance of looking for breast changes as well as feeling for them.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
A rare and rapidly growing type of breast cancer that causes the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast to become blocked, causing the breast to look swollen and red, or "inflamed". It accounts for about 1 -2 % of the total number of women and men diagnosed with breast cancer.
Men with Breast Cancer
Breast cancer in men is rare. Less than 1% of all people diagnosed with breast cancer are men. Breast cancer in men is, however, on the rise with about one hundred men being diagnosed in Australia each year.
Both men and women have breast tissue. As with women, we don’t know exactly why breast cancer develops in men. We do know that there are risk factors that may increase a man’s risk of developing breast cancer.
The most common risk factors are:
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Getting older ( breast cancer in men occurs more commonly in those aged 50 and older)
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Having a strong family history of female or male breast cancer
Less common risks are:
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Having high oestrogen levels
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Klinefelter’s syndrome
Some studies suggest that there may be a link between male breast cancer and some testicular disorders, and exposure to radiation.
For more information or support, contact the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA on 9324 3703 or email info@breastcancer.org.au. Alternatively you can visit www.breasthealth.com.au/men.