Breast cancer
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and mainly affects women; however man can also be affected. In the UK 1 in 8 women in the UK develop breast cancer. The majority have had their menopause but 20% are under 50 years old.
- Breast cancer starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast. It is the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women but men can get it too.
- Breast cancer can be divided into invasive breast cancer and non-invasive breast cancer.
- Invasive breast cancer is more aggressive has the ability to metastasise (spread) to the rest of the body. Non-invasive breast cancer has a better prognosis as it does not usually spread to other parts of the body, however if left untreated it may become invasive breast cancer. It is contained within ducts or lobules and is referred to as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) if it occurs in the ducts, or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) if it occurs in the lobules. LCIS is an abnormality found on breast biopsy putting a patient at increased risk of developing breast cancer however is in itself not considered to be cancer.