Discovering the various forms of breast cancer

In 2023, the number of new breast cancer diagnoses will exceed 61,000, and each year, more than 12,000 women succumb to this disease. How can we fight against this terrible reality?

Spotlight on breast cancer

In 2023, more than 61,000 new cases of breast cancer will be recorded, and each year, more than 12,000 women lose their lives from it. This cancer is most common in women, accounting for more than a third of newly diagnosed cancer cases. To better understand this disease, it is essential to understand the different types and subtypes.

The different types of breast cancer

The majority of breast cancers are adenocarcinomas, developing from cells in the mammary gland. Among them, we distinguish adenocarcinomas on site and adenocarcinomas infiltrants. The former are confined to the ducts or lobules, while the latter infiltrate the surrounding tissues and can reach other parts of the body.

There are also rarer forms of breast cancer, such as medullary carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, papillary carcinoma. Paget’s disease of the nipple and inflammatory breast cancer are also types of breast cancer.

Breast cancer subgroups

Breast cancer is also divided into different subgroups. Hormone-dependent breast cancer, which expresses hormone receptors, represents 80% of all breast cancers. Overexpressed HER2 cancer has a large number of receptors for the HER2 protein, which promotes the growth of cancer cells. Triple negative breast cancer, characterized by the absence of hormone receptors and HER2 receptors, is one of the most difficult cancers to treat.

Cancer classification

Cancer stage and grade are defined to determine the extent and aggressiveness of the disease. The stage is determined by the size and infiltration of the tumor, whether lymph nodes are involved, and the presence or absence of metastases. As for the grade, it is defined by examining the cell under a microscope, observing its size, shape, architecture and the number of dividing cells.

Participating in the fight against breast cancer also means understanding this complex disease. During the month of Pink October, let’s take the time to inform ourselves and raise awareness among those around us.