Normal cell growth in the breast, as in the rest of the body occurs in cycles. The periods of growth and rest in cells are controlled by genes in the cells nucleus and vary according to the cell's function and attrition of a certain body part. When the genes are in good working order  then the control is also good. But when there is a genetic abnormality or "mistake" then the control too is incorrect and usually that means overgrowth of cells or cancer.

Although cancer is caused by a genetic problem, only 5-10% of it is hereditary. Genes can simply get "screwed up" during out life time and this usually happens when we are older. So the major cause for cancer is simply aging.

Leading a healthy life means you can probably age better and hence also reduce risk of contracting cancer, but eventually cancer can happen to anybody, even the healthiest among us. It is important to realize that the cause of cancer is a genetic mistake causing over growth of cells and that though it may be related to lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and stress it is eventually nobody's fault. Self accusation is typical with new diagnosed cancer patents, but it is counter productive to the healing process. The best way to go about it is to stop looking for reasons in the past and to start working on understanding your condition so you can fight it the best way you can.

Before we move on to the specific kinds of cancer, there are three questions that always need to be asked. Is the cancer invasive or not? Are lymph nods involved or not? And at what stage is it?. Early stage diagnosis and treatment increases the chances of healing. This is why self exams are recommended and women over 40 are also advised to perform a mammogram test once a year. The size and shape of a tumor can be determined by the time it has to grow and effects treatment methods. Invasive tumors grow out of their first location, in the case of breast cancer they leave the milk ducts and grow into the normal breast tissue and also spread out in the body.  Non invasive cancer - or "in situ" - remains in one place. But beware; non invasive cancer can develop into an invasive or infiltrating cancer. Some breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes under the arm. If this is occurred the lymph nodes are called "positive". Once cancer has been diagnosed in the breast the lymph nodes are tested to determine if the cancer has developed there too. Studies have found a connection between the number of lymph nodes affected and how aggressive cancer will tend to be so knowing how many nodes are positive will help determine treatment methods. The number of nodes involved is more important in this case as the size of the cancer detected in each one.

Cancer tumors have a personality and the most important factor is their aggressiveness i.e. how fast they grow. Another personality question is how it grows: does it move fast or wildly or does it spread in predictable patterns. Is it small in one location but spreading or is it large and easy going? These more detailed questions help determine different kinds of cancer and treatment methods suitable for every patient. Another important personality question is:

Are hormone receptors present?  If so, this means your cancer responds to hormones, usually estrogen, which stimulates it to grow. If your cancer is ER-positive, i.e. responds to estrogen, then it will respond to hormonal treatment methods.

The Staging system is the terminology doctors have invented to categorize cancer, it is very important to understand these terms as they usually determine how the doctors will approach your illness in terms of treatment. The staging system usually refers to the stage in which the cancer is found in the body. To make a long story short the more aggressive the cancer the higher it's stage number. Stage 0 is a non invasive cancer. Stage 1 is an invasive cancer that has already left its original location and the tumor is maximum size of 2 cm. The nodes are not involved. Stage 2 is when the tumor is 2-5 cm in diameter and/or when the cancer has moved onto the nodes on the same side of the affected breast. Stage 3 has two categories.

IIIA is determined by the fact that the cancer in the nodes has invaded normal tissue and/or   the tumor is larger than 5 cm. IIIB is rare but very aggressive: in this case the cancer has invaded breast normal tissue and into the chest. This inflammatory cancer may be diagnosed mistakenly as an infection in the breast, because it looks like one and is warm and tends to redness.  Stage 4 is an invasive cancer that has spread beyond the breast and arm pit nodes. Stages 0-2 are considered early cancer, stages 2-3 as later cancer and stage 4 is advanced cancer.

Cancer is also categorized in three letters:

T - for Tumor - a category based on the size or the tumor.

N - for Nodes - are they involved or not and how much?

M - for Metastatic - was the cancer found only in the breast (its original location) or also in other places where it spread to? has it reoccurred in a different place than the first time?

T0 and N0- when the tumour or the nodes (respectively) could not be measured or found. T1-T4 will describe the size of the tumour. N1-N3 will describe involvement of the nodes (if they are involved) and M1 will indicate that the cancer has been found not only in its original place.

The above general description may help determine the kind of cancer one has. Here is a more specific list of terms for cancer:

DCIS - Ductal Carcinoma In Situ - This type of breast cancer stays in the milk duct where is started. This is a stage 0 cancer. This is sometimes referred to as "pre cancer" but this name must not make you underestimate the illness. Another way to refer to this cancer is Tis - which means the tumour is in Situ. Since this cancer remains located it is not life threatening, but it must be treated before it develops into a more dangerous cancer. Treatment is usually a breast conserving operation and radiation to follow it. More serious cases will include the removal of the entire breast, and then normally no radiation follows. Hormonal treatment might be considered if the cancer responds to it. Hormonal treatment for DCIS is Tamoxifen. The good news is that since this cancer is not invasive there is no need of chemotherapy and thus its side effects are spared to the DCIS patient. The bad news is that DCIS patients are within the higher risk group of reoccurring cancer. 25%-50% more chance that it will come back as invasive cancer.

LCIS - Lobular Carcinoma In Situ - This is usually considered a pre cancerous condition. The cancer is confined to the lobules - the glands that make the milk in the breast. Carcinoma means it begins in the skin and it has not yet left its original place, hence it is In Situ. This too is a stage zero Tis cancer.

IDC - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - This kind refers to 80% of all breast cancer diagnosed This cancer begins in the milk ducts but has invaded into the breast normal tissue. In early stages this cancer is usually stage 1, but later it can be described by higher stage numbers, depends on its aggressiveness.

ILC - Invasive Lobular Carcinoma - This is a cancer that has begun in the lobules and invaded to other tissues. This cancer type covers 10-15% of the diagnosed cancer. treatment for invasive cancer usually also involved chemotherapy (on top of surgery and radiation) because it is the best way to kill undetected cancer cells.

Recurrent and Metastatic Disease - The chances or breast cancer reoccurring is unfortunately higher in those women who already suffered it. So if you has breast cancer, the chance it may come back will always be with you. The fact that cancer returns does not however mean certain death. Correct treatment and determination do enable patients to recover and lead long and full lives. Cancer may reoccur in the same place as the first time, then it is called "reoccurring", or in a different place than where it was found in the first time, hence it is called "Metastatic". It may reoccur in the breast and then it will be called local, if it invades the nodes it will be referred to as a regional reoccurrence. When breast cancer comes back it usually tends to strike in the breast, lymph nodes, chest wall, liver, bones or brain. So if you have found cancer in those areas is might very well be breast cancer reoccurring. This is good news, because breast cancer , even when reoccurring in other parts of the body is easier to treat. Cancer found in the breast on the other side of the first time are usually considered a new cancer and not a reoccurrence of the old one.

A biopsy is in many cases the best way to determine cancer and also its reoccurrence. Biopsy means that a piece of the tumour is removed from the body and diagnosed in a laboratory. This process is usually done with a needle, and is least invasive. A larger tumour might also be scanned for further diagnosis. In reoccurring cancer the biopsy will help determine if this indeed is a reoccurrence or a new cancer, since the cells of your first cancer biopsy were kept for record. In first time cancer and reoccurring illness the biopsy serves as a tool to determine the personality of the cancer, and actually what kind is it and what treatment is best suited for it. For evaluating the stage of the cancer blood tests, a bone scan, X-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, and a PET scan may be conducted.

The above is just the beginning! the tip of the iceberg. Cancer is always being researched and there are many different kinds and nuances. Make sure that you are kept informed by your doctor at all times about your situation and regarding your treatment, If you are not happy with any diagnosis do not be ashamed to ask for a second opinion. Chat on the net and get into a support group. You are sick perhaps, but you are not alone! An informed patient has more self confidence that can help them fight off the disease.