DETAILS ABOUT THE VARIOUS CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER ALONG WITH THE DIAGNOSIS WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN BOTH THE AREAS.

1. Cancer Research
BREAST CANCER:
CAUSES &
DIAGNOSIS

2. BREAST CANCER:
CAUSES & DIAGNOSIS
Mr. Shaktiprasad Pradhan
M.Pharm, Ph.D*
Research Professional, UDPS
shakti.pharma16@gmail.com
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
Odisha, India

3. .
INTRODUCTION
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4. The Breast
The human female breast is an apocrine gland having
remarkable and complex structure.
Most part of a woman's breast consists of fat & connective
tissue, along with less conspicuous parts including milk
ducts, lobes, lobules, arteries and lymph nodes.
Each breast has 15 to 20 lobes (sections) & each lobe is
made up of many lobules (smaller structures) that end in
tiny bulbs that can produce milk.
Lobes, lobules & bulbs are linked by a network of thin
tubes, known as ducts.
Ducts carry milk from the bulbs, where it's produced,
toward the areola (dark area of skin in the center of the
breast). (Cont.)
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5. .
They join together into larger ducts ending at the
nipple, where milk becomes available to a hungry
infant.
The actual milk producing structures are nearly the
same in all women.
Space around the lobules and ducts are filled with
fatty tissue, ligaments and connective tissue.
Breast has no muscle tissue, but muscles do lie
underneath the breasts, separating them from ribs.
Oxygen, nutrients & other life sustaining nourishments
are delivered to breast tissues by the blood in arteries
and capillaries.
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6. Anatomy of a female breast
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1.Chest wall 2.Pectoralis muscles 3.Lobules 4.Nipple surface 5.Areola
6.Lactiferous duct tube 7.Fatty tissue 8.Skin.

7. .
BREAST CANCER
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8. Breast Cancer
Cancer is the most dreaded disease of the current time &
caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the
cells due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco
smoking & chewing, radiation, chemicals or infectious
agents etc.
Cancer is usually classified according to the tissue from
which the cancerous cells originate that is location as well
as the normal cell type they most resemble which is
histology.
Breast cancer is the cancer that starts in the cells of the
breast & the most common cause of cancer among
women worldwide, both in incidence and death.
(Cont.)
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9. Breast cancer causes change in the size or shape of the
breast, a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit,
discharge from the nipple, change in the colour or texture
of the skin of the breast or areola such as scaly, dimpled,
puckered or wrinkled.
Simple Breast Cancer
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10. .
Breast cancer is the second most common type of
cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer
death globally apart from sexes.
In India Breast cancer, is the most extensive cancer
category contributing about 18% of all cancers & 27% of
all women malignancies worldwide according to the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Breast cancer is increasing particularly in developing
countries where the majority of cases are diagnosed in
late stages.
However, breast cancer is the most detectable & most
treatable kind of cancer among all human malignancies.
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11. .
CAUSES OF
BREAST CANCER
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12. Causes of Breast Cancer
There are no certain causes of breast cancer but
some known risk factors can impact on a woman's
likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Getting older
 There is a higher risk of developing breast cancer to
the older woman, as old age is a risk factor.
 Over 80% of all female breast cancers occur among
the age group of 50 to 55 years normally women
after the menopause.
Genetics
 Women having a family history of breast or ovarian
cancer are more likely to develop breast cancer.
(Cont.) 12

13. . The majority of breast cancers are not hereditary
however women who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2
genes have a considerably higher risk of developing
breast and/or ovarian cancer.
 Another gene TP53 is also linked to greater breast
cancer risk.
A history of breast cancer
 Recurrence of breast cancer development is quite
more in the women who have a previous history of
breast cancer.
 Even for the non-invasive breast cancer, they have
more likely to develop the disease again, compared
to the women who have no history of the disease.
(Cont.)
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14. .Having certain types of breast lumps
 Women having various types of benign (non-
cancerous) lumps in breasts are more likely to
develop breast cancer later on.
 Specifically atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular
carcinoma in situ may be taken into consideration
for a cause of breast cancer.
Breast feeding & abortion
 Low breast feeding rate & high rate of abortion are
more likely to develop breast cancer in women.
Dense breast tissue
 There is a greater chance of developing breast
cancer for the women with denser breast tissue.
(Cont.) 14

15. .Estrogen exposure
 Women who have an earlier menarche than usual
age or entered menopause later than usual period
of time have a higher risk of developing breast
cancer.
 It is only due to the prolonged period of estrogen
exposure to them.
 Exposure of estrogen commences during menarche
and markedly goes down during the menopause.
Obesity
 Obesity and overweight may cause a higher risk of
developing breast cancer in post menopausal
women.
(Cont.)
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16. . However due to higher levels of estrogen in obese
menopausal women, there is a higher risk of
developing breast cancer.
Height
 There is a slightly greater probability of developing
breast cancer in taller than average women.
Alcohol consumption
 Consumption of more alcohol as well regular drinks
for a woman can develop a higher risk of breast
cancer.
Radiation exposure
 Exposure or undergoing X-rays and CT scans to a
woman, may elevate the risk of developing breast
cancer. (Cont.) 16

17. .Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
 Combined and only single estrogen, both the forms
of HRT therapy may increase a woman's risk of
developing breast cancer.
 However there is a higher risk of developing breast
cancer especially from the combined HRT.
Certain jobs
 Certain jobs especially that bring the human body
into contact with possible carcinogens and
endocrine disruptors are linked to a higher risk of
developing breast cancer.
 Examples include bar/gambling, automotive
plastics manufacturing, metal-working, food
canning and agricultural products processing. (Cont.)
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18. . There is also a higher risk of developing breast
cancer among the women working at night, prior to
a first pregnancy had.
Cosmetic implants may undermine breast cancer
survival
 Women having cosmetic breast implants may
develop breast cancer and have a higher risk of
dying prematurely compared to other females.
 It is harder to mark breast malignancy at an early
stage due to cosmetic breast implants, as they
produce shadows on mammograms & the breast
cancer is diagnosed when it has already advanced,
compared to those with no implants.
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19. .
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS ON
THE CAUSES OF
BREAST CANCER
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20. Recent Developments (B C Causes)
Breast cancer has likely a fewer chance to reappear
in women with history of breastfeeding
 Breastfeeding is associated with a 30% overall
decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence among
women who have previously had one subtype of the
disease.
Alcohol consumption triggers the breast cancer
causing genes
 Breast cancer cases are linked to alcohol
consumption and interestingly it is also linked to
an increased risk of cancer recurrence in women
with early stage breast cancer.
(Cont.) 20

21. .
 This is because alcohol triggers the genes
responsible for causing breast cancer & it is
validated as there is a direct link between alcohol,
estrogen and breast cancer causing genes.
High sugar consumption may have an increased
risk of breast cancer
 High sugar intake can increase the risk of breast
cancer and accelerate the spread of the disease to
lungs.
Consumption of high caloric food
 Women frequently consuming high caloric foods
especially red meat, meat & milk enriched
derivatives have a high chance of breast cancer,
which is believed to be the chief cause of breast
cancer in many developed countries. 21

22. .
DIAGNOSIS OF
BREAST CANCER
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23. Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
After detecting certain signs and symptoms or a
routine breast cancer screening, usually breast
cancer is diagnosed in women.
Breast cancer diagnosis has a very significant
impact on the treatment of breast cancer as it
confirms the stage & type of the malignancy.
Women of high risk groups & women after
menopause should have routine screening for the
breast cancer.
Routine diagnosis or screening of the breasts
reduces the risk of death from breast cancer.
(Cont.)
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24. BREAST TUMOUR 3D IMAGING
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25. .
Breast exam
 The patient's breasts should be checked for looking
out the lumps and other possible abnormalities,
like inverted nipples, nipple discharge or change in
breast shape etc.
 Women may be directed for breast self check exam
or to sit/stand with her arms in various positions, if
she has any kind of symptoms of breast cancer.
X-ray (Mammogram)
 Mammogram is the breast x-ray usually used for
breast cancer diagnosis, if anything unusual sign or
symptom is found.
(Cont.)
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26. X-RAY (MAMMOGRAM)
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27. .
2D combined with 3D mammograms
 By using 3D mammograms in collaboration with
regular 2D mammograms, more precise diagnosis
will be done which will reduce the risk of death
caused by breast cancer.
Breast ultrasound
 Breast ultrasound is a type of scan which may help
to find out the nature of the lump or abnormality,
whether solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.
Biopsy
 From a noticeable abnormality, such as a lump, a
sample of tissue is surgically removed and
analysed.
(Cont.) 27

28. .
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29. .
 If the cells are found to be cancerous, then the type
and the grade (aggressiveness) of breast cancer will
be determined.
 For more precise diagnosis, biopsy samples need be
taken from multiple tumor sites.
Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan
 MRI provides precious indications of a breast
tumour's response to pre-surgical chemotherapy
much earlier than possible through clinical
examination.
 MRI helps to determine the extent of breast cancer.
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30. BREAST MRI SCAN
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31. .
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS IN
BREAST CANCER
DIAGNOSIS
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32. Recent Developments (B C Diagnosis)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans may help predict
which women are most likely to develop breast cancer
in the future, is a recent study published in the journal
Radiology.
Mammography is still best for breast cancer screening
& it is best for reducing breast cancer mortality in
women aged over 50.
Breast cancer relapse could be predicted with new
clinical or pathological blood tests.
A test that identifies genetic information in the blood
picks up sensitive amounts of DNA that can be used to
shape decisions about breast cancer treatment.
Breast cancer screening could be made more accurate
with the help of oral pill that "lights up" the cancerous
breast tumors.
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33. .
REFERENCES
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34. References
 World Health Organization, International Agency for
Research on Cancer, 2020.
 American Cancer Society: Breast cancer overview. 2020.
 Pradhan, Tripathi, Pradhan, Nature an Immunobooster for
Breast Cancer, Book. Partridge India Publication, 2015.
 www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/
 www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/introduction.
 Pradhan D., et al., Inhibition of proteasome activity by the
dietary flavonoid Quercetin associated with growth
inhibition in cultured breast cancer cells and xenografts.
JYP.2015, 7(3): 225-233.
 Pradhan S., et al., Antiproliferation activity of Ocimum
gratissimum aqueous extract on human breast cancer
MCF-7 cell line. WJPR, 2018, 7(9): 421-428.
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35. .
Thank You
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