Secondary Breast Cancer
Secondary breast cancer often only affects one part of the body. But it is possible for secondary breast cancer to affect more than one place at a time. Through the lymphatic system, the cancer cells can spread to lymph nodes anywhere in the body. The most common lymph nodes affected are those close to the breast, such as in the neck, or under or above the collarbone. Secondary breast cancer is more likely to happen in some parts of the body than others. Breast cancer cells travelling in the blood may settle in.
Secondary breast cancer is made up of millions of cancer cells. These form a tumour. Some cells may break away and spread to another part of the body and form a new tumour. This is called a ' metastasis' or a 'secondary'. The original cancer is known as a 'primary' tumour or the 'primary' cancer.
A secondary breast cancer is when the cancer that started in the breast spreads to another part of the body. The secondary cancer is made of the same type of cells as the primary cancer. So, for example, if a woman has secondary breast cancer in her bones, she has breast cancer cells which have spread from her breast and formed another tumour in a bone. This is different from having a cancer that first started in the bone (a primary bone cancer). In that case, the cancer is made up of bone cells that have become cancerous.
The symptoms of secondary breast cancer depend on which part of the body the breast cancer has spread to. For example, a woman with secondary breast cancer affecting a bone will have different symptoms from a woman with secondary breast cancer affecting her liver.
Cancer cells spread either in the bloodstream or through the lymphatic system. They do not always form a secondary cancer as soon as they have found a new place in the body. They may stay inactive for many years before growing into a new tumour.
Where breast cancer cells can spread to
Secondary breast cancer is more likely to happen in some parts of the body than others. Breast cancer cells may settle in the lymph nodes, the bones, the liver, the lungs or (rarely) the brain. Secondary breast cancer often only affects one part of the body. But it is possible for secondary breast cancer to affect more than one place at a time.
Secondary breast cancer is made up of millions of cancer cells. These form a tumour. Some cells may break away and spread to another part of the body and form a new tumour. This is called a ' metastasis' or a 'secondary'. The original cancer is known as a 'primary' tumour or the 'primary' cancer.
A secondary breast cancer is when the cancer that started in the breast spreads to another part of the body. The secondary cancer is made of the same type of cells as the primary cancer. So, for example, if a woman has secondary breast cancer in her bones, she has breast cancer cells which have spread from her breast and formed another tumour in a bone. This is different from having a cancer that first started in the bone (a primary bone cancer). In that case, the cancer is made up of bone cells that have become cancerous.
The symptoms of secondary breast cancer depend on which part of the body the breast cancer has spread to. For example, a woman with secondary breast cancer affecting a bone will have different symptoms from a woman with secondary breast cancer affecting her liver.
Cancer cells spread either in the bloodstream or through the lymphatic system. They do not always form a secondary cancer as soon as they have found a new place in the body. They may stay inactive for many years before growing into a new tumour.
Where breast cancer cells can spread to
Secondary breast cancer is more likely to happen in some parts of the body than others. Breast cancer cells may settle in the lymph nodes, the bones, the liver, the lungs or (rarely) the brain. Secondary breast cancer often only affects one part of the body. But it is possible for secondary breast cancer to affect more than one place at a time.
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DID YOU KNOW?
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
