Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Breast cancer mostly occurs in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60. Breast cancer is also found to occur more often in white women than African American or Asian women.
Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes. Within each lobe are many smaller lobules (milk producing glands). Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts (milk passages that connect the lobules and the nipple). Fat surrounds the lobules and ducts. These ducts lead to the nipple in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola.There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs.Each breast also contains blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry colorless fluid called lymph, and lead to small bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest. Lymph nodes are also found in many other parts of the body.
Cancer cells may enter lymph vessels and spread out along these vessels to reach lymph nodes. Cancer cells may also enter blood vessels and spread through the blood stream to other parts of the body, bypassing lymph nodes. When breast cancer cells reach the lymph nodes, they continue to grow, often causing swelling of the lymph nodes. These swollen lymph nodes sometimes can be felt, especially in the armpit. If breast cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the arm pit, there is a greater chance that cancer cells have spread to other organs of the body as well.
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