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Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the irregular growth of cells in the breasts that develop into cancerous growths.

Last modified: November 1, 2021

Quick facts about breast cancer Quick facts

  • 1 in 27 women in Malaysia are at risk of breast cancer
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer for Malaysian women, contributing to 1% of all cancers in women
  • Between 2012 and 2016, there were over 13,485 cases of breast cancer diagnosed

Types of breast cancerTypes of breast cancer

When breast cancer is invasive, the cancer has spread from the ducts and lobes to your surrounding breast. There are many different types of invasive breast cancer, some of which are common, while others are very rare. Some of these include:

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

IDC is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive means that the cancer has begun to invade breast tissue close to where it originated. In the case of IDC, the cancer began in the milk duct and has now spread through the duct wall to other breast tissue.

Rather than beginning in the milk duct, ILC originates in the milk glands (known as lobules) and invades nearby areas of the breast.

Unlike other types of breast cancer, IBC does not involve a lump in the breast. Instead, the skin of the breast may become red, inflamed, thick or pitted (like an orange), your nipple may become inverted, and the breast may become swollen, hard, tender and painful, or itchy. IBC is a rare type of breast cancer and is more likely to be advanced upon diagnosis, as it is difficult to identify using a mammogram.

 

 

 

Signs and symptoms of breast cancerSigns and symptoms

Breast tissue can typically feel lumpy, which can make it difficult to know what is normal and what could be a sign of breast cancer. This is why it’s important to perform regular self-examinations and see your GP or healthcare professional if you notice any of the symptoms below. Discussing anything concerning with your doctor as soon as possible can help give you peace of mind and offer the best chance of successful treatment if you receive a breast cancer diagnosis.

Some common symptoms to look out for include:

  • Changes in the size or shape of your breast

  • Any new lumps in the breast or under your arm

  • Discharge or fluid (other than breast milk) from the nipple, including blood

  • Dimpling or a ‘pulling’ of the skin on your breast

  • Breast pain or swelling

  • Dry, flaky red skin around the nipple area

Following a breast cancer diagnosis, further testing is then done to identify the receptor status of the cancer.

Learn more about how breast cancer is classified based on receptor status.

Stages of breast cancerStages

The TNM system is used to stage breast cancer and it helps doctors understand what your cancer looks like. The TNM stands for:

  • Tumour – the size of the tumour
  • Node – if the cancer has involved any lymph nodes
  • Metastasis – whether the cancer has metastasised (spread) to other areas of the body

The TNM information, along with other tests, helps determine the stage of your breast cancer using the guidelines below:

Stage I breast cancer Stage II breast cancer Stage III breast cancer Stage IV breast cancer

Stage I

Cancer in breast tissue. Tumour is less than 2cm across in size

Stage II

Cancer in breast tissue. Tumour is less than 5cm in size. Cancer may spread to the axillary lymph nodes

Stage III

Tumour is larger than 5cm across in size and cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes. Possible dimpling, inflammation or skin colour change

Stage IV

Cancer has spread beyond the breast to other nearby areas of the body

Treatment for breast cancer

There are many different types of treatment for breast cancer. Your treatment will depend on you and your cancer.

 

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about breast cancerFAQs

Is breast cancer hereditary?

Breast cancer is rarely hereditary. In 5-10% of cases, breast cancer is caused by specific gene mutations in the BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2) genes. However, there are several other genes that help make up this percentage.

Learn more about the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in developing breast and ovarian cancer.

What causes breast cancer?

There’s no one cause of breast cancer, however genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors can all increase your risk. Risk factors include:

  • Being female
  • Having a family history of, or close relative who has had breast cancer – If you have a hereditary mutation in the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes, this increases your risk of developing both ovarian cancer and breast cancer
  • Aging – women who are aged 50 years have a 10 times increased risk of breast cancer compared to women who are 30 years
  • Drinking alcohol – there is an increased risk of breast cancer with each additional unit of alcohol consumed
  • Weight gain and being overweight
How common is breast cancer in men?

Breast cancer in men is not that common, and only makes up 1% of all breast cancer cases (give or take). Like women, there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer for men, including:

  • Age – The average age of breast cancer diagnosis is 69 years
  • Hormonal imbalances – Such as increased levels of oestrogen
  • Family history of breast cancer, or a known BRCA gene mutation
  • Previous radiation therapy treatment
What can I do to decrease my risk of developing breast cancer?

There are several lifestyle factors you can control to help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, including:

  • Getting regular exercise – getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day
  • Eating a healthy, balanced diet – eat a fibre-rich diet from grain and legume sources, as well as enjoy a variety of fruit and vegetables per day, limit your intake of salt, saturated fats, and avoid all processed meat
  • Reducing your alcohol intake – if you choose to drink, try to limit your alcohol intake to no more than two standard drinks a day
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
How do you perform a breast self-examination?

Becoming familiar with your breasts and how they look and feel through monthly breast self-examinations can help you identify any changes at an early stage. This is particularly important for women aged below 40 who are not yet eligible for breast screening.

Read advice on performing a breast self-examination and the importance of being breast aware.

Does hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increase the risk of breast cancer?

There’s convincing evidence that combined (oestrogen-progesterone) replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer. Risk increases with the duration of HRT use and is higher in women who start replacement therapy close to menopause.

Helpful Links

ReferencesReferences

For a full list of references, click here.
  1. National Cancer Society Malaysia. (n.d.). Nutrition For People Living With Cancer. Retrieved on 4 October 2023 from https://cancer.org.my/get-help/nutritional-advice/diet-plan-before-during-and-after-treatment/
  2. Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). About Breast Cancer. Retrieved 4 October 2023 from https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.my/about-breast-cancer
  3. Institute Kanser Negara. (2023). Summary of Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2012-2016. Retrieved on 4 October 2023 from https://nci.moh.gov.my/index.php/ms/pengumuman/789-summary-of-malaysian-national-cancer-registry-report-2012-2016
  4. Breast Cancer. (2021). Types of Breast Cancer. Retrieved on 13 January 2022 from https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types
  5. American Cancer Society. (2017). Breast Cancer Stages. Retrieved on 19th December 2018 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/stages-of-breast-cancer.html
  6. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d). Breast Self-Exam. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam
  7. American Cancer Society. (2016). Surgery for breast cancer. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/surgery-for-breast-cancer.html
  8. American Cancer Society. (2017). Radiation for breast cancer. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/radiation-for-breast-cancer.html
  9. American Cancer Society. (2017).  Chemotherapy for breast cancer. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy-for-breast-cancer.html
  10. American Cancer Society. (2017). Hormone therapy for breast cancer. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy-for-breast-cancer.html
  11. Cancer Australia. (2018). Risk factors for breast cancer: A review of the Evidence. Retrieved on 18th December 2018 from https://canceraustralia.gov.au/system/tdf/publications/risk-factors-breast-cancer-review-evidence-2018/pdf/rfbcr_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_a_review_of_the_evidence_2018_report.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=6421
  12. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d). Stage 0 – pre-breast cancer. Retrieved on 13th January 2019 from https://nbcf.org.au/18/stage0-pre-breast-cancer/
  13. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d). Stage 1 or 2 – Early breast cancer. Retrieved on 13th January 2019 from https://nbcf.org.au/about-national-breast-cancer-foundation/about-breast-cancer/stages-types-treatment-breast-cancer/stage-1-2-early-breast-cancer/
  14. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d). Stage 2 or 3 – Locally advanced breast cancer. Retrieved on 13th January 2019 from https://nbcf.org.au/about-national-breast-cancer-foundation/about-breast-cancer/stages-types-treatment-breast-cancer/stage-2-3-locally-advanced-breast-cancer/
  15. National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d). Stage 4 – Metastatic breast cancer. Retrieved on 13th January 2019 from https://nbcf.org.au/about-national-breast-cancer-foundation/about-breast-cancer/stages-types-treatment-breast-cancer/stage-4-metastatic-breast-cancer/
  16. Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). (2016).Men get breast cancer too. Retrieved on 14th January 2019 from https://www.bcna.org.au/media/6467/men-get-breast-cancer-too-booklet-web.pdf?_ga=2.267601998.1909084069.1547442095-719496387.1547442095
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