Breast Pathology and Cancer Diagnosis

Breast Cancer Pathology

There are trillions of cells in the body. These cells have regulated cell cycle that controls their growth, maturity, division, and death. During childhood, normal cells replicate faster to allow the person to grow. Once adulthood is reached the cells divide to replace worn-out cells and to repair injuries. This cell division and growth is controlled by the cellular blueprint or DNA and genes that lie within the cell’s nucleus. Cancer initiate when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. All types of cancer, irrespective of their origin, occur due to this uncontrollable growth of cells that leads to the formation of tumors and lesions. These cells have longer lifespans and instead of dying to continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. Cancer cells can also invade other tissues. This property is called metastasis. Cancer cells grow into tumors that are supplied to blood vessels. This is called angiogenesis. Damage to the DNA and genetic mutations can also lead to breast cancer have been experimentally linked to estrogenic exposure. Some individuals inherit defects in the DNA and genes like the BRCA1, BRCA2, and P53 among others. Those with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer thus are at an increased risk of breast cancer.