What Is Breast Cancer?

 Over a quarter million people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year. Learn more about the various types and treatment options.

Cancer is a disease that is characterized by abnormal cell growth. These cancer cells can form tumors and spread to surrounding tissue. When this process originates in the breast, it’s known as breast cancer.

n the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, following skin cancer. Although it’s much less common, men can develop breast cancer too. Over 260,000 women and 2,400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Most breast cancers begin in the tube-shaped ducts of the breast. In female breasts, these ducts connect the milk-producing glands (called lobules) to the nipples; male breasts have these ducts and a few glands too—though they usually don’t produce milk. Less often, breast cancers may originate in the lobules and more rarely, in the breast’s fatty and fibrous connective tissue.

If the cancer spreads to other tissues and organs in the body, it’s called metastatic breast cancer.

Due to early screening and diagnosis, along with better treatments for breast cancer, female deaths from breast cancer have declined by over 40% between 1989 and 2019.

From 2015 to 2019, the U.S. Cancer Statistics reports that the death rate is about 20 out of every 100,000 women with breast cancer.

It’s important to learn about the risk factors and prevention for breast cancer and what you can expect from diagnosis and treatments.

Types

There are several types of breast cancer, categorized by where the cancer starts and where it has spread. Some common breast cancers are:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is an early-stage cancer in the ducts of the breast. It is non-invasive, meaning it hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. It has a high survival rate of 95% from 10 years of diagnosis.⁹
• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): Also called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, this is the most common type of breast cancer.¹⁰ It begins in the lining of the duct and spreads to other breast tissue. As an invasive cancer, it can spread to other parts of the body through your bloodstream or lymphatic system (part of your immune system).
• Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): This is an invasive cancer that begins in the lobules and spreads to surrounding tissue.

Some breast cancers are rare. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), for example, is an uncommon-but-aggressive form. It tends to occur in women younger than 40.

A doctor can classify breast cancers by their stage, based on:

• Tumor size and location
• Number and location of affected lymph nodes (organs that help your body fight infection)
• Metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to other tissues and/or organs)​​
• Tumor grade (how fast a tumor grows, based on how abnormal the cells are)
• Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status (whether cancer cells produce these hormone-specific proteins)
• HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) status, a protein that speeds up breast cancer growth

Based on the type of cancer, an oncologist (a doctor specializing in cancer diagnosis and treatment) can determine a suitable treatment plan.

For male breast cancer, it may be difficult to detect in the breast tissue alone. A healthcare provider may also take scans of other parts of the body, like the chest and abdomen to determine the cancer stage.

Symptoms

Breast cancer symptoms vary, and many people have no symptoms at all, especially early on. That's why regular screening mammograms are so important. Mammograms are a type of X-ray that may detect small tumors before you can feel them.

Still, mammography isn't foolproof; you should also become familiar with your breasts, so you know what is and isn’t normal for you.

Pay attention to any breast changes you experience, including these possible warning signs:

• A new lump in the breast or armpit
• Changes in the size or shape of the breast (swelling, thickening, or shrinkage)
• Skin dimpling or pitting (like an orange peel)
• Red, dry, flaking, or thickened nipple or breast skin
• Breast or nipple pain
• A nipple that turns inward or has a sore
• Milky or bloody discharge from the nipple
• Swollen lymph nodes under the armpit or around the collarbone

Causes

Breast cancer begins when mutated cells in the breast divide and grow without restraint. These abnormal cells form a mass of tissue called a tumor. There are a variety of reasons as to why this may occur. For some people, you may have inherited gene mutations (passed down through families) that can harm your cells’ ability to fix DNA mutations. More often, your cells can become cancerous even if you don’t have a genetic risk for breast cancer—perhaps due to certain lifestyle or environmental factors.

Risk Factors

Though breast cancer is most common in people assigned female at birth, several factors may raise your risk of breast cancer, regardless of your sex. These include:

• Being age 50 or older
• Being overweight or obese, especially when also at an older age
• Inheriting certain genes (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2)
• A family history of breast cancer 
• Having a benign breast condition
• Having radiation therapy in the chest area
• Undergoing hormone therapy containing estrogen (such as for menopausal symptoms)
• Long-term alcohol consumption
• Long-term physical inactivity

However, there are differences between female and male breast cancer.²¹

Specific risk factors that have been linked to female breast cancer include:

• Dense breast tissue
• An early first period (before age 12)
• Going through menopause after age 55
• A family history of ovarian cancer (in a first-degree relative)
• Being exposed to the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen)
• Higher bone density
• Not having children
• Not breastfeeding
• Giving birth for the first time at age 35 or older
• Naturally having high estrogen levels
• Taking combined oral contraceptives with estrogen and progestin (though this risk is reversible with discontinuation)

In general, male breast cancer is understudied compared to female breast cancer. But some factors that may raise the risk of male breast cancer include:

• Klinefelter syndrome, a rare condition of having XXY chromosomes (an extra X chromosome)
• Changes to testicles (like injury, inflammation, swelling, or surgical removal)
• Liver disease

Having any of these risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will get breast cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider about keeping up with routine screenings and what you can do to reduce your risk.

Diagnosis

Doctors may use different tests and procedures to diagnose breast cancer. As of May 2023, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that cisgender women and people assigned female at birth get mammograms every two years beginning at age 40.

Common diagnostics include:

• Standard physical exam: A healthcare provider will ask you about any recent health changes and your medical history.
• Blood tests: This helps evaluate how certain organs and tissues are functioning based on substances in your blood sample.
• Breast exam: A healthcare provider checks for lumps or other changes in your breasts.
• Mammogram: This is an X-ray of your breasts to check for potential signs of cancer. It’s the most common diagnostic tool used to check for breast cancer.
• Ultrasound: This visualizes tumors to help determine whether they are cancerous or benign.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is an imaging technique that can generate images of your organs and tissues. It is usually only done for women at high risk of breast cancer.
• Biopsy: This is a lab test where a sample of your breast tissue is removed and the cells are examined.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, a healthcare provider will conduct additional tests and procedures to locate where the cancer has spread, determine the stage of the disease, and identify features of your particular cancer that may help guide treatment. These may include:

• Additional imaging tests
• Bone scan
• Lab testing to measure estrogen and progesterone receptors in cancerous tissue
• Lab testing to examine amount of HER2 gene and HER2 protein in cancerous tissue
• Multigene testing to identify gene mutations linked to a higher breast cancer risk (BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2)

Treatment

Breast cancer treatment differs by the type of cancer; its size, stage, and sensitivity to hormones; a person's age and health; and other factors. If you have breast cancer, you may receive one or more of the following therapies, depending on your condition:

Surgery: You might have breast-conserving surgery (such as lumpectomy), which removes cancerous breast tissue and some surrounding healthy tissue, but not the whole breast. Or, you might have a mastectomy—a surgery that removes the breast with cancer and, if necessary, the lymph nodes near the armpit.

Radiation therapy: This uses radiation to stop cancer growth at specific areas of the body. It can be used after a surgery or if the cancer has spread beyond the breast (metastasized). Options include external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy.

Chemotherapy: Typically, this uses an intravenous (IV) therapy to deliver chemo drugs through your bloodstream to help stop cancer growth. It can be administered before or after surgery, or as the main treatment—usually for metastatic cancer.

Hormone therapy: If the cancer cells have estrogen or progesterone receptors, they can grow faster with those hormones present. Therefore, taking an anti-hormone drug can either lower the amount of estrogen or progesterone in your body or block them from cancer cells.

Targeted therapy: These drugs target features of cancer cells, which then blocks their growth. Trastuzumab is one that targets HER2-positive breast cancers.

Immunotherapy: This treatment helps your immune system attack cancer cells. You might take a substance that your body produces naturally (but needs more of) or a drug designed to aid your immune response. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about possible side effects of treatments. Besides these options, you could also participate in a clinical trial for new breast cancer treatment candidates—in which researchers are testing whether they work and how safe they are to use.

Prevention

There's no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there is a lot you can do to lower your risk:

• Maintain a healthy weight: This can reduce your risk of cancer and includes regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and limiting your daily stress. Also, eating a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables and limits red and processed meat, may lower your risk.
• Exercise regularly: Being physically active can lower your risk of breast cancer. You'll want to aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (like jogging) each week.
• Limit your alcohol intake: The American Cancer Society recommends limiting daily alcohol intake to 1 drink for women and 2 drinks for men, or avoiding alcohol entirely.
• Consider non-hormonal options to treat menopause symptoms: Using hormone therapy after menopause may increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Instead, your healthcare provider may recommend other treatments for menopausal hot flashes and stress.
• Consider breastfeeding: Choosing to breastfeed after giving birth can lower estrogen levels in your breasts, which may decrease your risk of breast cancer.
• Consider the risks of taking the pill: Taking combined oral contraceptives may raise the risk of female breast cancer, though research is limited. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should take the pill or try other birth control options.

Preventive Tests

Locating changes in the breasts and understanding your genetic risk for breast cancer can help you be vigilant about reducing your risk and help detect cancer early.

Genetic Testing

If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should get genetic testing. This involves a lab test on a DNA sample—such as from your saliva or blood. It can check whether you have any specific gene mutations that have been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer.

BRCA gene mutations are known to be more common in certain people. If you are of Ashkenazi Jewish, West African, Dutch, Belgian, Icelandic, or Swiss ancestry—especially if you also have a family history of breast cancer—you may be more likely to have one or more BRCA gene mutations.

Breast Cancer Screenings

The thought of getting a screening often starts with a question of when. It’ll depend on your individual risk for breast cancer.

Some risk factors carry more weight than others. Factors such as genetic, hereditary, or personal medical history of breast cancer, or a history of chest radiation (before age 30) indicate that you have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

If you are at higher risk for breast cancer, experts recommend starting routine screenings at an earlier age. This might begin around age 35 for men or age 30 for women.

The CDC provides information on resources for low-cost screenings for people who are eligible.

Breast Exams

Regular breast exams can help you understand what’s normal for your breasts and what isn’t. Your healthcare provider may conduct a clinical breast exam during your annual physical. They can teach you how to do this exam on your own time (known as a breast self-exam). You can also refer to tutorials from official medical associations.

Though there hasn’t been enough research to suggest that a breast exam can change your risk for breast cancer, it’s an extra precaution you can take for early detection, especially if you’re at high risk for breast cancer. However, it’s not recommended to rely on breast exams alone for cancer detection. Even if you do breast exams, experts recommend continuing with standard screening methods, like mammograms.

Other Options for People Who Are High Risk

If you are at higher risk for female breast cancer, such as having a BRCA gene mutation, there are additional preventive measures you can take—even when you don’t have cancer.

You could ask your healthcare provider about taking antiestrogens, which prevent cells from making or using estrogen. Another option is having preventive surgery to help lower your risk. This could be a surgery to remove your breast tissue (bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy) or to remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes (prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy).

A Quick Review

Breast cancer is cancer that originates in breast tissue. There are several types of breast cancer that vary by severity and spread, though common symptoms include an abnormal growth on the breast or other breast changes, like nipple inversion. A healthcare provider can provide a diagnosis and determine the type, stage, and status of breast cancer. Several treatment options are available, such as radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and more. 

Some people may have a higher risk, such as those with a genetic predisposition or family history of breast cancer. Early screening and preventive tests are available to help determine your risk for breast cancer, as well as procedures to prevent local breast cancer from spreading—particularly if you have a high genetic risk.

 

 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck score a split decision with ‘The Mother’ and ‘Hypnotic’

 One of Hollywood’s most famous power couples score a split decision starring in separate thrillers hitting the market the same day, as Ben Affleck’s lower-profile “Hypnotic” significantly outshines Jennifer Lopez’s just-in-time-for-Mother’s Day Netflix movie, “The Mother,” which comes across as an ultra-violent Hallmark card.

Lopez puts on her Liam Neeson hat in a movie whose abundant action is either enhanced or undermined, take your pick, by its unintentional giggles. The kill count generally provides the requisite thrills, but everything else seems stitched together from genre clichés.

The opening sequence sets the tone, with Lopez portraying a well-trained sniper who served in Afghanistan, negotiating a witness-protection deal in exchange for her testimony against two very bad guys, having been in relationships with both of them. After a violent raid she’s taken into FBI custody, allowing Edie Falco to appear for about 45 seconds, just long enough to force the nameless assassin to give up her newborn daughter in order to protect her.

Twelve years later, Lopez’s character is maintaining her anonymity by hanging out in the Alaskan wilderness when the girl, Zoe (Lucy Paez), has her cover blown, forcing her biological mom and an FBI agent (“Power’s” Omari Hardwick, like most of the supporting cast, deserving better) to dash off to retrieve her. They do, setting up a chance for mother and daughter to get to know each other – bonding between lessons in combat techniques – before the inevitable showdown.

Directed by Niki Caro (“Mulan”), “The Mother” gives Lopez (who doubled as its producer) an opportunity to snap off tough one-liners a la “Taken.” Realizing the girl is serving as bait in a trap, her proposed solution is to “Kill every last one of them.”

Joseph Fiennes and Gael Garcia Bernal can’t class up the joint as the bad boys from her past, who both excel at holding grudges. Yet beyond the inevitable tween-behaving-stupidly moments, there are head-scratching sequences, like a snowmobile chase that appears to have parachuted in from a James Bond movie.

Lopez has kept busy since her well-deserved Oscar nomination for “Hustlers,” but that’s come in the form of mostly forgettable vehicles, including the rom-com “Marry Me” and “Shotgun Wedding.” While she has admirably taken control over her career as a producer, her sniper character’s aim is considerably truer than her recent choices of material.

For Netflix, of course, just the image of Lopez across its home page – pointing a rifle under a big furry hat – is probably enough, and plenty of subscribers will likely be inclined to give “The Mother” a shot.

At one point, the mother speaks of Zoe’s ordeal by saying, “Let this all just be a bad memory.” “The Mother” isn’t quite that bad, but that sentiment resonates a more than it should.

Affleck fares considerably better in “Hypnotic,” a spare thriller from director/co-writer Robert Rodriguez that has the feel of a “Twilight Zone” episode, with no shortage of twists along the way.

Affleck plays Danny Rourke, a detective still devastated by the abduction of his young daughter. A strange tip connects him back to the crime, and to a psychic (Alice Braga) who tells him seemingly unrelated crimes are the work of a powerful hypnotic (William Fichtner, appropriately creepy), who can exercise a kind of mind control, prompting people to carry out whatever acts he desires.

There’s a lot more to it than that, including mind-bending visuals underscoring that it’s not always possible to believe your eyes against such an opponent. The sort-of possession involved evokes the Denzel Washington thriller “Fallen,” which had a more macabre tone but echoed the sense danger could come from anywhere.

“Hypnotic” becomes a little strained over its final act, but for the most part it’s fast-paced and clever, capitalizing on Rodriguez’s economical filmmaking style, which includes shooting and editing the film while enlisting family members in other key roles.

Although the movie is premiering theatrically, it’ll likely be streaming sooner than later, where it should play well.

As for Affleck, he actually has his own directing effort, “Air,” hitting Amazon Prime after a solid theatrical run. If the combination makes this a big weekend in the Affleck-Lopez household, it’s a better one for the first half of that equation.

What Is an Aphrodisiac?

 You may have heard of aphrodisiac in the form of oysters or chocolate. An aphrodisiac is any food or substance that increases sexual desire or improves sexual performance. The term comes from the Greek name for the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

The idea that foods and other substances could enhance sexual desire has been around for centuries, and is popular in many cultures around the world. However, in most cases, there isn’t much scientific data to back up the claims that certain foods or substances have significant effects on our sexual appetites or performances.

Types of Aphrodisiacs

Researchers have classified aphrodisiacs into three main categories, according to their sexual side effects. These categories are:

• Substances that increase potency, such as intensity of erections
• Substances that enhance sexual pleasure
• Substances that boost sexual desire

Aphrodisiacs can also be grouped based on type of substance. Some of the most common types of aphrodisiacs include:

• Foods that are thought to increase sexual desire, such as chocolate, oysters, and honey
• Herbal supplements that are thought to have aphrodisiac effects, like Tribulus, maca, or ginseng
• Prescribed medications, such as Viagra, which enhance sexual performance
  

Effects of Aphrodisiacs

Aphrodisiacs work by increasing sexual potency, such as enhancing erections, and by increasing your sex drive and your pleasure during sex. This is accomplished in a few different ways:

• Increasing blood flow. Substances that increase potency do so by increasing vasodilation, meaning they increase blood flow to part of the body they target, such as the penis.
• Promoting lubrication and sensitivity. Substances that enhance sexual pleasure do so by lubricating the genital area and increasing sensitivity in that area.
• Influencing hormones. Substances that give your sex drive a boost do so by altering or increasing sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. They also impact neurotransmitters that affect sexual desire, such as dopamine and serotonin.

• Do Aphrodisiacs Work?

  There is very little data to back up the effectiveness of most aphrodisiacs. Some research shows evidence to support the use of certain foods, like apples and pistachios, for improving sexual health. Limited evidence suggests herbs like maca and ginseng may have a safe effect.

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate herbs or herbal supplements, meaning they can't confirm the ingredients listed in an individual product are accurate, safe, or as effective as advertised.

  There are a few medications approved by the FDA to enhance sexual experiences, such as Sildenafil (Viagra). However, many drugs advertised for sexual health are not FDA-approved, meaning they may include undisclosed ingredients or high doses of ingredients that could be harmful to your health.

  It’s important to keep in mind that taking herbal supplements or other medications may interact with medications you are currently taking. Speak to your healthcare provider before trying a new supplement or medication.

• Examples of Aphrodisiacs

  There are many foods, herbs, medications, and recreational drugs that are considered aphrodisiacs. Some research supports the use of the most common ones.

  Foods

  Many foods are considered aphrodisiacs. Unfortunately, there is little research to back up these claims. Some of the foods considered to have aphrodisiac qualities include:

  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Strawberries
  • Honey
  • Raw oysters
  • Pistachios
  • Apples

  Among this list, apples have the most evidence for containing aphrodisiac qualities. One study found eating one apple per day enhanced overall sexual health in a sample of over 700 women between the ages of 18-43.

  Pistachios also have some promising data behind them as an aphrodisiac. Research has found that pistachio consumption could improve erectile function in males with erectile dysfunction.

  Herbs

  There are many herbs and spices that allegedly increase sexual desire, sexual pleasure, and sexual performance. Some of the most popular ones include:
  

  • Tribulus terrestris
  • Lepidium meyenii (Maca)
    
  • Ginkgo
  • Panax ginseng
    
  • Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
  • Phoenix dactylifera (Date palm)
    
  • Crocus sativus (Saffron)
  • Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat ali or pasak bumi)
  • Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed musli)
  • Mondia whitei

  Unfortunately, for most of these herbs, there is either no research on their effectiveness as an aphrodisiac, or the research is only based on animal studies, not studies in humans.

  A review of evidence for the most popular marketed aphrodisiacs in the U.S. found the four herbs that had the most promising data behind them were Tribulus, maca, ginkgo, and ginseng.

  In the same review, the researchers suggested people should avoid certain aphrodisiac herbs that had negative side effects. These included Spanish fly, mad honey, bufo, and yohimbine. Yohimbine may also increase the risk of heart attacks and seizures.

  Medications

  The FDA has approved a few medications that have aphrodisiac qualities. Some of these medications increase sexual potency and help treat erectile dysfunction, including:

  • Sildenafil (Viagra)
  • Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
  • Tadalafil (Cialis)
  • Avanafil (Stendra)

  Additionally, the FDA has approved two medications for the use of improving sexual libido (sex drive) in premenopausal women. These are:

  • Flibanserin (Addyi)
  • Bremelanotide (Vyleesi)
    

  A Quick Review

  An aphrodisiac is a substance that can increase sexual performance, desire, and pleasure. The use of aphrodisiacs has been around for a very long time across many cultures.

  Examples of aphrodisiacs include foods like chocolate and oyster, herbs like Maca and ginseng, and medications like Viagra. However, most aphrodisiacs are not FDA-approved and do not have enough evidence to support their effectiveness.

  If you are interested in taking an aphrodisiac to improve sexual function, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider. They can confirm if the aphrodisiac is safe for you to consume or if it might interact with any medications you are taking. A healthcare provider can also help address any concerns you may have regarding your sexual health.