Breast Cancer

What is breast cancer?

First, it is important to know that a cell is the smallest unit of all living organisms. The set of cells forms the tissues and these in turn form the organs of the body.

Breast cancer occurs when there is an alteration in breast cells, and they grow uncontrollably, forming lumps called tumors that grow within the breast and can spread through the blood or a bodily fluid called lymph to other parts of the body. The most common places where breast cancer tumor cells travel to are the bones, lungs, or liver.

Hormone-positive breast cancer

Not all types of breast cancer are the same. To find out the type of cancer, the doctor analyzes the breast biopsy tissue along with the results of molecular studies and determines the type of cancer.

Cancer of the breast occurs when there is an alteration in breast cells, and they grow uncontrollably, forming lumps called tumors that grow within the breast and can spread through the blood or a bodily fluid called lymph to other parts of the body. The most common places where breast cancer tumor cells travel to are the bones, lungs, or liver.

Breast cancer associated with BRCA mutations

There are many genes with different functions, among which are BRCA1 and BRCA2, genes that prevent tumor formation, helping to repair DNA damage, which allows the body to stay healthy.

When one of these genes is altered or mutated, it doesn’t function correctly. As a result, cells are more prone to changes that can predispose to the development of cancer.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Below are some signs and symptoms of breast cancer:

Change in the size or shape of the breast
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Thickening of the breast or underarm
Thickening of the breast or underarm
Changes in the appearance of the nipple: inward or with lesions
Changes in the appearance of the nipple: inward or with lesions
Nipple discharge. May occur in only one breast and may have bloody discharge.
Nipple discharge. May occur in only one breast and may have bloody discharge.
Redness of the breasts, swelling and increased temperature
Redness of the breasts, swelling and increased temperature
Skin irritation, physical changes such as wrinkles, dimpling, peeling or "orange peel skin".
Skin irritation, physical changes such as wrinkles, dimpling, peeling or "orange peel skin".
Breast pain
Breast pain
Breast lump
Breast lump

Diagnosis

The first step in the diagnosis of breast cancer is the detection of a lump in the breast and/or armpits, either by mammography, self-examination or ultrasound. Such a lump usually presents as a painless, solid, hard, irregular, irregular, immobile and unilateral mass. The diagnosis of breast cancer is made by various tests including: clinical examination, mammography, breast ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, genetic marker tests, among others.

CC-10173 / JULY 2025

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Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. Estrógeno. Disponible en: https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/publicaciones/diccionario/def/estrogeno

Delgado L, Fresco R, Santander G, Aguiar S, Camejo N, Ferrero L, et al. Expresión tumoral de HER-2, receptores de estrógenos y de progesterona y su relación con características clínico-patológicas en pacientes uruguayas con cáncer de mama. Rev Médica Urug. septiembre de 2010;26(3):145-53.

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Breast Cancer. Cancer.Net- American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2019. Disponible en: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/view-all

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