There are many people who suffer from breast cancer, but not all of them actually know what exactly it is. The term breast cancer refers actually to a large family of cancers that can develop in any part of the breast tissue. The most common types start in the glandular tissue & also in the ducts. Cancers, which are also called malignant tumors, also start within a small area, but they can spread to the nearby organs or tissues or even to more far off parts of the body. This spreading of the tumors is known as metastasis, or also called secondary cancer. The area where the cancer originated is called the primary cancer.

Now let us see how the cancer spreads. Our body has two transport systems, one is the blood & the other is the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system normally helps the body to fight against any kind of infections, & consists of series of nodes, called glands, & vessels, called tubes, which are linked throughout the body. Breast cancer cells can break from the original lump, move through the surrounding tissue, & then carried by the transport systems to the various other parts. These cells can spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit as well. In fact the involvement of the lymph nodes can indicate how likely it is for the cancer to return back. Here they may form some new tumors called metastasis. If by chance the breast cancer spreads to other parts, it is impossible to cure. However, some treatments can control the secondary disease. Often the breast cancer spreads to the bones, lungs or even the liver, but the primary cancer is in the breast. So now you know about breast cancer, so if you or any you know suffers from it, it will be easier for you to understand what the problem is.

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