Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in the milk-producing glands and slowly but surely begins to invade surrounding tissue. It is called invasive because cancerous cells have already begun to invade nearby tissue, the blood stream or the lymphatic system. Less than 15% of all invasive breast cancers are diagnosed as invasive lobular carcinoma. Immediate medical examination should be done and also a mammography is recommended though it is often not as effective in finding lobular carcinoma.
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Symptoms that are characteristical for this type of breast cancer include: thickening in areas or parts of the breast, swelling in the breast, any change in texture or appearance such as dimpling, nipple retraction and other less common signs. At the slightest modification in the breast's structure or shape you should react immediately and seek medical attention. Regular breast self-exams can also be very effective in detecting the cancer early since you become familiar enough with the normal structure of your breast to notice the smallest change.



Treatment options vary according to the degree of invasiveness, the extent to which the cancer has spread. The options that can be generally considered in the case of invasive lobular carcinoma are many and you should always seek medical advice about them or changing them. In general, the treatment for invasive lobular cancer includes surgery and adjuvant therapy like chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Surgical interventions include wide local excisions, lumpedectomy, mastectomy, axillary dissection, sentinel node biopsy and breast reconstruction. Radiotherapy is usually administered to chest and axilla and can register very high success rates in killing cancerous cells.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is also an important part of treatment and it reduces the risk for local or systemic relapse. After chemo in patients with ER positive disease, adjuvant hormonal therapy is the recommended treatment. This can be administered through tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and oopharectomy. Ask you doctor for more information about the risks and benefits implied by each type of treatment.



Invasive lobular breast cancer, also known as infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is less common than invasive ductal breast cancer but it is also much more difficult to detect on a mammogram. The most unfortunate fact about it is that is is also most commonly diagnosed at a later stage of development. In terms of prognosis a lot of research has been conducted to see if it is better in patients with invasive lobular cancer than in those with invasive ductal cancer. Results of stage-matched analysis favor invasive lobular breast cancer but the fact remains that invasive lobular cancer is found later than the other one, this making it sometimes a more dangerous type of lung cancer, since stage is the essential element in establishing the chances for survival.

Breast cancer, just as any near-to-death experience, can inspire great artwork or creative ways for people to express what they have gone through, how it felt like and the many moods and emotions they experienced. Artwork is also very useful to express your gratitude for overcoming the cancer and being alive. Pieces of art can be uplifting but also depressing. Either way, they are sure to touch you in deeper ways than talking ever could.
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Artwork can serve even more purposes, such as a more general purpose of promoting breast cancer awareness or making people more sensitive to the struggle of breast cancer patients. It can also bring people together or simply show patients that they are not alone in their struggle.



There are many events and exhibitions dedicated to artwork inspired by breast cancer or done by breast cancer survivors. One example would be the Breast Cancer Answers Art Gallery, a unique collection of personal creations from over 25 people that have at one point in their lives been touched by breast cancer. Browsing through this collection, no matter is you've ever had any experience with breast cancer, you are sure to comprehend to a certain extent the emotions, despair and hope behind the fight against breast cancer.  It's strange that sometimes only art can really inspire and generate authentic empathy. This particular collection consists of personal paintings, sculptures and also poetry. Many times you can also find out more about the personal experience of the artist to help you better understand the reality of it all and that, after all, it wasn't all just a source of inspiration for art.

Some art exhibitions are even organized to serve a cause, to raise funds or awareness on a particular aspect of breast cancer. Art BeCAUSE Breast Cancer Foundation is an example of a collection of breast cancer inspired artwork committed to funding research and methods for minimizing environmental causes for breast cancer. This is very effective in raising a lot of funds and a lot of progress has been done since the initiation of the project.you can also contribute to the cause and there are quite a few ways in which you can do this. If you've been inspired but have no real talent you can simply attend their annual dinner, form a strategic partnership or just donate. With a minimum of effort you can also help simply by sending a free e-card or by joining their mailing list. Hosting your own fund-raising even is also a valid option and you can always set the foundation for an breast cancer artwork exhibition yourself.



Breast cancer art exhibitions are the perfect alternative to public awareness campaigns that are beginning to become background noise.

Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer in women in USA. This type of cancer represent one of the biggest fears for all women as it as constantly been portrayed as something to which all women are vulnerable and as something that even if cured can leave you with a bruised up self confidence. Constant monitoring of the state of our breast is essential and highly effective in diagnosing the cancer at an early stage of development. This implies much higher chances for survival and regular self-exams can even help detect even a precancerous abnormality. In conclusion we also have the power to prevent the disease not just to treat it.
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The first sign for breast cancer we should look for is a lump in the breast. However we must be aware that inflammatory breast cancer manifest itself through other symptoms not necessarily that of a lump in the breast. We should react to any abnormality or thickness in the skin with an immediate appointment to a doctor or a mammogram. A doctor's exam and a mammogram can confirm diagnosis or rule out breast cancer. If diagnosed as cancer you can undergo further tests and come up with a suitable treatment plan. Once the plan is established you should be on your way with the treatment as soon as possible.



Unfortunately, most often the lump is not visible of palpable in the early stages of cancer so only a mammogram can detect it. It would then be wise to add regular mammograms to your periodical self-examinations. This is especially recommended if you know that risk factors for breast cancer are present in your lifestyle. Such risk factors can include: being older than 45 and before menopause, not having a baby before 30 and a family history of breast cancer. All these make you more susceptible to developing breast cancer and should stimulate you to always be on the look out for the slightest sign, though you should be careful not to cross the thin line between prevention and paranoia.



As stated above, other signs besides lumps in the breast, which is the most common first sign, can indicate breast cancer in the absence of a lump. Regular self exams help you become so familiar with your breast that you'll immediately notice any change in its texture and shape. Other symptoms that indicate the presence of cancer are: swelling, aching in the breast, one breast looking different than the other, dimpled or pitted skin, unusual discharge from the nipple, a nipple that looks like it has been pushed inward and bone or back pain and difficulty breasting can also occur once the cancer spreads. However, the last symptoms are sure not to be the first sign you'll see indicating you have breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women and it accounts for about 20% of all cancer deaths in women, being second only to lung cancer. In the US alone approximately 180,000 new cases are diagnosed out of which about 45,000 result in death. The best way in which you can prevent it is by carefully monitoring your health and immediately scheduling yourself for a doctor's exam if you detect any abnormalities in the breast. Use of routine mammograms and awareness about major risk factors for developing breast cancer have contributed a lot to a reducing of its incidence though there are still an overwhelming number of patients that are only diagnosed in the last stages of the cancer. An early diagnosis is vital and offers the greatest chances for a cure and in order for this to happen you have to know that time is precious and that you shouldn't postpone getting an examination. If you are over 40 and curiously enough, of a higher social-economic class you should know you have significantly more risks of developing the disease so keep your guard up.
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If breast cancer or any early symptoms that indicate to it are left untreated, by the time you come to your senses and have it diagnosed it might be too late for anything else than prolonging your life for a few months at most.



Symptoms you should be aware of and treat as soon as you notice them may include: lumps in your breast, abnormal discharge from the nipple, any sign of thickness in the texture of the skin or any type of swelling. You can diagnose your condition through a mammogram or a routine breast examination and then immediately start establishing a treatment plan. Further testing is also very important. Any lump or symptom of breast cancer must be analyzed very carefully. Then, a biopsy may be called for to confirm diagnosis and then through procedures like fine needle aspiration, core biopsy and surgical biopsy physicians can also determine the stage of the cancer and the type so that he can prescribe the best possible treatment.

You must undergo suitable treatment depending on the stage, the location, the degree of advancement of the cancer and the other organs it has spread to. If you leave it untreated for too long you might find yourself confronted with a metastatic breast cancer which means that the cancer has generalized and now affects more parts of the body. By this stage it is inoperable and very few treatments are prescribed to do more than alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life.



Not leaving breast cancer untreated is a responsibility we all have to our loved ones if not to ourselves. With all the information available and the progress in cancer treatments there should be no valid cause for neglecting our health and remaining ignorant about the risks involved in developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer is type of cancer that originates in the tissue from milk ducts in the breast or in the lobules that supply milk for the ducts. Therefore, there are two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinomas. Next, the stage is what characterizes the cancer and plays an important role in establishing a treatment plan. Survival rates depend a great deal on the stage, aggressiveness and genetical predisposition of the cancer. A medical examination and computerized models can help you evaluate your condition, establish the best treatment option and predict survival. Even so, with an optimal treatment 10-year survival rates can still vary from 10% to 98%, treatment being undermined by the stage. Depending on the stage, treatments undergone are surgery, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
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Breast cancer is a worldwide spread cancer accounting for 10,4% of all cancers encountered among women and being the fifth deadliest cancer. It is also second in incidence, following lung cancer. This makes it one of the main dangers women are confronted with at present and raises a dire need for awareness especially as far as prevention is concerned but also about treatment. Self examinations are very helpful and can detect the cancer early on. However, there's a popular myth that makes women search for lumps as main signs for breast cancers.



Being aware of new treatment and about accurately detecting it or even preventing it is important especially in atypical forms of cancer as inflammatory breast cancer. This is an aggressive type of breast cancer and it is different from most types of breast cancer because it doesn't include lumps in the tissue as a symptom. Instead, the breast in inflamed and can be felt as a thicker area on the breast. This cancer is a form of ductal carcinoma in which the cancerous cells block the lymph vessels.

This type of breast cancer is very rare and actually only represents 1 to 5% of all breast cancers in USA. Even though it is usually associated with a poor prognosis recent studies have favored chemotherapy followed by surgery as the best treatment rather than surgery followed by chemo, as traditionally preferred. These studies have associated great benefits with chemotherapy and neoadjuvant therapy. First of all, chemotherapy allows for a less radical surgery, a breast-sparing surgery. Researches have indicated a 76% 5-years survival rate at least in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy for a period of 70 months



However, in the study many patients were not suffering from inflammatory breast cancers and often enough, in various studies, these patients are not considered as valid candidates for breast-conserving therapy. For other advanced forms of advanced breast cancer the survival rate goes as high as 45%.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a particularly rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that is different from other types of breast cancer through the fact that it doesn't manifest itself through the same symptoms. When you suspect breast cancer you usually expect to find a lump in your breast indicating the formation of a tumor and most women look for lumps in their regular self-examinations. Inflammatory breast cancer actually doesn't lead to any such formation so women should be aware that they shouldn't rule out cancer just because no lumps are present.
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Breast lumps are already part of a myth that makes them the sole, most important symptom of breast cancer.

It is very important to be well aware that cancers such as inflammatory breast cancer cannot be detected through ultrasonography or mammography. Just because the mammography doesn't indicate the presence of a tumor does not mean you are safe from breast cancer. You should talk to your doctor about your risks and about the probability of undetected cancer to decide on further testing for breast cancer.



Basically, IBC includes many other symptoms apart from lumps and to diagnose it you need to keep a look out for areas in the breast that are thicker and denser than normal.

Signs and symptoms than can indicate inflammatory breast cancer include sudden changes in the appearance of the breast, thickness and heaviness in the breast and enlargement. Other symptoms through which it can manifest itself are: discolorations, a red, purple or bruised appearance. Unusual warmth can also be an indicator for the disease and the slightest sign of such a change should make you schedule a medical examination. Dimpling, ridges similar with orange peel, tenderness, pain or a flattening of the nipple are also serious signs for inflammatory breast cancer. Another sign, though you wouldn't directly link it to breast cancer are enlarged lymph nodes under the arm. These indicate the presence of cancerous cells and should send you straight to the doctor for a mammography.

The fact that it doesn't start with a lump makes this cancer more dangerous and you should be aware of its existence to make sure you don't dismiss other symptoms for cancer as incidental passing affections.



Another thing you should be aware of is that inflammatory breast cancer can be often mistaken for mastitis, common infections that are mostly found in breastfeeding women. Fever and high white blood cell count are symptoms than mastitis has other than those shared with breast cancer. If diagnosed with mastitis, you should undergo further tests if antibiotics prescribed for mastitis don't have any results after 7 to 10 days.

It might be the case that you actually have inflammatory breast cancer.

There have been made numerous studies about the influence of the red wine over the human body, and some of them claim that there is a connection between red wine drinking and lowering the risk of contacting breast cancer among women. However, there is another set of studies that contradicts the ones that consider moderate red wine drinking a good modality to prevent breast cancer. The latter study speaks about alcohol, including any type of wine, as of breast cancer risk factors, if not inductive factors. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) came up with a study that shows numerous arguments that lean towards the conclusion that the risk of breast cancer can be increased by wine consuming. In the study 184.418 women older than 55 were examined and the tests have been developed over a period of seven years. The end of these research showed that 5.461 women that have had alcohol consumption habits, contacted breast cancer, in the invasive form. The scientists, including the coordinator Jasmine Lew, found out that even moderate alcohol consuming had impressive effects that generated breast cancer.
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The women that agreed to participate in the study, that used to consume one to four glasses of alcohol per day, increased their risk of breast cancer with 24 percent, whereas the women who drank more than four glasses, the risk was risen to 36 percent. Whereas if the women used to drink wine, the percentage of risk in case of one to three glasses could reach to 20 percent, and 41 percent for more than four, compared to no breast cancer risk that corresponded with women who did not drink wine at all. However, the study is not publicly available yet, due to the verification steps that have to be made by governmental organizations.

The Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique in Montpellier from France agreed with the recently mentioned study, that alcohol consumption increases the breast cancer risk. Even so, the study did not include some women that leave in the south of France and who use to drink small amounts of wine every day. This behavior is considered to be a traditional behavior in that part of France, and women there adapted themselves to this dietary habit, which researches believe is good to prevent breast cancer, if the amount of wine does not go beyond the limit of a glass per day. This low amount of wine is considered by the researchers at the Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique in Montpellier, a good factor to decrease the risk of breast cancer up to 40 percent. However, the same researchers agree with previous studies that a higher amount can have contrary effects, increasing the risk of breast cancer for women.

As a conclusion, there is enough evidence indicating that women who use to consume alcohol regularly, whether is beer, wine or liquor, they are more exposed to breast cancer risks than those who don’t have this habit of drinking. However, some studies came to the conclusion that red wine does not harm the human organisms as much as other alcoholic drinks do.

Breast cancer genetic counselors are necessary for guiding the people who have relatives affected by cancer diseases, and thus are more exposed to cancer genetic risk factors. The development of cancer genetic counselors has expanded together with the increasing popularity and efficiency of genetic tests, which highlight the family breast cancer cases. The specialist is charged with the counseling of his patients, which is making them aware of the risks they are exposed to, and educate them and inform them towards the reproducing risks, or presymptomatic risks. There are many ways to lower the risks, such as changing the harming life behavior, or becoming aware of medical and even surgical possibilities. The cancer counselors are responsible with evaluating these risk factors, and make sure the families exposed to this disease are kept away from any harmful influences, by inherited patterns analysis and educative support, or prohibitive treatments.
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These persons are referred to communities and state support services, which are able to help them and encourage them through their future steps. There are also volunteers that offer their help as cancer counselors. In the USA, cancer counselors have a Master’s degree background, and have studies in two main areas, both the psychosocial and medical, that can lead to correct and accurate cancer counseling. At the moment there are 1000 genetic counselors in this country, and 100 of them are cancer genetic counselors. To follow the Master of Science programs and become a cancer counselor, you have to obtain the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) and pass the corresponding examination first.

The actual cancer risk counseling meeting is comprised of seven parts. The starting point is that of establishing the different risk factors and comparison between them, followed by a medical and exposure evidence analysis. The third stage is comprised of the pedigree construction and documentation, according to which will be discovered possible risks and genetic influence factors. In the fifth stage, there will be assessed the preventive measures than can be taken against the disease’s evolution. The sixth step is that of reevaluating the options and benefits of certain genetic testing, followed by the last step, which is a better client-specialist interaction through questionings, support and future steps assessing, that need to be followed by the patient. A good continual communication of the patient with the specialist is consequently essential for a better understanding of the person’s needs, and in order to prevent the disease from evolving.

There are factors that could interfere with the breast counselor sessions, as well as other cancer sessions, such as cultural differences for persons that belong to different countries, other than USA for example. This is why, the previously mentioned seven steps that need to be taken into consideration by a cancer counselor, are very much under this influence of family backgrounds, or different living behaviors. Sometimes, complex psychological methods are used to determine and evaluate all the risk factors that could influence the lives of the patients in an unpleasant manner. The preventive behaviors that are to be followed by a certain patient, can produce sorts of psychological distress, if they aren’t carefully chosen. The good news concerning the breast cancer counseling methods, is that recent studies have been made, and other genetic testing have been made, which can further on make a difference in cancer counseling sessions.

Facts about breast cancer: Basic knowledge - the breast is a gland that produces milk. Each breast is divided into 15 -20 areas, called lobes. Lobes are formed by lobule which are containing small gland that produce milk. Milk flows through small channels to the nipple, which are called ducts. The nipple is placed in the middle of an area called the darker areola.

The fat fills the space between the lobules and duct channels. Breast contains lymph vessels that are filled with clear fluid, called lymph. Lymph vessels lead to some round organs called lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are located around armpit but also in other parts of the body. The role of lymph nodes is to capture bacteria, cancer cells and other harmful substances that are in the lymphatic system.

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What is cancer? The cancer attacks the basic cells that compose the tissues of all body’s organs. Normal cells grow, divide and give “birth” to other cells (as many as the body needs). For various reasons, this orderly process is disturbed and the old cells will not die anymore when they need too and the extra cells form a new tissue called tumor. Not all the tumors are cancerous; there are two types of tumors: benign and malign tumors.



For example, benign tumors does not mean cancer. They rarely threat human life and they can be removed through surgery and they will not return. Also, they do not spread into other parts of the body.

Malignant tumors are cancer; they threat human life, they can be removed through surgery but they return and they also invade the neighboring tissues, they enter the blood stream and into lymphatic system and spread throughout the whole body. This is called metastasis.

Risk factors:

Age; women over 60 years old have a high risk to develop breast cancer. This cancer type is rare before menopause.
-         Personal history of breast cancer; a woman who had breast cancer in one of her breasts, have an higher risk to develop breast cancer into the other breast, in comparison with a women who never had any type of breast cancer.
-         Family history; a woman whose mother, daughter or sister had breast cancer in the past or even in present, has also a higher risk to develop breast cancer even before she turns 40.
-         Some changes in the structure of the breast; women whose breast looks abnormal under a microscope, having atypical cells which present hyperplasia, are predisposed to develop breast cancer.
-         Genetic alterations; in that families in which several women had breast cancer, certain genetic changes occur which favors the breast cancer development.
-         Previous therapeutic irradiation always causes a significant increase in risk. (you can take into account the sunlight – you should not stay without the bath bra because this will also increase the risk).
-         The excessive consumption of alcohol will increase the risk.
-         Obesity; overweight people shows an increased risk for developing breast cancer.

Family tree of one family with genetically inherited breast cancer

SOS: Men with breasts! Do not laugh because it is a pretty serious thing which can be added as an additional complex of any man alive. It is called gynecomastia and yes, it is translated as an increased volume of the adipose tissue (fat tissue).

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You would be surprised to know that between men and women are very little differences. Include several organs, a different balance between estrogen and testosterone, a slightly changed genome and few subtle changes in brain and that is it, you found out what are the differences between women and men. Like women, men can develop breast cancer too; (it is true that breast cancer in men can't be compared with the breast cancer in women).



The girls who reached puberty are full of hormones which develops breasts, basin, and hair to grow. In other words, hormones prepare the girl to become a mother. At puberty, the same thing happens with boys but in their case, the king is the testosterone. It is not a refrigerant agent but hormone that makes the boy to become a male throughout the rule. Besides testosterone, in men are also small amounts of estrogen, or whatever.. so it should happen. This makes that during the puberty, the boys will wake up with a pair of breasts. Not really like Pamela Anderson’s breasts but few changes in the nipple more or less represented. These changes are physiological and they will disappear in adolescence. The problem is that many adults are facing the gynecomastia, not knowing how to how to get rid of this physically inconvenience which are giving them inhibitions, complexes, depressions and lack of confidence.



On the basis of gynecomastia, is an altered balance between testosterone and estrogen, which means decreasing the first and increasing the latter. This imbalance can be induced by serious diseases, substances of exigent, drugs or modifications of certain endocrine glands.
To start your lesson well, know that excessive consumption of alcohol  does not lead to his disappearance, but it leads to a severe hepatic disease (known as the cirrhosis) or to breast cancer development.


In cirrhosis, the patient has high levels of estrogen and, of course, gynecomastia. So, do not always sit with the bottle in your month, because the thing about the breast increasing is something insignificant beside the terrible suffering from cirrhosis; but it is good to know, no alcohol!
Gynecomastia may also occur in hyperthyroidism, thyroid disease with high levels of hormones in the blood T3/T4. The ones with hyperthyroidism sweat more, have palpitations, are sensitive to strong emotions and the always feel that they need to so something (hyperactivity). The blood test revealed that T3/T4 above normal values and the oral treatment instituted easily resolve all the disturbances, thus removing also the cause of gynecomastia. The man who has seen a considerable increase of the fat tissue, must follow a medical examination. This modification it can be “translated” as lung neoplasm, testicular or adrenal.

The most important factor which causes gynecomastia remain the drug administration. Who had suffered a stomach ulcer and has taken cimetidine (H2 blockers), experienced also the breast incensement. After stopping the medication, gynecomastia will withdraw gradually. Also, patients with epilepsy taking phenytoin, also suffer of gynecomastia as a side effect of the drug. Cardiac has the same problem too; also the ones who need to take spironolactone or anti-cancerous drugs. Another important thing to mention is that the antidepressants and anxiolitics, (e.g. diazepam / lorazepam) give gynecomastia and it is better to avid the administration of those drugs.