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Understanding Breast Cancer
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer

Our cancer doctors believe knowledge can empower our patients. Below are detailed answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer:

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump or mass that is typically hard but painless. Other signs and symptoms can include nipple discharge, a flat or inverted nipple, lumps in areas surrounding the breast, changes in breast size or shape, and changes in breast skin, such as itchiness, scaliness, rashes, and puckering.

What are the common types of breast cancer?

Most breast cancer tumors are carcinomas, which begin in the epithelial cells lining organs and tissues throughout the body. Carcinomas can originate in the milk ducts or lobules (glands in the breast that produce milk). These are known as ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma. Both ductal and lobular carcinomas can be non-invasive (termed in situ), meaning they are confined to their original location, or invasive, indicating that they have affected surrounding tissues and may spread to distant sites in the body.

How is breast cancer staged?

Breast cancer staging uses the TNM system, which evaluates the size of the tumor (T), whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N), and if it has metastasized to other parts of the body (M). Additional factors in the staging process include tumor grade (G), hormone status, and HER2 status. This information helps doctors understand the severity of the cancer and guides them in determining the most appropriate treatments.

How do hormones affect the recommended breast cancer treatment plan?

Aside from understanding the breast cancer type and its stage, your oncologist will need to determine which hormones, if any, are involved in the growth of the breast cancer. The presence of estrogen and/or progesterone receptors in the cancer cells plays an important role in recommending a treatment plan that includes hormone therapy.

What is triple-negative breast cancer?

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive type of breast cancer that lacks receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, meaning that hormones do not promote its growth. Since TNBC tests negative for these receptors and produces little to no HER2 protein, its treatment differs from that of other types of breast cancer.

What to Do If You Were Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

If you were diagnosed with breast cancer and you live in the Central New York region, schedule a consultation to discuss your diagnosis with one of our breast cancer doctors. Our cancer centers are located in East Syracuse, Camillus, and Auburn, NY, serving the entire Central New York region.

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