Breast cancer is one of the most feared and serious diseases affecting women. Increased attention by the national media, women advocacy groups, and the public health sectors has helped to make the public more aware of its importance. Even with this increased awareness, many misconceptions remain. Very few patients appreciate how diverse a spectrum of disease breast cancer represents. Not every breast cancer has the same cell of origin.
Breast cancers can also vary quite dramatically in their growth rate and propensity to spread.
A multitude of factors helps predict the biological behavior of an individual tumor. The number of these factors and the diverse array of their potential variations, lead each breast tumor to have unique features and traits. For example, on one end of the spectrum, some breast cancers are very slow growing and have a very low risk of spread. Tumors at the other end of the spectrum can be quick to disseminate through the body and become life-threatening. Patients confronted with a breast cancer diagnosis should work with their physicians to understand the particular features of their breast cancer.