## 2 Female Breast Carcinoma  
### Statistics, Anatomy, and Treatment  
According to the current 11 th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) from the World Health Organization (WHO) [37], a breast cancer (2C6) is one of approximately 100 diagnosable malignancies. The incidence and mortality trends for breast malignancies are steadily growing [38]. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and the most common cause of death in the female population, as well as the second most common cause of death after lung cancer [39]. It accounts for around 24.2% of all cancers in the female population and about 15% of all deaths [38] (see Figure 1). Among young women (25-40 years old), the incidence and mortality rates for breast cancer are even higher and amounted to 27% and 29%, respectively. In middle-aged women (40-64 years old), these rates are 28% and 17%, and in females over 65, they are 18% and 14%, respectively [40]. In many developing countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI), such as the USA, Canada, Australia, or certain countries in the European Union [38], breast cancer is the second leading cause of death. An aging society and unhealthy lifestyles will certainly increase the number of breast cancer diagnoses in the future. For this reason, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer using modern and effective medical techniques is crucial [39]. Generally, the female breast is made of adipose tissue, glandular tissue (including 15-20 lobules and ducts), and connective tissue (including blood, lymph, and lymph nodes), and is mounted on  
Figure 1: The most common cancers occurring in the world’s female population in 2018: (**a**) incidence; (**b**) mortality, according to the global cancer database GLOBOCAN 2018 [38]. the pectoral muscle [41], as depicted in Figure 2. Due to rich vascularization, the female breast is an ideal environment for the development of various types of neoplastic changes. Pathological cells of the breast proliferate and abnormal mutations leading to malignancies can appear [40]. Breast carcinoma develops locally in the breast--most often in glandular tissue as flat lesions or tumor-shaped lesions. Breast tumors often have irregular shapes and may be encapsulated or not [42]. Importantly, an invasive breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and internal human organs, including the lungs, liver, brain, and bones. Breast density (with more glandular tissue) decreases with age. As the population ages, most of the breast glands (lobes and ducts) are replaced with fat and the breasts become less dense. Females with dense glandular tissue have a greater risk of developing breast cancer and the cancer risk increases with age (about 90% of cases are in women over 50), obesity [39], and genetic predisposition to inherited gene (BRCA1, BRCA2) mutations [43]. The most common breast cancers are pre-invasive and invasive ductal carcinoma, and lobular carcinoma, and much more rarely [PERSON]'s cancer, sarcomas, and inflammatory breast cancer [44]. The first symptoms of malignancies are changes in the structure of the breasts, thickenings, and the appearance of lumps. Breast cancer can multiply to form a hard lump or tumor, or can spread to the lymph nodes or other tissues through the circulatory or lymphatic system, forming a metastasis. What is important, during the diagnosis of breast cancer, is that noninvasive techniques for breast imaging (mammography, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound exams) and invasive techniques (blood markers tests, biopsy) are commonly employed [42]. Nowadays, thanks to the widespread use of population screening tests, breast cancer is often detected in its early, asymptomatic stage, and in most cases it is completely curable [2]. The experience of many countries demonstrates that the early diagnostics and the use of a modern healing modality for breast cancer can reduce its mortality rates by up to 20-30% [40].