Pathophysiology

Modifiable Risk Factors Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

Long- Term Obesity / Alcoholic Diet (high Gender Early Menarche / Family History Race Previous
Stress / Age
use of Over-weight / Smoker intake of (Female) Nulliparity / Late of Breast (Western Medical
Anxiety (30 and
Contraceptives red and Menopausal cancer Countries) History of
above)
processed Period Moderate
meats Mammary
Hyperplasia,
Fat in the Alcohol can Low More Longer Presence of Mammary
exposure to Longer More
body is one limit the Immune estrogen BRCA 1 or exposure papilloma,
High fat in the estrogen fond in
source of ability of the system in the BRCA 2 or to Breast
body high fat
estrogen liver to body P53 estrogen cancer on
decreases diet
control the one side
CHON Increased
blood levels of the breast
substances Decrease Estrogen
of the or atypical
that is capability of level
Increased hormone mammary
responsible in the immune
production estrogen hyperplasia
binding system to
estrogen and storage engulf Increased
of estrogen foreign Estrogen
bodies Benign tumor
metabolism
(cancer could
More cells) transport to
unbound malignant
estrogen that tumor
Increased cell
circulate in proliferation
the body

Toxin build
up in the
breast
 Initiation phase
Carcinogen binds to cells DNA

Alteration of Function

Genotoxic waste in estrogen metabolism takes place

Error in cellular replication

Alteration of the tumor

suppressor genes takes place
Proto-oncogenes becomes
oncogenes
DNA repair genes are
altered and turned off.
Cells divide rapidly and
uncontrollably.

Continuation Phase Cancer cell grows and

divides rapidly.
Continuous duplication of mutated DNA

T- 2cm
Single cell divide abnormally
N- no
Stage 1 Breast Cancer involvement
M- no
metastasis
 S/S: Formation of new tissue or tumor at
Thickening/ Lump in the the right breasts milk ducts
breast
. If not detected
Malignant conversion happens

Accumulation of cancer cells

The expanding mass compresses nearby blood vessels

leading to necrosis, and area of inflammation around the
tumor, increasing pressure on surrounding structures

Cells break out of the tumor and invade surrounding nodes and blood vessels
.

Lymphatic Spread Hematologic Spread

Dissemination of Dissemination in
the cancer cells in the vessels
the lymph T- 5cm
N- (+) or (-)
Stage 2 M- no metastasis Cancer moves to
Cells penetrate and extracellular matrix
lodges in the lymph by secreting enzymes
nodes and grow
 Surrounding vessels and lymph Endothelium cracks open then causes
nodes become obstructed surrounding tissue to be damaged
Entry to the blood vessels

Unblocked Blockage of Inflammation

blood vessels lymph nodes of the breast
drain towards draining the and swelling of
the venous fluid the lymph
blood flow nodes

Cancer cells invade membrane

linings
Cancer cells continue to
stream in the lymph
fluid
Increase capillaries

Invasive metastasis,
destroying epithelial
cells Irritation and build up of fluid in adjacent tissues

Impaired lymph flow Stage 3 T- >5cm N- (+) M- evident

and erosion of tumor Medical management: Mastectomy (September 2017)
New site of tumor

If remains undetected and untreated

T- any size
Cancer cells continue to venous blood flow and Stage 4 N - (+) (-)
metastasize M - Distant
metastasis
 Metastasize to the bone

Poor Prognosis
New metastasis on Organ Failure
Lymphedema
lungs and other
organs
Cardiac Arrest
Failure of liver and
lungs
Death