What is Breast Cancer? Cancer is a group of disease that occur when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Each organ in the body is made up of various kinds of cells. Cells normally divide in an orderly fashion to produce more cells only when it is necessary. This process helps to keep the body healthy. If cells divide when new cells are not needed, they form too much tissue. This extra tissue is called a tumour. Tumours can be benign or malignant. The majority of breast tumours (up to 80%) are benign. Benign breast tumours are not a threat to life. Breast cancer is a malignant tumour that develops from cells in the breast. The cancer cells grow and divide out of control, invading and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the original tumour and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is how breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body. This spread of the cancer is called metastasis. Breast cancers may appear as a lump but there are many different types of breast lumps. Most lumps are harmless, or benign. Benign lumps are abnormal, but not life-threatening. There are many different types of breast cancer.
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