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The speed of spread is linked to the type of breast cancer

Most cancers have the ability to spread, but whether or not they will, and how quickly, depends on a number of factors. For breast cancer, the way your doctor can determine how quickly your disease is likely to spread (if at all) is by determining its type.

Each type of breast cancer grows at a different rate, and the prognosis is different for each patient.

Here’s a look at the factors that can contribute to the spread of breast cancer, as well as the prospects for slowing and preventing progression.

How long does it take for breast cancer to develop?

Each type of breast cancer is defined by a number of individual factors and subtypes that behave differently. Some types of breast cancer tend to be more aggressive and move faster, while other types tend to move more slowly.

The speed of breast cancer progression is determined by the following factors:

Breast cancer subtype.

In general, triple-negative and HER-2 positive tumors grow faster, while hormone receptor-positive breast cancers tend to move more slowly.

The stage.

Breast cancer is usually staged on a scale from 0 to IV. The term “non-invasive – in situ” means that the cancer has remained within the milk duct or lobules of the breast and is referred to as stage 0.

Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer cells have entered the breast tissue and are now growing within it, so they are able to spread to other places. Stage IV means that the cancer has metastasized to other organs. Cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body is more likely to continue spreading.

The grade.

When someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, the doctor classifies the tumor into a grade between 1 and 3, based on how similar the cancer cells are to normal cells. A higher grade means a more aggressive tumor and possibly a greater chance that the tumor will grow and metastasize to other areas of your body.

Age.

Younger women usually develop more aggressive types of breast cancer compared to older women. Older women are more likely to develop hormone-dependent forms of breast cancer, which most often develop more slowly, although the opposite is not excluded.

Genetic mutations.

If there is a heredity (found damage / mutation mainly in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes), the risk of developing breast cancer increases. Women who have these genetic mutations are at greater risk of developing breast cancer at a younger age, which we know is a factor that favors the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Your oncology team will determine how likely or how quickly your breast cancer is to spread based on its subtype, stage, and other factors. While breast cancer specialists can make assumptions and estimates about how quickly it will grow, each tumor is unique and different for each patient.

Can you tell when exactly my breast tumor started?

One of the most common questions asked when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer is “when did it start?” and we really can’t say for sure when the cancer started. We can look at the subtype to see if, for example, it happened a few weeks or months ago, but there’s no way to say for sure.

Can you do anything to prevent or slow the spread of breast cancer?

As with any type of cancer, there are factors that can put you at higher risk. For breast cancer, these include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and smoking. However, it is very important to remember to have your annual mammogram as a pre-symptomatic screening for breast cancer, to help diagnose cancer early, at an early stage.

Other risk factors include long-term hormone therapy, how many children a woman has had and at what age, and at what age you became pregnant or went through menopause.Your age is also an important factor, as the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.

In some cases, breast cancer cannot be prevented, but sometimes we can slow it down, stop the progression of the disease, or reduce the size of the tumor. This can be achieved by taking the medication correctly as directed, keeping check-up and follow-up appointments, and by the patient’s active participation in the treatment of the disease.

Taking the medication correctly, eating a healthy diet, and participating in supportive physical exercise and stress management programs can help strengthen the body and better psychologically manage the condition, which can positively affect the course of the disease.