Carcinogenesis in Women

Normal cells mutate during a process called carcinogenesis as they transform into a tumor. Carcinogenesis in women is the same as the process in men with healthy cells uncontrollably multiplying until a mass is formed. Typically, there are not any detectable symptoms until the mass has grown into a noticeable lump and developed into cancer.

Breast Carcinogenesis in Women

Cancer symptoms often develop once the tumor has grown to the point where it presses on adjacent organs, nerves and blood vessels. With breast cancer, a tumor is discovered once it can be felt through the skin, but this doesn’t occur until carcinogenesis in women has completed and the tumor has grown in size.

This explains the importance of annual screenings, since early stage tumors typically cannot be felt and only an x-ray can expose the growth. If cancer is found in a screening exam, the tumor would most likely be smaller and localized to the breast.

A smaller tumor could mean less invasive treatment is required. Dr. Sant Chawla, director of the Cancer Center of Southern California, and his renowned associate Dr. Doris Quon are internationally known for developing some of the most advanced drug therapeutics against cancer. Dr. Chawla advocates for early detection as it increases the likelihood cancer can be treated using one method such as chemotherapy.

Staging and Treatment

If a tumor is found either through a clinical breast exam or mammogram, the next step is to determine the stage of the cancer. Numerous procedures will be performed including a biopsy and imaging tests such as a chest x-ray, bone scans, mammograms of both breasts, and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Combined, these diagnostics provide information that’s needed to develop the most effective treatment plan.

Cancer is often treated using a multidisciplinary approach combining surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Doctors work together as a team with treatment usually coordinated by one of the oncologists. Many Cancer Center patients are referred to Dr. Chawla by one of the treating physicians. The Cancer Center works with some of the most prestigious medical institutions including Sloan-Kettering, USC, Cedars-Sinai, and UCLA, and often Dr. Chawla will be the coordinating physician managing the comprehensive treatment plan for a patient.

Our Specialists Can Help You

If you would like to know more about breast cancer and treatment options, contact the Cancer Center in Santa Monica. Our doctors renowned for their advanced drug therapies and innovative treatment. Call today at 310-552-9999 to schedule a consultation.

Next, learn more about what a lump in breast might mean.