50 THE QUEENS COURIER • BREAST CANCER AWARENESS • OCTOBER 3, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
breast cancer awareness
Women diagnosed with breast cancer may want to begin their treatment journeys by educating themselves on the anatomy of the breast so they can better understand their disease and how it develops.
Learning breast anatomy
is important for health
Th e well-known breast cancer advocacy
and research group Susan G. Komen indicates
that, according to the most recent
data available, 1.7 million new cases of
breast cancer occurred among women
worldwide in 2012. Western Europe,
North America, and northern Europe have
the highest breast cancer incidences in
the world, according to the International
Agency for Research on Cancer and the
World Health Organization.
Women diagnosed with breast cancer
may want to begin their treatment journeys
by educating themselves on the anatomy
of the breast so they can better
understand their disease and how it develops.
Th e structure of the breast is complex
and comprised of fat, glandular tissue,
connective tissue, lobes, lobules, ducts,
lymph nodes, blood vessels, and ligaments.
Th e following is a breakdown of
the common components of the breast:
Fat cells: Th e female breast is largely
fat cells called adipose tissue. Th is tissue
extends from the collarbone down to
the underarm and across to the middle of
the rib cage. Th e main purpose of adipose
tissue is to store energy in the form of fat
and insulate the body.
Lobules: Each breast contains several
sections that branch out from the nipple.
Lobule glands make milk and are oft en
grouped together to form lobes. Th ere
may be between 15 and 20 lobes in each
breast, says the Cleveland Clinic. Each
lobe has roughly 20 to 40 lobules.
Ducts: Connecting the lobules are small
tubes called ducts. Th e ducts carry milk
to the nipples of the breasts. Th ere are
around 10 duct systems in each breast,
each with its own opening at the nipple.
Nipple: Th e nipple may be the most
recognizeable part of the breast. It is
in the center of the breast. Th e lobules
will squeeze milk into the ducts, which
then transfer it to the nipples. Most nipples
protrude outward, but according
to Health magazine’s medical editor Dr.
Roshini Rajapaksa, some women have fl at
or inverted nipples. Th e nipples do not
have a singular hole for the milk to come
out like an artifi cial bottle nipple. Rather,
there are many lactiferous duct outlets in
each nipple that correspond to the ducts
in each breast.
Lymph system: Snaking through the
adipose tissue are lymph vessels and
nodes. Th e lymph system distributes disease
fi ghting cells and fl uids as part of the
immune system, states the National Breast
Cancer Foundation, Inc. Bean-shaped
lymph nodes in fi xed areas through the
system fi lter abnormal cells away from
healthy tissue.
Areola: Th e areola is pigmented skin
surrounding a nipple. Th e areola contains
tubercles called Montgomery’s glands,
which secrete lubricating materials to
make breastfeeding more comfortable.
Changes in any areas of the breast may
be indicative of cancer. Th at is why women
are urged to understand their breasts’
“normal” appearance and feel so they can
recognize any changes and address them
with a doctor right away.
/WWW.QNS.COM
