Cancer begins when healthy cells in the breast change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass or sheet of cells called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread.

Breast Cancer spreads when the cancer grows into other parts of the body or when breast cancer cells move to other parts of the body through the blood vessels and/or lymph vessels. This is called metastasis. Breast cancer most commonly spreads to the regional lymph nodes. The regional lymph nodes are located under the arm, in the neck, under the chest bone, or just above the collarbone. When the cancer spreads further through the body, it most commonly spreads to the bones, lungs, and liver. Less often, breast cancer may spread to the brain. If cancer comes back after initial treatment, it can recur locally, meaning in the breast and/or regional lymph nodes. It can also recur elsewhere in the body, called distant metastases.

Breast Cancer - Symptoms and Signs
Women with breast cancer may experience breast changes or symptoms, but many women do not show any of these signs or symptoms when diagnosed. Many times, breast signs or symptoms can be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

The signs and symptoms that should be discussed with a doctor include:
A lump that feels like a hard knot or a thickening in the breast or under the arm. It is important to feel the same area in the other breast to make sure the change is not a part of healthy breast tissue in that area.

Change in the size or shape of the breast

Nipple discharge that occurs suddenly, is bloody, or occurs in only one breast.

Physical changes, such as a nipple turned inward or a sore in the nipple area

Skin irritation or changes, such as puckering, dimpling, scaliness, or new creases

Warm, red, swollen breasts with or without a rash with dimpling resembling the skin of an orange, called peau d'orange

Pain in the breast, particularly breast pain that doesn’t go away. Pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer, but it should be reported to a doctor.
 
Home Remedies for Treating Breast Cancer
#1 Soy Products
Breast cancer risks may be reduced up to 54% through the inclusion of soybeans and other healthy soy products such as tofu and miso in the diet. Highly sweetened and refined soy products such as soy oils and soy milk should however be avoided.

#2 Grapes
The clinical trials, which have been performed over several patients of breast cancer has proved that grapes are highly effective in the treatment of breast cancer. According to experts, the extract from grapes has a visible affect on breast cancer tumors which are highly hormone sensitive. The production of estrogen in the body can be reduced by the intake of grapes, which contains a composite known as proanthocynnidin. The anti tumor activity of the drug "doxorubicin" has been found to get enhanced through the daily consumption of grapes extract or juice.

#3 Wheat Grass
According to the demonstration and studies conducted by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, wheatgrass has the potential of being advantageous to breast cancer patients. The intake of wheatgrass in its natural raw form or as a juice regresses the growth of cancerous cells. Wheatgrass helps in the enhancement of the immune system and getting rid of waste products and toxins from the body of the patient.

#4 Lignans
The lignans are a group of phytoestrogens or chemical compounds found in the cashew, strawberries, flaxseed, seeds of sunflower and peanuts. The rate of progression of the tumors that require estrogen is slowed down by the effective inclusion of any of these items in the daily diet chart of the breast cancer patients.

#5 Bloody Nipple DischargeGreen Tea
ECGC, which is the primary polyphenol in green tea, may help in reducing the risks of breast cancer in certain patients. Various laboratory and animal studies have shown that green tea can help retard the growth of breast cancer cells but further research will help consolidate the role of green tea in the treatment of breast cancer.