It also explains why the answers are essential for people living with breast cancer today.
These changes happen in genes that control the growth of the cell.
These changes may occur over a long period, even decades, before a cancer cell forms.
Verywell / Laura Porter
That’s why a tumor’s size will increase more rapidly the larger it becomes.
That said, not all cells are dividing at the same time.
Cancer’s growth can change at different stages as a tumor forms.
Compared with many types of cancer, breast cancer has a “low growth fraction.”
This means the proportion of cancer cells in an active cell cycle is low.
Some tumors, such aslymphomasand some leukemias, have much higher growth fractions.
They may be active for a much shorter period before they are detected, even in children.
The growth rate is a part of tumor doubling time, which is precisely what it sounds like.
It is the time it takes for a tumor to double in size.
These images were taken between diagnosis and surgery.
Of those tumors that increased in size, the average gain in volume was 34.5%.
This makes it important to know how fast breast cancer spreads.
Breast cancer usually spreads first to lymph nodes under the arm.
This is calledlymph node-positive breast cancer.
Breast cancer is considered early-stage and potentially curable even with the involvement of lymph nodes.
This means it is no longer curable.
It is potentially 100% curable with surgery.
For example, ductal carcinoma is more likely to spread thanlobular carcinomaamong tumors of the same size and stage.
Some types may spread very early, even when a tumor is less than 1 cm in size.
A doubling time of 100 days would take 10 years to be found on exam.
Most studies have found the average doubling time to be between 50 days and 200 days.
When Can Breast Cancer First Be Detected?
The earlier a breast cancer is found, the greater the chance it can be cured.
This is what makes routinemammogramscreening andself-breast examsso important.
Breast Examination
Self-breast exams allow people to learn how their breasts typically look and feel.
Some peopleespecially those at an increased risk for breast cancermay find self-exams helpful and empowering.
Experts don’t all agree about the benefits of breast self-exams.
Mammogram
Breast cancers are sometimes detected when very small by the presence ofmicrocalcifications in the breast.
(These small calcium deposits may be an early sign of cancer.)
The average size of a tumor found by mammogram is 1.1 cm.
The earliest a tumor may be found on a mammogram is between 0.2 cm and 0.3 cm in diameter.
Researchers have looked at how effective mammograms are in finding breast cancer.
However, a different study looked at the size of breast tumors at diagnosis from 2001 and 2014.
It found that, unlike earlier, the size of breast tumors increased by 3% to 13%.
It may be a more sensitive and valuable tool for women with a family history of familial breast cancer.
Summary
The growth rate of cancer cells determines how fast a breast cancer grows.
It also relies on “doubling time” models to estimate that growth.
The subtype of breast cancer is a primary factor in its growth.
How quickly cancer grows can vary, but early detection may lead to better outcomes.
Measurement of tumor doubling time using serial ultrasonography between diagnosis and surgery.Breast Cancer.
2016;95(37):e4874.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000004874
American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer.
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer facts and figures 2019-2020.
