Tumors

[SnowWoman]

I'm curious about breast tumors that develop their own network for blood supply.  In my ultrasound, when they did the colorized shot showing the blood supply, it seemed that there was a tight network around the tumor.  Is this common in breast tumors?  Do benign tumors go through this process as well as malignant ones?  Does this pose more of a danger of cancer spreading through the blood system rather than through the lymphatic system?  Does this give any indication of what type of tumor or cancer it might be?  Thanks for the info.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear SnowWoman, Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels -and is an important natural process occurring in the body, both in health and in disease.  Angiogenesis occurs in the healthy body for healing wounds and for restoring blood flow to tissues after injury or insult.  

So just because there is note of an increased blood supply to this area, we still cannot be certain this is a cancerous situation.  A biopsy of the area is still needed.

[SnowWoman]

I understand the basics of angiogenesis but was looking for more specifics of how it relates to breast tissue and tumors.  Had biopsy Tuesday and now have to wait until next week to know what was found.  I'm trying to bide the time learning what I can about the possibilities and what that might mean for the future so I appreciate any information you can give.

[surgeon]

Whereas angiogenesis is a natural thing, it appears that some cancers have the ability to cause extra blood vessel growth. So drugs have been developed that slow or reverse angiogenesis in the hope that it could cut off the abnormal blood supply to tumors. Some research is encouraging that it works.