💡 Did you know?
Different types of breast cancer grow at different speeds. Some remain localized for years, while others spread quickly. Early detection can save lives.
🩺 What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in one or both breasts. These cells may spread to surrounding tissue and even other organs. When breast cancer spreads beyond the breast, it’s referred to as metastatic breast cancer.
Most breast cancers begin in either:
- The milk ducts (ductal carcinoma), or
- The milk-producing lobules (lobular carcinoma).
🔍 Common Symptoms of Breast Cancer
While a lump in the breast is often the first symptom, it’s not always detectable without a mammogram. Other signs include:
✅ A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
✅ Nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
✅ Changes in breast shape or size
✅ Skin dimpling or redness
✅ Inverted or repositioned nipple
✅ A marble-like mass under the skin
📌 Read: Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer (Internal Link)
🧬 Types of Breast Cancer
🔹 Non-Invasive (In Situ)
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): Confined to ducts; often curable.
- Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS): In lobules; raises future cancer risk.
🔹 Invasive Types
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): Most common, spreads to fatty tissues.
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC): Begins in lobules, spreads to tissue.
🔹 Other Rare Subtypes
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
- Paget’s Disease of the Nipple
- Phyllodes Tumors
- Angiosarcoma
📌 Explore: What Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer? (Internal Link)
📊 Breast Cancer Statistics (U.S.)
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
- Most cases occur in women 55 or older.
- Men account for <1% of cases.
- Over 300,000 new cases annually.
- Over 40,000 breast cancer deaths each year.
📌 Learn more about breast cancer in men
⚠️ Breast Cancer Risk Factors
🔒 Uncontrollable Risks
- Age (50+)
- Race (Black women more at risk pre-menopause)
- Family history and genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2)
- Dense breast tissue
- Early menstruation or late menopause
🔓 Controllable Risks
- Lack of physical activity
- Poor diet or postmenopausal weight gain
- Alcohol consumption
- Reproductive history (e.g., not breastfeeding, first child after 30)
- Hormonal therapy use
📌 Discover your breast cancer risk profile
🧪 How Breast Cancer Is Diagnosed
If a lump is felt or an abnormality appears in a mammogram, diagnostic testing begins:
🧭 Imaging Tests
- Ultrasound
- Mammography
- MRI
🧬 Biopsy Types
- Fine-needle aspiration
- Core-needle biopsy
- Surgical biopsy
- Image-guided biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
🧪 Lab Tests
- Estrogen/Progesterone Receptor Status
- HER2 Test
- Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, Breast Cancer Index
- Tumor grade and margins
📌 Read: Breast Cancer Detection – 5 Key Things to Know
🧑⚕️ Treatment Options
Treatments vary based on the type, stage, and genetic profile of the tumor.
🔹 Surgery
- Lumpectomy
- Mastectomy
- Sentinel node biopsy
🔹 Radiation Therapy
Targets remaining cancer cells post-surgery.
🔹 Chemotherapy
Used to shrink or kill cancer cells systemically.
🔹 Hormone Therapy
Blocks hormone-sensitive cancers.
🔹 Targeted Therapy
For HER2-positive or BRCA-related cancers.
📌 Explore: What Is a Male Mastectomy?
🧘♀️ Lifestyle & Prevention Tips
While not all cases are preventable, you can reduce your risk:
✅ Maintain a healthy weight
✅ Stay physically active
✅ Limit alcohol
✅ Breastfeed if possible
✅ Get regular mammograms
📌 How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam
🩺 Breast Cancer Stages
Breast cancer staging helps determine how far the disease has spread and guides treatment decisions. The stages range from stage 0 to stage IV.
Stage 0 (Carcinoma In Situ)
- Non-invasive breast cancer
- Confined to the milk ducts or lobules
- No spread to lymph nodes
Stage I
- Stage IA: Tumor ≤ 2 cm, no lymph node involvement
- Stage IB: Small cancer cells in nearby lymph nodes
Stage II
- Stage IIA:
- Tumor < 2 cm with underarm lymph node involvement
- Tumor 2–5 cm with no lymph node spread
- Stage IIB:
- Tumor 2–5 cm with lymph node involvement
- Tumor > 5 cm without lymph node spread
Stage III
- Stage IIIA: Tumor > 5 cm and cancer in nearby lymph nodes
- Stage IIIB: Tumor has spread to chest wall or skin
- Stage IIIC: Cancer involves numerous lymph nodes or those above/below the collarbone
Stage IV (Metastatic Breast Cancer)
- Cancer has spread to distant organs (e.g., bones, liver, lungs, or brain)
- Requires systemic treatment
📷 Suggested Visual: Infographic showing tumor size and lymph node involvement by stage
👉 Read more about early signs of breast cancer.
💊 Breast Cancer Treatment
Treatment is personalized based on the cancer stage, tumor size, and patient health. Your oncology team will tailor a treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
🏥 Local Treatments
These target the tumor and surrounding tissues:
Surgery
- Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy, segmental mastectomy)
- Mastectomy options:
- Simple mastectomy
- Modified radical mastectomy
- Radical mastectomy
- Nipple-sparing mastectomy
- Lymph node surgery:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy
- Axillary lymph node dissection
📷 Visual Tip: Use a comparison chart of mastectomy vs. lumpectomy
👉 Explore breast cancer surgery options.
Radiation Therapy
- External Beam Radiation (5–6 weeks)
- 3D-Conformal Radiation and IORT
- Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy):
- Interstitial brachytherapy
- Intracavitary brachytherapy
👉 Learn more about radiation therapy for breast cancer.
🌍 Systemic Treatments
These treat cancer cells throughout the body.
Chemotherapy
- Often used before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery
👉 More on chemotherapy options for breast cancer.
Hormone Therapy
Targets hormone receptor-positive cancers:
- SERMs: Tamoxifen, Toremifene
- SERDs: Fulvestrant, Elacestrant
- Aromatase inhibitors: Anastrozole, Exemestane
- LHRH agonists: Goserelin, Leuprolide
👉 Guide to hormone therapy for breast cancer.
Targeted Therapy
Focuses on genetic mutations and protein receptors (e.g., HER2):
- Monoclonal antibodies: Herceptin, Kadcyla, Enhertu
- Kinase inhibitors: Tukysa, Tykerb
- CDK4/6 inhibitors: Ibrance, Kisqali, Verzenio
- mTOR & PI3K inhibitors: Afinitor, Piqray
- PARP inhibitors: Lynparza, Talzenna
👉 Discover targeted therapy options.
Immunotherapy
- Example: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) boosts the immune response
👉 Pros and cons of immunotherapy.
📉 Breast Cancer Disparities
While white women have the highest diagnosis rate, Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer due to:
- Higher rates of aggressive cancer types
- Delays in diagnosis
- Less access to care
Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women have lower diagnosis and mortality rates but still face barriers to screening and treatment.
👉 Complete your knowledge with breast screening options.
🛡️ Breast Cancer Prevention and Screening
🔍 Prevention Tips:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay active (150 mins of exercise/week)
- Limit alcohol intake
- Breastfeed, if possible
- Avoid unnecessary hormone therapy
🧬 High-Risk Management:
- Genetic testing for BRCA1/BRCA2
- Preventive surgery (mastectomy or oophorectomy)
- Risk-reducing medications
📝 Screening Guidelines
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- Ages 40–49: Mammogram every 2 years (if high risk)
- Ages 50–74: Mammogram every 2 years
American Cancer Society
- Ages 40–44: Optional annual screening
- Ages 45–54: Annual mammogram
- 55+: Mammogram every 1–2 years if in good health
👉 More on mammograms and early detection.
🧠 Breast Cancer Prognosis and Recurrence
- Stage 0/I: 5-year survival rate near 99%
- Stage II/III: Around 86%
- Stage IV: Drops to 31%
💡 Did you know?
Even after successful treatment, breast cancer can recur—either locally or in distant organs. Follow-up care is crucial for catching recurrence early.
👉 How often should you get a clinical breast exam?
✅ Takeaways
- Breast cancer is treatable when detected early.
- Empower yourself with knowledge, regular screenings, and preventive actions.
- Talk to your doctor if you’re at higher risk and explore options like genetic testing or preventive surgery.
📲 Have questions?
Drop them in the comments below or check out our Breast Cancer Awareness Hub for more articles and resources.