1 of 12 / Overview
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What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is when the cells under one or both breasts grow out of control.
How Fast Does Breast Cancer Grow?
If you have breast cancer, you may wonder how fast the cancer is growing and how fast it will continue to grow.
Breast Cancer Survival Rates
With breast cancer, your focus will be on getting the right treatment. You'll also wonder about your chances of surviving.
Breast Cancer in Young Women
Under 7% of all breast cancer cases happen in women under 40. But it can happen at any age.
2 of 12 / Symptoms
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Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Breast cancer can have different symptoms for different people. Most don’t notice any signs at all.
Breast Cancer Symptoms You May Not Know
Breast cancer doesn’t always have signs you can see or feel. There are also less-common signs that can be helpful to know.
When to See a Doctor About Breast Cancer Symptoms
If you notice symptoms of breast cancer, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible.
3 of 12 / Risks, Prevention & Screening
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What Causes Breast Cancer?
The cause of breast cancer is unclear, but we know the main risks: being older and having breast cancer in your family.
Breast Lumps
You notice that something is different with your breast, and you find a lump. Get it checked by a doctor, but don't panic.
What Are Genetic Breast Cancer Mutations?
Chances are, your breast cancer isn't caused by a faulty gene. But in about 5% to 10% of cases, the cause is hereditary.
Lifestyle Factors that Raise Breast Cancer Risk
Some lifestyle factors may raise your chances for breast cancer. Having these traits doesn’t mean you’ll get the disease.
4 of 12 / Tests & Diagnosis
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Breast Biopsy
A breast biopsy is a procedure in which your doctor takes out cells or a small piece of tissue from part of your breast.
HER2 FISH Testing for Breast Cancer
The FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) test checks the DNA of cancer cells for extra copies of the HER2/neu gene.
Oncotype DX Test for Breast Cancer
The Oncotype DX analyzes a sample of cancer tumor to see the activity of certain genes that affect the cancer's outcome.
Immunohistochemistry Test
The immunohistochemistry (IHC) test can tell your oncologist whether you have certain types of breast cancer.
5 of 12 / Types
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Types of Breast Cancer
About 80% of all breast cancers are “ER-positive.” About 65% of these are also “PR-positive.”
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer that often appears as a rash or skin irritation.
Invasive vs. Metastatic Breast Cancer
Invasive and metastatic both refer to cancer that has spread from the site in the breast where it first started.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma is breast cancer that begins in one of the milk glands and spreads to other parts of the breast.
6 of 12 / Your Breast Cancer Care Team
View All7 of 12 / Treatment
View AllBreast Cancer Treatment by Stage
Breast cancer is a complex disease that’s different for every woman. Staging is a way for doctors to describe the disease.
Stage 0 Breast Cancer Treatment
Some experts consider stage 0 the earliest stage of breast cancer. Others think of it as a sort of precancer stage.
Stage I Breast Cancer Treatment
In this stage, the cancer either hasn't spread beyond the breast or has spread in a very small amount to a lymph node.
Stage II Breast Cancer Treatment
In stage II, the cancer is still contained within the breast and in some cases in nearby lymph nodes.
8 of 12 / Living With Breast Cancer
View AllAnxiety and Breast Cancer
Research shows that about 1 in 4 people with cancer say they feel a lot of anxiousness.
Breast Cancer and Your Sex Life
Many people are reluctant to talk about sex, yet sexual problems in women during or after cancer treatment are very common.
Tips for Family and Friends
Here are some tips for family and friends of someone with breast cancer.
9 of 12 / Remission & Recurrence
View AllBreast Cancer Remission
Your doctor says you’re in remission. That’s good news. But what exactly does it mean?
What Helps Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence?
Here are some of the changes you can make to give yourself the best chance to avoid breast cancer recurrence.
When Breast Cancer Comes Back
Every person who's had breast cancer knows that recurrence is possible. It helps to know what a recurrence might involve.
Secondary Cancers After Breast Cancer Treatment
After you’ve undergone treatment for breast cancer, there’s always a risk of the same type of cancer cells coming back.
10 of 12 / Advanced Breast Cancer
View AllBreast Cancer: What Does 'Metastatic' Mean?
Doctors sometimes use the term "advanced breast cancer" or "stage IV breast cancer" to describe cancer that has spread.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of advanced breast cancer depend on where it is in your body.
Questions About Metastatic Breast Cancer
Bring this list to your next doctor's appointment.
Vaccine Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer
You may think of vaccines as a way to prevent disease. Researchers are testing a new kind that might treat breast cancer.
11 of 12 / Support & Resources
View All12 of 12 / Appointment Prep
View AllSuggested Reads about Breast Cancer
Contributions of Patient Advocates at ASCO
Breast cancer patient advocates were among those attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Find out about their contributions.
Easing Tamoxifen, Aromatase Inhibitors’ Side Effects for Breast Cancer Treatment
Hormone therapy for breast cancer – such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors – can help prevent the cancer from coming back. If you have side effects, these things may help.
Are Transgender People at Risk of Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer can happen in people of any gender. Learn about what factors affect breast cancer risk in transgender people.
Breast Cancer Pathology Report: What It Means
When you find out that you have breast cancer, your pathology report is an important part of your medical record. Get to know what it means.
Top Topics for Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Basics
- Breast Cancer Symptoms
- Types of Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Causes & Risk Factors
- Breast Cancer Stages
- Breast Cancer Screening & Diagnosis
- Breast Cancer Treatment
- Fibroadenoma
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Mastectomy
- Breast Reconstruction
- TruQap for Advanced Breast Cancer
- Treating Breast Cancer with Enhertu
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