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This gives you the basic information behind Breast Cancer and how it starts, and spreads.

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Learn more information about breast cancer, such as where it starts in the breast, how and where it spreads, and the common types.

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If you are diagnosed with Breast Cancer this is a great resource for better understanding your diagnosis and treatments.

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If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, you've probably heard a lot of different terms used to describe your cancer. Doctors use information from your breast biopsy to learn a lot of important things about the exact kind of cancer you have. You may also need more tests to get more details, such as the stage of the cancer or how fast it's growing.

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Understanding Your Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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Get the information you need to understand your breast cancer diagnosis, such as the hormone receptor and HER2 status, tumor grade, and cancer stage.

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This will help you better understand, what little science we do have behind some of the causes of breast cancer.

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Learn what causes breast cancer including inherited (BRCA) or acquired changes in certain genes, lifestyle, or hormone changes.

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Here is where you can keep up to date with what new information is coming out about Breast Cancer.

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Learn about the latest breast cancer research topics here. See what questions are being asked to find better ways to prevent, detect & treat breast cancer.

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If you are unsure on how to conduct a Breast Self exam, this is a great resource on how to conduct one.

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What Is A Breast Self-Exam?

A breast self-exam is an early detection tool that uses a combination of physical and visual examinations of the breasts to check for signs and symptoms of breast cancer. The purpose of a breast self-exam is to become familiar with the way your breasts normally look and feel. Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel, also called breast self-awareness, will help you identify any changes or abnormalities in your breasts, such as a new lump or skin changes. Any changes in your breasts discovered during a breast self-exam should be reported to your healthcare provider right away.

While a breast self-exam is a useful tool for the early detection of breast cancer, it should not take the place of regular mammograms and clinical breast exams.

How Often Should A Breast Self-Exam Be Performed?

Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. Lillie D. Shockney, Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer states, "Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important."

For women still menstruating, a breast self-exam should be performed a few days after her period ends. For those who are post-menopausal, a breast self-exam should be performed on the same day of each month, such as the 1st or 15th day of the month.

While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. Alert your healthcare professional if you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump, sore spot, changes in the appearance of the skin, or nipple discharge.

3 Steps to Early Detection Guide

Breast cancer can't usually be prevented, but you can take three important steps to help detect it earlier. This free guide can increase your chance of finding breast cancer before it spreads.

Get the Free Guide

How Should A Breast Self-Exam Be Performed?

There are three steps necessary to perform a thorough breast self-exam. Each of these steps should be completed each time you perform a breast self-exam.

1) In the Shower

With the pads/flats of your 3 middle fingers, check the entire breast and armpit area, pressing down with light, medium, and firm pressure. Check both breasts each month, feeling for any new lumps, thickenings, hardened knots, or any other breast changes.

2) In Front of a Mirror

With your arms at your sides, visually inspect your breasts, looking for any changes in the contour or shape of the breasts, any dimpling, swelling, or other skin irregularities on or around the breasts, or any changes in the nipples.

Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Look for any dimpling, puckering, or other changes, particularly on one side. Note that the left and right breasts will not exactly match-few women's breasts are perfectly symmetrical.

3) Lying Down

When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your 3 middle fingers around your right breast, covering the entire breast area and armpit.

Use light, medium, and firm pressure to feel for any new lumps, thickenings, hardened knots, or any other breast changes. Also squeeze the nipple to check for discharge. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Can I Rely On Breast Self-Exams Alone To Be Sure I Am Breast Cancer Free?

Mammography can usually detect tumors before they can be felt, so screening is key for early detection. But when combined with regular medical care and appropriate guideline-recommended mammography, breast self-exams can help women know what is normal for them so they can report any changes to their healthcare provider.

If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don't panic - 8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. For additional peace of mind, call your doctor whenever you have concerns.

Know the Symptoms Guide

Get the FREE symptoms checklist today to stay proactive with your breast health. Plus, learn the three ways to perform a breast self-exam.

Get the Free Guide

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Breast Self-Exam - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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A breast self-exam can help you detect breast cancer earlier when it is easier to treat. Find detailed instructions on how to perform a breast self-exam.

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This website is great for finding specifics on Breast Cancer, like the genetics behind it, what causes it, the growth of it etc.

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What is Breast Cancer? - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Learn about the causes, facts, risk factors, and more.

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Some Myths regarding Breast Cancer.

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Myths Archives - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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There is a lot of misinformation out there. Make sure you know the facts about breast cancer.

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The types of Breast Cancer, and how each is different and will require different treatments etc.

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Types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer.
Medically Reviewed on April 15, 2020

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Types of Breast Cancer - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. Medically Reviewed on April 15, 2020

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This is an interview on Breast Cancer in younger women from a study through Harvard, they talk about what they think is causing it, why, and who it is affecting.

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Breast Cancer Increasing Among Younger Women, Latest Data Show

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Harvard Medical School physician-scientist shares insights

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The research behind how breast cancer is affecting younger women, and why that is.

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The Latest Research on Why So Many Young Adults Are Getting Cancer

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Get 2024’s latest research updates from investigators across MSK on why so many young adults are getting cancers.

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This article goes over the different ways to treat Breast Cancer, and what is best for the type, stage etc.

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Breast Cancer Treatment | Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

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If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, learn about your options for treatment here, which may include surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy.

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Educational Resources that will help you, whether you, a loved one, or you just want to know more about Breast Cancer.

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NBCF is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, educational information on breast health and healthy living. From understanding the importance of early detection, to knowing how to prepare for a mammogram, NBCF's online resources and guides aim to empower women and men with useful information.

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Free Educational Guides - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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NBCF is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, educational information on breast health and healthy living. Browse our online resources and free guides.

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Also better understanding on a Breast Cancer diagnosis, and the tools used to figure out the diagnosis.

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Diagnosis Archives - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Breast cancer can be diagnosed through multiple tests, including a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.

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This goes over the stages of Breast Cancer and what they mean, and how they affect the body.

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Stages Archives - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Knowing the stage helps determine the best way to contain and eliminate the breast cancer. Learn the stages of breast cancer, from Stage 0 to Stage 4.

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This website goes over how breast cancer rates are rising, and how it is affecting people globally all over the world and is the cause of many deaths.

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An Epidemic: What Causes Breast Cancer and Why Is It So Common?

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What causes breast cancer and why is it so common? Experts explain how we got to this point, and what needs to change for prevention.

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This article goes into the basics of Breast Cancer, the most common types of Breast Cancer, and also answers questions you may have about Breast Cancer.

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Becoming more educated on Breast Cancer.

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Breast Health Education - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Learn about our Breast Health Education Program, which empowers women by educating them about their body and providing important breast cancer resources.

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Common Questions associated with Breast Cancer.

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Breast Cancer FAQs - National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Get answers to frequently asked questions about breast cancer.

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This explains some possible causes of Breast Cancer that are within your control.

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Doctor shares 3 reasons behind the rise in breast cancer, including some you can control

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There’s a troubling rise in breast cancer in women under the age of 50, an American Cancer Society report​ shows, but there are things you can do to help lower your risk. ​

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This is a recent report on how Breast Cancer is affecting younger women, and breast Cancer rates are rising.

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Breast Cancer Incidence Still Rises and Death Rate Still Declines

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A new ACS report says the steepest increase in breast cancer incidence rate is in White women under 50 and the Black-White mortality gap widens.

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This goes over Breast Cancer, how it starts and where, the different types, causes and treatments.

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What Is Breast Cancer?

Like all forms of cancer, breast cancer is made of unusual cells that grow out of control. Those cells may also travel to places in your body where they aren't usually found. When that happens, the cancer is called metastatic.

Breast cancer usually begins either in your glands that make milk (called lobular carcinoma), or the ducts that carry it to the nipple (called ductal carcinoma). It can grow larger in your breast and spread to nearby lymph nodes or through your bloodstream to other organs. The cancer may grow and invade tissue around your breast, such as your skin or chest wall.

Different types of breast cancer grow and spread at different rates. Some take years to spread beyond your breast, while others grow and spread quickly.

Who Gets Breast Cancer?

Men can get breast cancer too, but they account for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Among women, breast cancer is the most second most common cancer diagnosed, after skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, after lung cancer.

On average, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes. About two-thirds of women with breast cancer are 55 or older. Most of the rest are between 35 and 54.

Fortunately, breast cancer is very treatable if you spot it early. Localized cancer (meaning it hasn't spread outside your breast) can usually be treated before it spreads.

Once the cancer begins to spread, treatment becomes more complicated. It can often control the disease for years.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of breast cancer include:

A lump or thickened area in or near your breast or underarm that lasts through your period

A mass or lump, even if it feels as small as a pea

A change in your breast's size, shape, or curve

Nipple discharge that can be bloody or clear

Changes in the skin of your breast or your nipple. It could be dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed.

Red skin on your breast or nipple

Changes in the shape or position of your nipple

An area that's different from any other area on either breast

A hard, marble-sized spot under your skin

Read more about the less-sommon signs of breast cancer.

Continued

Types of Breast Cancer

Some of the most common types of breast cancer include:

In situ cancers. These types haven't spread past the duct or lobule where they started.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is ductal carcinoma in its earliest stage (stage 0). In this case, the disease is still in the milk ducts. But if you don't treat this type, it can become invasive. It's often curable.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). This is found only in the lobules, which produce breast milk. It isn't a true cancer, but it means you're more likely to get breast cancer later. If you have it, get regular breast exams and mammograms.

Invasive cancers. These have spread or invaded the surrounding breast tissue.

Invasive or infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). This cancer starts in the milk ducts. It breaks through the wall of the duct and invades the fatty tissue of the breast. It's the most common form, accounting for 80% of invasive cases.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). This cancer starts in the lobules but spreads to surrounding tissues or other body parts. It accounts for about 10% of invasive breast cancers. Subtypes of this invasive breast cancer include:

Adenoid cystic (or adenocystic) carcinoma. These are similar to cells found in your salivary glands and saliva.

Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma (a type of metaplastic carcinoma). This rare tumor is usually slow-growing and often mistaken for other types.

Medullary carcinoma. The tumors in this rare type are a soft, squishy mass that looks like part of your brain called the medulla.

Mucinous carcinoma. Tumors in this rare type float in a pool of mucin, part of the slippery, slimy stuff that makes up mucus.

Papillary carcinoma. Fingerlike projections set these tumors apart. This rare type usually affects women who've been through menopause.

Tubular carcinoma. The tumors are slow-growing and tube-shaped.

Less common types include:

Inflammatory breast cancer. This rare type is caused by inflammatory cells in lymph vessels in your skin.

Paget's disease of the nipple. This type affects the areola, the thin skin around your nipple.

Phyllodes tumors of the breast. These rare tumors grow in a leaflike pattern. They grow quickly but rarely spread outside the breast.

Metastatic breast cancer. This is cancer that has spread to another body part, like your brain, bones, or lungs.

Continued

Breast Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Experts don't know what causes breast cancer, but certain things make you more likely to get it. Your age, genetic factors, personal health history, and diet all play a role. Some you can control; others you can't.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Can't Control

Age. Women over 50 are more likely to get breast cancer than younger women.

Race: African American women are more likely than white women to get breast cancer before menopause.

Dense breasts. If your breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, it can be hard to see tumors on a mammogram.

Personal history of cancer. Your odds go up slightly if you have certain benign breast conditions. They go up more sharply if you've had breast cancer before.

Family history. If a first-degree female relative (mother, sister, or daughter) had breast cancer, you're two times more likely to get the disease. Having two or more first-degree relatives with a history of breast cancer increases your risk at least three times. This is especially true if they got cancer before menopause or if it affected both breasts. The risk can also rise if your father or brother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Genes. Changes to two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are responsible for some cases of breast cancer in families. About 1 woman in 200 has one of these genes. While they make you more likely to get cancer, they don't mean you definitely will. If you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, you have a 7 in 10 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer by age 80. These genes also raise your odds of ovarian cancer, and they're linked to pancreatic cancer and male breast cancer. Other gene mutations linked to breast cancer risk include mutations of the PTEN gene, the ATM gen, the TP53 gene, the CHEK2 gene, the CDH1 gene, the STK11 gene, and the PALB2 gene. These carry a lower risk for breast cancer development than the BRCA genes.

Menstrual history. Your breast cancer odds go up if:

Your periods start before age 12.

Your periods don't stop until after you're 55.

Radiation. If you had treatment for cancers like Hodgkin's lymphoma before age 40, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES). Doctors used this drug between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage. If you or your mother took it, your breast cancer odds go up.

Continued

Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Can Control

Physical activity. The less you move, the higher your chances.

Weight and diet. Being overweight after menopause raises your odds.

Alcohol. Regular drinking -- especially more than one drink a day -- increases the risk of breast cancer.

Reproductive history.

You have your first child after age 30.

You don't breastfeed.

You don't have a full-term pregnancy.

Taking hormones. Your chances can go up if you:

Use hormone replacement therapy that includes both estrogen and progesterone during menopause for more than 5 years. This increase in breast cancer risk returns to normal 5 years after you stop treatment.

Use certain birth control methods including birth control pills, shots, implants, IUDS, skin patches, or vaginal rings that contain hormones.

Still, most women who are at high risk for breast cancer don't get it. On the other hand, 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors. Learn more about the risk factors for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you feel a lump or if something shows up on a mammogram, your doctor will begin the breast cancer diagnosis process.

They'll ask about your personal and family healthy history. Then, they'll do a breast exam and order tests that include:

Imaging tests. Your doctor will use these to learn more about your breast.

Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to make a picture of your breast.

Mammogram. This detailed X-ray gives doctors a better view of lumps and other problems.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This body scan uses a magnet linked to a computer to create detailed images of the insides of your breasts.

Biopsy. For this test, the doctor removes tissue or fluid from your breast. They look at it under a microscope to check for if cancer cells and, if they're there, learn which type they are. Common procedures include:

Fine-needle aspiration. This is for easy-to-reach lumps or those that might be filled with fluid.

Core-needle biopsy. This type uses a bigger needle to remove a piece of tissue.

Surgical (open) biopsy. A surgeon removes the entire lump along with nearby breast tissue.

Lymph node biopsy. The doctor removes a part of the lymph nodes under your arm to see if the cancer has spread.

Image-guided biopsy. The doctor uses imaging to guide the needle.

Continued

The doctor can test your biopsy sample for:

Tumor features. Is it invasive or in situ, ductal, or lobular? Has it spread to your lymph nodes? The doctor also measures the margins or edges of the tumor and their distance from the edge of the biopsy tissue, which is which is called margin width.

Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). This tells the doctor if the hormones estrogen or progesterone make your cancer grow. This affects how likely it is that your cancer will come back and what type of treatment is most likely to prevent that.

HER2. This test looks for the gene human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It can help cancer grow more quickly. If your cancer is HER2-positive, targeted therapy could be a treatment option for you.

Grade. This tells the doctor how different the cancer cells look from healthy cells and whether they seem to be slower-growing or faster-growing.

Oncotype Dx. This test evaluates 16 cancer-related genes and five reference genes to estimate the risk of the cancer coming back within 10 years of diagnosis.

Breast Cancer Index. This test can help your doctor decide how you need endocrine therapy.

MammaPrint. This test uses information from 70 genes to predict the risk of the cancer coming back.

PAM50 (Prosigna). This test uses information from 50 genes to predict if the cancer will spread.

Find out more on biopsy for breast cancer diagnosis.

You might get blood tests including:

Complete blood count (CBC). This measures the number of different types of cells, like red and white blood cells, in your blood. It lets your doctor know if your bone marrow is working like it should.

Blood chemistry. This shows how well your liver and kidneys are working.

Hepatitis tests. These are sometimes done to check for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If you have an active hepatitis B infection, you may need medication to fight the virus before you get chemotherapy. Without it, chemo can cause the virus to grow and damage your liver.

Continued

Breast Cancer Stages

Early stage, stage 0, or noninvasive breast cancer. The disease is only in the breast, with no signs that it's spread to the lymph nodes (your doctor will call this carcinoma in situ).

Stage I breast cancer. The cancer is 2 centimeters or less in size and hasn't spread.

Stage IIA breast cancer. The tumor is:

Smaller than 2 centimeters across, with underarm lymph node involvement.

Larger than 2 but less than 5 centimeters across, without lymph node involvement.

Stage IIB breast cancer. A tumor that's:

Larger than 5 centimeters across, without underarm lymph node involvement

Larger than 2 but less than 5 centimeters across, with lymph node involvement.

Stage IIIA breast cancer or locally advanced breast cancer:

A tumor larger than 5 centimeters that has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or near the breastbone.

Any size tumor with cancerous lymph nodes that stick to one another or nearby tissue.

Stage IIIB breast cancer. A tumor of any size that has spread to the skin or chest wall.

Stage IIIC breast cancer. A tumor of any size that has spread farther and involves more lymph nodes.

Stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer. A tumor, regardless of size, that has spread to places far away from the breast, such as bones, lungs, liver, brain, or distant lymph nodes.

Get more information about the stages of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Treatment

If the tests find breast cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to get rid of the cancer, to lower the odds that it will come back, and to reduce the chance of it moving outside your breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.

Your treatment will depend on the size and location of the tumor, the results of lab tests on the cancer cells, and the stage of the disease. Your doctor usually considers your age and general health as well as your feelings about the treatment options.

Local treatments

These remove, destroy, or control the cancer cells in a specific area, such as your breast. These include:

Continued

Surgery

Breast-conserving surgery. The surgeon removes only the part of the breast with the cancer, along with some nearby tissue. How much they take out depends on things like the size and location of the tumor. You might also hear it called:

Lumpectomy

Quadrantectomy

Partial mastectomy

Segmental mastectomy

Surgery to remove lymph nodes. Your doctor might take lymph nodes from under your arm to find out whether cancer has spread to them. There are two kinds of this surgery:

Sentinel lymph node biopsy. The doctor removes one or a few lymph nodes where cancer is most likely to spread.

Axillary lymph node dissection. This involves more nodes, though usually fewer than 20.

Mastectomy. A surgeon removes the entire breast, along with all of the breast tissue and sometimes nearby tissues. There are several types of mastectomies:

Simple or total mastectomy. The surgeon removes your entire breast, but not the lymph nodes under your arm unless they're within breast tissue.

Modified radical mastectomy. The surgeon removes your entire breast along with lymph nodes under your arm.

Radical mastectomy. The surgeon removes your entire breast and lymph nodes under your arm and up to your collarbone, as well as the chest wall muscles under your breast.

Partial mastectomy. The surgeon removes the cancerous breast tissue and some tissue nearby -- usually more than in a lumpectomy.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy. The surgeon removes all the breast tissue but leaves your nipple alone.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. If you have cancer in one breast and a very high risk of getting it in the other breast, you might choose to have both breasts removed.

Know more about breast cancer surgery options.

Radiation. Whether you get it and what type depends on the type of surgery you had, if your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or somewhere else in your body, the size of your tumor, and sometimes, your age. You might have one type or a combination:

External beam radiation. This type comes from a machine outside your body. You generally get it 5 days a week for 5 to 6 weeks. Some types of external beam radiation include:

Hypofractionated radiation therapy. You get larger doses using fewer treatments, typically only 3 weeks.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). In this approach, you get a single large dose of radiation in the operating room right after breast conservation surgery (before the wound is closed).

3D-conformal radiotherapy. You get radiation from special machines that can better aim it at the area where the tumor was. You'll get treatments twice a day for 5 days.

Internal radiation (brachytherapy). In this type, your doctor puts something radioactive inside your body for a short time.

Interstitial brachytherapy. The doctor inserts several small, hollow tubes called catheters into the breast around the area where the cancer was. They stay in place for several days. Doctors put radioactive pellets into them for short periods every day.

Intracavitary brachytherapy. This is the most common type of brachytherapy for women with breast cancer. The doctor uses a small catheter to put a device inside your breast. The device is widened and stays in place during the treatment. The other end sticks out of the breast. The doctor uses a tube to put radiation sources (often pellets) into the device. You usually get this twice a day for 5 days as an outpatient. After the last treatment, the doctor collapses and removes the device.

Continued

Learn more about radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Systemic treatments

They destroy or control cancer cells all over your body. These treatments include:

Chemotherapy. You might take these drugs as pills or get them injected into a vein. It might be your main treatment if you have advanced breast cancer. Or you could get it before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy). Read more on chemotherapy to treat breast cancer.

Hormone therapy. Some cancers grow in response to certain hormones. These medications stop the hormones from attaching to cancer cells, which stops their growth.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox, Tamoxen)

Fulvestrant (Faslodex)

Aromatase inhibitors:

Anastrozole (Arimidex)

Exemestane (Aromasin)

Letrozole (Femara)

Get more details on hormone therapy for breast cancer treatment.

Targeted drugs. These drugs stop the changes that make cells grow out of control.

Abemaciclib (Verzenio)

Everolimus (Afinitor)

Lapatinib (Tykerb)

Neratinib (Nerlynx)

Olaparib (Lynparza)

Palbociclib (Ibrance)

Pertuzumab (Perjeta)

Ribociclib (Kisquali)

Talazoparib (Talzenna)

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)

Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla)

Know more about targeted therapy for breast cancer.

Immunotherapy. Medications such as atezolizumab (Tecentriq) help your immune system fight cancer. Find out the pros and cons of immunotherapy to treat cancer.

Breast Cancer Prevention

These tips may help you prevent breast cancer:

Control your weight. Extra pounds and weight gain as an adult raise your odds for breast cancer after menopause.

Stay active. Exercise lowers your risk. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of heavy activity each week (or a mix). Spread it out during the week.

Limit or skip alcohol. Experts recommend that women have no more than 1 alcoholic drink a day. That's 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (hard liquor).

Breastfeed. Longer is better to lower your risk.

Limit hormone therapy after menopause. Ask your doctor about non-hormonal options to treat your symptoms.

Get screened. Recommendations vary by age and risk and other factors. Some of the most recent include:
U.S. Preventative Services Task Force:

40-49: Get a mammogram every 2 years if you and your doctor think you need it.

50-74: Get a mammogram every 2 years.

75+: Ask your doctor if you should continue getting mammograms.

American Cancer Society:

40-44: Get an annual mammogram if you and your doctor think you need it.

45-54: Get an annual mammogram.

55-74: Get a mammogram every 1 or 2 years.

75+: Get a mammogram every year so long as you're in good health and expected to live 10 years or more.

Continued

Learn more about mammogram to detect breast cancer.

Management if you're at high risk

If you have one of the risk factors for breast cancer, talk to your doctor about some things that may help lower your odds. These include:

Genetic testing to look for a change in your genes that raises your risk

More frequent doctor visits and screening tests

Medicines such as raloxifene, tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors

Surgery to remove your breasts or ovaries

Breast Cancer Outlook

Your outlook after breast cancer depends on many things, including your cancer stage when you were diagnosed.

Nearly 100% of women whose cancer is only in their breast live at least 5 years after diagnosis. In women whose cancer has spread to nearby tissue, 91% live at least 5 more years, and 84% live at least 10 more years.

If a woman's breast cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 86%. About 27% of women whose cancer has spread farther in their body live at least 5 more years.

Black women's survival rates are about 9% lower than those of white women.

For men who have breast cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is 84%. If the tumors are only in their breast, 96% of men live at least 5 more years. The 5-year survival rate is 83% if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and 22% if it's spread farther in a man's body. Get more information on breast cancer survival rates.

Sources

SOURCES:

American Cancer Society: "Learn about Cancer: Breast Cancer."

National Cancer Institute: "Breast Cancer."

CDC: "Breast Cancer."

Cancer.net: "Biopsy."

BreastCancer.org: "Breast Cancer Stages," "IDC Type: Cribriform Carcinoma of the Breast," "IDC Type: Medullary Carcinoma of the Breast," "IDC Type: Mucinous Carcinoma of the Breast," "IDC Type: Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast," "IDC Type: Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast," "Male Breast Cancer," "Metastatic Breast Cancer," "Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer," "Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast," "U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics," "What Is Mastectomy?"

Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Adenoid Cystic Breast Cancer," "Breast Cancer in Men."

Cleveland Clinic: "Breast Cancer."

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners: "Breast Cancer Subtypes."

CDC: "Breast Cancer: How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?" "Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Women," "Breast Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors?"

National Breast Cancer Foundation: "Biopsy."

American Cancer Society: "Breast Biopsy," "Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change," "Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?" "Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer," "Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer," "Invasive Breast Cancer (IDC/ILC)," "Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors," "Radiation for Breast Cancer," "Surgery for Breast Cancer," "Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer," "Treating Breast Cancer," "What Is Breast Cancer?"

Cancer.net: "Breast Cancer Diagnosis," "Breast Cancer: Introduction," "Breast Cancer: Statistics."

Mayo Clinic: "Breast cancer prevention: How to reduce your risk."

Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology: "Breast Cancer," "Breast Cancer In-Situ."

Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal: "Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A case report and review of literature."

National Cancer Institute: "Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer."

International Journal of Surgery: "Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A diagnostic and clinical challenge."

American Cancer Society: "Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer."

Mayo Clinic: "Breast cancer."

Cancer.net: "Breast Cancer in Men: Statistics."

Next In Breast Cancer Series:
Breast Cancer Symptoms

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Breast cancer is cancer that is found in the tissue of the breast. It can affect both sexes, but is much more common in women than men. Learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer, who is at risk, and how doctors treat it.

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Some good videos on Breast Cancer.

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Breast Cancer Videos | Breast Cancer Treatment Videos

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Watch videos about breast cancer screening, genetic testing, potential side effects of treatment, and personal stories from breast cancer survivors.

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Some Breast Cancer Survivor testimonials, and their experiences with breast cancer.

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Six breast cancer survivors share their stories of pain and perseverance, of strength and survival, and of learning to find beauty in oneself.

This story is part of Survivor's Guide, a series on navigating the impact of breast cancer through beauty and self-care.

When we talk about breast cancer, the human element is too often lost in the sea of statistics and studies. When we started planning our series on breast cancer and beauty, we knew how important it was to put a face and a name to a disease that affects millions, to bring readers the story of a survivor. We are humbled and grateful to say that we're able to offer you six.

These six bold, generous individuals opened up and shared their candid accounts of perseverance, joy, compassion, survival, and strength. If a picture is worth a thousand words, these portraits hold volumes. And, whether cancer has touched your life or not, we know these survivors' stories will inspire you.

Angela Trimbur
Actress and dancer, 39
Angela Trimbur spent a painful, post-biopsy weekend waiting on her diagnosis before bringing a supportive friend with her to receive her results. "Josette took a picture of my unprepared-yet-hopeful face in the pink robe minutes before the doctor walked in with my chart and said, 'Oh good, you brought a friend because,​ yes, it's cancer.'"

Her friend embraced her as Trimbur went into a state of shock. "All the words sounded clinically long and echo-y," Trimbur says. "I just allowed Josette to be my ears and strength since I was in too much shock to really even know which way to walk back to the car."

Although treatment brought considerable losses (certain ideas about life's trajectory, breastfeeding, and deeper understanding from friends), Trimbur gained a greater power. "I have learned the importance of acceptance," she says. "I'm a different person now. I am raw and sensitive, but in a strong, accepting way. I've learned to slow down and see things for what they are; I care more about the purpose of life."

Trimbur recalls a moment of transition when she felt most beautiful. "There was a moment halfway through chemo where I only had a few long stray hairs atop my head, a stye in one eye from low immunity, and no eyelashes," she says. "Honestly, looking back on the selfie, I think it is really beautiful: a metamorphosis. I also now feel an internal beauty I hadn't felt before. The emotional knowledge you gain - although it's tricky - still feels deeply beautiful."

"There was a moment halfway through chemo where I only had a few long stray hairs, a stye in one eye, and no eyelashes. Honestly, looking back on the selfie, I think it is really beautiful: a metamorphosis."

The COVID-19 pandemic and its isolation created a strong desire for Trimbur to connect with her fellow survivors. An avid Instagram user, she remembered the video messaging app Marco Polo she'd used during treatment and created a supportive community of survivors - one that "felt like a friendship TV show I could turn on whenever I needed."

"We have a full group of women in all stages of treatment - just diagnosed, middle of chemo, 5 to 10 years in remission, in a surgical gown post-mastectomy - who've all become fast friends," she fondly explains. "It's a lovely, safe way to be vulnerable, like major therapy."

Trimbur's journey with cancer, like so many, is far from over. Because Trimbur also tested for having the BRCA2 gene mutation, she chose to have her ovaries removed (the risk of ovarian cancer is greatly increased in people who have this gene mutation) and decided to have her breast implants removed. She advises those receiving a diagnosis to remember to breathe and avoid stress.

To her fellow survivors, Trimbur recommends seeking connection within the cancer community, particularly those in a similar age bracket, since the shared experience creates understanding and acceptance - "like automatic kindred spirits."

Ericka Hart
Sexuality educator, 34
Ericka Hart was 28 when they received their diagnosis. "It was May 2014, and I was standing in the middle of Wall Street in New York City about to leave on a train for work when I got the call from my doctor, who called me because I know him personally," they recall. "I was pretty devastated and scared and in shock. I was planning a wedding in September of that year, so my mind was reeling with questions about my dress, the wedding. I also didn't have health insurance at the time. It was in the midst of the Affordable Care Act, and I wasn't sure if I should sign up after getting off my parents' insurance."

Even with the diagnosis, Hart - like so many - kept pushing through. "I was on chemotherapy for a year and a half, in treatment, and working full time. I remember another breast cancer survivor telling me she took six months off to rest at home after her double mastectomy," they say. "I didn't have that privilege. I had my double mastectomy in June 2014 and went back to work two weeks later. That was the only way I was going to be able to pay for the surgery, my health insurance, and chemo while still being able to pay rent and have a livelihood. It wasn't an option for me. The whole process was incredibly challenging, humbling, and scary at times."

Even after enduring hair loss and menopause as a result of treatment, they still had their wedding day. The marriage didn't last, and Hart thanks cancer for the insight it brought: "We divorced a year and a half later. I thank breast cancer for helping me realize that she wasn't necessarily the person I wanted to be with for the rest of my life," they explain. "Sitting in chemo treatments and healing from my double mastectomy - having so much time to sit and think illuminated a lot. That was challenging but also, thank you, God, I'm no longer in that relationship. It just wasn't serving me anymore."

" Any gender can get breast cancer. It's important we talk about it."

Hart says the disease didn't necessarily impact their sense of self, other than when they lost their hair. "That was l devastating to me," they remember. "I know I look good bald, but it's a different story when you've been trying to grow your hair for a long time. Dreadlocks have a spiritual meaning as well, especially the place where I started them. As a Black person, there is a particular cultural connection we have to our hair. I had long hair, and then it was gone."

Spending time naked helped them feel beautiful: "I would sit completely naked in front of the mirror and just look at my body. I feel like it helped me get in touch with my body, to know the scars on my body and rename them, like, 'This is the new nipple.' It helped me feel sexy and beautiful."

Now, six years in remission, Hart works avidly as an activist and sex educator. "I went topless at a music festival in 2016 to raise awareness amongst Black queer, nonbinary, transgender folx because what was happening - and continues to happen - is that we're left out of breast cancer advocacy: even a lot of our mammograms are wrong and we're misdiagnosed," Hart says. "So I try to raise awareness around medical racism, but I also work as a sex educator talking about living with a chronic illness and disability and still being deserving of pleasure, still being someone that deserves to have lots and lots of sex if that's what you want to do."

Hart wants to point out the importance of erasing gender from the conversation. "Any gender can get breast cancer. It's important we talk about it because it's stressful when the doctor misgenders you or can't figure out your pronouns. Medical institutions don't care; we have to expand how we talk about it."

Hart also recommends preparing yourself for how others react to your diagnosis. "It's important to set boundaries. Be mindful that other people want to become your doctor; everybody has a doctorate degree on the internet. Do what feels good, and don't blame yourself or blame your body; your body didn't do anything wrong."

"Do what feels good, and don't blame yourself or blame your body; your body didn't do anything wrong."

Codilia Gapare
Creator of C-Lash false eyelashes with Eylure London, 43
Cancer advocate and beauty entrepreneur Codilia Gapare was a 36-year-old single mother when she received her diagnosis in 2014. "I remember I had just had my birthday," she recalls. "I'd somehow convinced myself I couldn't have cancer, so I didn't tell anybody I was going in to receive my [test] results or cancel anything happening later that day. When they told me, it was a shock. I think that's why I didn't respond. But instead of finding out more about my diagnosis, I just left. I thought, 'OK, fine. I'll come back another day to talk about it.' I went numb and on autopilot; I didn't have the capacity to process it at that time."

Like many women, she thought of her responsibilities before herself. "I was a single mom. I had two boys to look after and bills to pay," Gapare says. "I was so far from home. My mom and my dad are and all my siblings are on another continent, so I was basically by myself."

Like most mothers, she tried to shield her family from both the diagnosis and the impact of the surgery. Looking back on it, she wishes she'd communicated more and reached out for help. "Oh, communication with my kids: I should have told them. I thought I would go through it and they would never find out. Kids are very intuitive, observant, and always listening. They knew I had cancer; I thought they didn't."

When Gapare got too ill to hide her diagnosis, she had to tell her children - and her mother. "My oldest son internalized a lot, which caused some problems later on," she says. "I didn't tell my mom until I had started treatment, and she has a hard time because she wasn't with me. You can't do the cancer thing alone; you have to let people in. It helps you, but it also helps them because you're all going through it together. The more you shut people out, the harder it is for all of you."

The first time Gapare saw her body post-lumpectomy was a transformative experience. "I didn't have a mastectomy; they took away part of my breast, so it's a lot smaller than my other breast. I hadn't seen it, so I thought I would get myself a really nice dress. I was in a changing room in Liverpool when I saw myself for the first time. I think even now, I am stronger and I'm a lot more accepting of myself."

During treatment, she made a point to feel as good about herself as possible. "I did this thing called 'lipstick and pills,' where I would wake up in the morning and do my makeup. They used to call me the 'chemo celebrity' back then because I would go all out," she says. "I would deliberately overdress because, for me, I wanted the things I could control to be bigger than what I couldn't. I taught myself to do makeup, started experimenting with different wigs; nothing was too much for me. I didn't need anybody to tell me I'm beautiful. I remember one day this guy walked up to me and said, 'You really look beautiful.' Without thinking, I turned around and said, 'Yeah, I know.' I wasn't bragging. Literally, I knew I looked beautiful."

"I'm going to drive this life until the wheels come off. I may be here for two years, 10, or 50. But I would rather live."

It was this quest to feel beautiful - particularly the longing for her original, pre-chemotherapy lashes that led Gapare to create C-Lash, a line of false lashes for people without natural lashes. ( Allure covered C-Lash's wave-making launch in September.) Forging a partnership with Eylure London led to international success - and a 2020 Allure Best of Beauty Award.

Gapare shares her knowledge and wisdom by mentoring other women in business, and regularly takes on challenges to live her life to the fullest, including completing a Tough Mudder race five months after completing treatment. "I'm going to drive this life until the wheels come off," she says. "I may be here for two years, 10, or 50 - I don't know. But I would rather live."

To anyone dealing with a diagnosis, Gapare says to be strong and ask for help. And she asks all survivors to get out there and live: "If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking too much space. Sometimes cancer comes back, sometimes it doesn't, so while you're here and have the time, ride this life until the wheels come off. You've survived cancer. Why are you scared of skydiving? Why are you scared of taking that holiday? Why are you scared of asking that guy out in the office that you've always wanted to? Surely it can't be harder than going through chemotherapy."

"You've survived cancer. Why are you scared of skydiving? Why are you scared of taking that holiday? Why are you scared of asking that guy out? Surely it can't be harder than going through chemotherapy."

Bianca Muñiz
Singer-songwriter and cancer survivor and advocate, 26
Bianca Muñiz, a singer, songwriter, and two-time cancer survivor, received her first diagnosis at the tender age of 11. After beating the disease once, it returned again at age 22. "I feel like going through all that at such a young age set me up for success through understanding the process," she recalls.

Although Muniz is currently NED (no evidence of disease), she possesses a gene mutation called TP53, also known as Li Fraumeni syndrome, a condition that can increase your risk of different types of cancer. She says she'll be under active surveillance for the rest of her life.

Muñiz has never really known life without cancer. "I can't really remember a time when I wasn't impacted by [it]," she explains. "I feel like it's shaped who I am as a person. It's completely altered my perspective on life and the way I live, form relationships and friendships - literally, everything I do. It really motivates me to follow my passions, do what I love, and create a life worth living."

"I can't really remember a time when I wasn't impacted by cancer... It's shaped who I am as a person. It's completely altered my perspective on life and the way I live."

Like so many, she feels for the countless others who lost their battle with the disease. "I feel like I'm strong, but I've felt survivors' guilt. Being in the cancer community - not just breast cancer, but just cancer in general - I've known many who've passed away from it, which can be really difficult to deal with. You think, 'Why me? Why not them?' But we forget with life comes death, and that's anyone on the planet; everyone is going to die. The only difference [with me] is my death could potentially be from a type of cancer."

Muñiz's journey with self-acceptance helped shape her music and songwriting, and with it her own sense of beauty and power. "[In the beginning], I really tried to hide it," she recalls. "I didn't want to be seen as the cancer girl or broken or weak, terms I associated with it at the time. But with the second diagnosis, I thought, I'm not going to hide it anymore; I'm going to embrace it and use it to help others. That's when my songwriting style turned into a form of music therapy. I started receiving messages from people who listened to it in treatment and/or on their way to surgery, saying it helped them find peace, relax and calm down. It's the biggest compliment I could ever receive, that my music heals. It's all I've ever wanted."

As Muñiz shares her journey and strength through her music, she encourages others to do the same. "It's so beautiful to use this obstacle you ultimately got over to help others overcome theirs."

"I want people to know you could get breast cancer - or any other type of cancer - at any age."

She also wants everyone to learn from her experience: "I want people to know you could get breast cancer - or any other type of cancer - at any age. It is so important to get genetic testing done. I'm the only one in my family with a specific mutation I have, so it can happen to anyone at any age and any gender."

Danielle Doby
Author and poet, 35
Danielle Doby remembers the surreal nature of learning about her diagnosis. "I was wrapped in my favorite blanket, sipping tea, resting on the sofa at my parents' when my phone rang," she remembers. "The conversation was a blur: all I remember was mouthing the words, 'I have cancer' to my father." Doby's entire world stopped. "My life and the lives of my parents as we knew them had been interrupted. All my goals and dreams whittled down to one focus - surviving cancer."

Cancer changed Doby's perspective on life. "There is a sense of clarity that came with my cancer diagnosis. Given the unique opportunity to stare mortality in the face, everything simplified," she says. "The fast living, the need for more, the urge to fix and mold an experience into something other than what it is takes me out of the moment. I am here to be in my body, which I've found to be the real, most important work."

"It's important to remember healing does not call on us to be unshakeable and perfect; it asks us to be vulnerable and truthful."

Doby focused on joy to get through the journey, a tactic she advises. "I learned how to use my rolling chemo IV pole as a dance partner and built a vast collection of wigs, naming each one. I felt the sun on my skin, crafted fresh mint cacao smoothies, plastered my boobs and made a pre-mastectomy cast keepsake for my wall, had more Netflix marathons than my two hands can count, and said the words 'thank you' and 'I love you' - often."

She believes we should reset our expectations of post-treatment life. "The fear of recurrence, PTSD, new limitations, and other lasting effects of trauma will not disappear by forcing yourself to remain in a constant state of joy and belief that 'you should just be grateful you're alive.' It's important to remember healing does not call on us to be unshakeable and perfect; it asks us to be vulnerable and truthful. We can both grieve and rejoice. Be brave and fearful. Say 'survivor' while we continue the work of healing."

"The deeper we step into our truths, the clearer others can see themselves mirrored in our stories."

Now, living as a survivor, Doby has dedicated her life to empowering and inspiring others through storytelling: namely her artwork; her book, I Am Her Tribe, and her Instagram account. "I believe the deeper we step into our truths, the clearer others can see themselves mirrored in our stories. Pain, struggle, and resilience - they live in everyone, proving we are never alone."

Doby advises everyone to monitor their bodies, regardless of age or gender. In addition to self-exams, education, and exploring financial resources, she advises everyone to advocate for yourself - especially those who might have just received a diagnosis. "You know your body better than anyone - including your doctors," she says. "If something isn't sitting well, ask questions - even ones that feel unimportant. Informed is empowered, and the more empowered you are the less likely you are to be overcome by your anxiety and fears."

Paige More
Cofounder of The Breasties, a nonprofit uniting those affected by breast and reproductive cancers, 28
Paige More was living a very busy life when she got her diagnosis. "When I was first diagnosed with the BRCA genetic mutation five years ago, I really didn't understand it," More, a four-time Emmy award-winning producer and women's health advocate, recalls. "I had just started my dream job working in New York City at Good Morning America, and I was so young I didn't understand how it would impact the rest of my life."

Things shifted about a year later. "I went to my first oncologist appointment where my doctor sat me down and said, 'You have an 87 percent chance of breast cancer in your lifetime. So many women in your family have passed away from breast or ovarian cancer. We need to start doing surveillance immediately.' That's when my whole life changed." More considers herself a "previvor" - a term often used to refer to someone with a predisposition to cancer and/or has had preventative surgery because of their genetic mutation.

As More grappled with the decision to have a preventative double mastectomy, she felt isolated from friends with no understanding of cancer, much less genetic mutation. "I was 22 when I found out; none of my friends were dealing with this or even understood," she says. "I didn't really want them to: at that point, their biggest concerns were work, brunch, and relationships."

"I wanted to find someone who could tell me 'You're going to be OK, you're going to learn to love your body.'"

This isolation led her to seek other previvors online. "I felt very alone and very afraid," More says. "I wanted to find someone talking about their experience in an empowering way, who went through it, came out on the other side, and could tell me 'You're going to be OK, you're going to learn to love your body.'"

More became the inspiration and support she desired. In addition to her advocacy work on Instagram, her nonprofit The Breasties, she hosts free virtual events during the pandemic and wellness programs (though she hopes to resume in-person events next year), online support, and a highly engaged community. She also found her best/breast friend, Bianca Muñiz, who is also featured in this story.

She acknowledges relationships do, indeed, change as a result of diagnosis and treatment. "You're changed overnight: you instantly see the world differently," she explains. "You try so hard to go back to that person you were, but you're somebody new. I think the sooner you embrace who you've become, you welcome everyone else to do so."

"You try so hard to go back to that person you were, but you're somebody new. The sooner you embrace who you've become, you welcome everyone else to do so."

The end of a long-term relationship post-surgery taught her a valuable lesson. "Through our breakup, I ended up learning how to love myself again, own who I am, and step into my power. I finally love my body, I love who I am."

She encourages previvors to embrace their diagnosis: "There's a big difference between previvor and survivor: we don't have cancer, [we] don't have to make immediate decisions when it comes to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries - we have time. But with time is self-doubt. You're never going to feel 100 percent ready; do everything you can to prepare. But at some point, you have to trust you're doing everything you can by taking preventative action."
Read the rest of our Survivor's Guide to breast cancer. More stories on this topic:
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Six Breast Cancer Survivors Share Their Powerful Stories

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Six breast cancer survivors share their stories of pain and perseverance, of strength and survival, and of learning to find beauty in oneself. This story is part of Survivor's Guide , a series on navigating the impact of breast cancer through beauty and self-care.

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This is information on Male Breast Cancer, while it is rare it still happens.

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Male breast cancer - Symptoms and causes

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Breast cancer can affect anyone. Learn about the signs and symptoms of this cancer. Treatment most often involves surgery.

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Breast Cancer in Men is not as recognized, which while it is more uncommon. It still happens, so men should be given the same advice.

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The reality of breast cancer in men | CNN

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Breast cancer in men can be misdiagnosed or overlooked because it’s so rare, but early detection can be lifesaving.

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The myth of men cannot contract Breast Cancer, while it is least likely it still happens.

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Myth: Men do not get breast cancer; it affects women only

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Quite the contrary, each year it is estimated that approximately 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 410 will die.

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Here is a Quiz on Breast Cancer, this might be better for educating younger audiences because it is more interactive.

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Breast Cancer Quiz | Test Your Breast Cancer Knowledge

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When it comes to your breast health, don’t be fooled by rumors and misinformation. Test your knowledge of 6 common beliefs about breast cancer.

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More about Breast cancer in men.

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What Is Breast Cancer in Men? | Male Breast Cancer

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A breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast.

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This website is great for navigating how to treat breast Cancer in men.

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Treating Breast Cancer in Men | Treatment for Male Breast Cancer

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If you are facing male breast cancer, we can help you learn about the treatment options and possible side effects, and point you to information and services to help you in your cancer journey.

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Since a lot of women go through breast cancer and sometimes have to get mastectomies, this can cause body image problems, resulting in less confidence etc. Which is why if you are struggling with this after breast cancer, and while it is not required breast reconstruction surgery is an option.

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Should I Get Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

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Breast reconstruction surgery is an option that some women choose after being treated for breast cancer. Learn more to help with this decision.